Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub

Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub
Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub
	ABC Islands (Leeward Antilles)
Coordinates	11°N 74°W / 11°N 74°W
Geology	Cesar-Ranchería, Cocinetas, Guajira, Maracaibo, Sinú-San Jacinto Basin

The Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub is a

ABC Islands (Leeward Antilles), covering an estimated area of 150,000 km² (58,000 sq mi). Rainfall varies from 125 to 600 mm (4.9 to 23.6 in), and the median temperature is 37 °C (99 °F).^[1]

Location

wayuu

rancheria. The wayuu people are the native inhabitants of the Guajira xeric scrub

The ecoregion occupies the

ABC Islands (Leeward Antilles). The valleys lie in the rain shadow of the surrounding Serranía de Macuira, which reaches an elevation of 900 m (3,000 ft) over sea level. These mountains trap some of the trade winds, causing mist. An important tourist destination in the area is Cabo de la Vela, and Klein Curaçao

.

Ecology

Flora

Caesalpinia coriaria

)

The ecoregion is dominated by thorny trees and

Caesalpinia coriaria, Copaifera venezolana, Croton sp., Gyrocarpus americanus, Hyptis sp., Jacquinia pungens, Malpighia glabra, Myrospermum frutescens, Opuntia caribaea, Pereskia guamacho, Piptadenia flava, Prosopis juliflora, and Stenocereus griseus

.

Forests dominated by

Mimosa cabrera – Cordia curassavica, Bursera tomentosa – Bursera graveolens and Castela erecta – Parkinsonia praecox.^[1]

Fauna

The ecoregion is notable for being the habitat of a large community of

Caribbean flamingo

(Phoenicopterus ruber), besides a diversity of birds and bats.

Conservation

Most of the

National Natural Park of Macuira. Nearby is the 80 km² (31 sq mi) Los Flamencos Sanctuary, which is a center of plant diversity for species of Hechtia, Salvia, and cactus. Of the 2700 species found within, approximately 30% are endemic

.

References

^ ^a ^b McGinley, Mark (2012-08-02). "Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub". Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved 2013-10-11.

External links

(in Spanish) Martha Ligia Castellanos, Luis Carlos Pardo L. 2000. Caracterización y primera aproximación a la determinación del índice de biodiversidad en los suelos de la cuenca del arroyo Mekijanao, Serranía de la Macuira, Alta Guajira. En: Juan Carlos Pérez (editor) X Congreso Nacional de la Ciencia del Suelo. Programa y resúmenes. El suelo un componente del medio natural. Medellín, Octubre 11 al 13 de 2000
(in Spanish) Edith González, Gabriel Guillot, Néstor Miranda, Diana Pombo (editores). 1990. Perfil Ambiental de Colombia. Colciencias. Escala. Bogotá.

[EoEarth-1] McGinley, Mark (2012-08-02). "Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub". Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved 2013-10-11.

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