Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests
Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Indomalayan |
Biome | tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | List
|
Bird species | 343[1] |
Mammal species | 148[1] |
Geography | |
Area | 38,200 km2 (14,700 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Habitat loss | 81.553%[1] |
Protected | 6.77%[1] |
The Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests is an
Geography
The ecoregion covers an area of 38,200 km2 (14,700 sq mi) and is bisected by the
At lower elevations, the ecoregion is flanked by the
Climate
Rainfall varies from east to west, but annual rainfall can be as much as 2,000 mm (79 in). The Himalayas capture moisture from the monsoons that sweep in from the Bay of Bengal, and most of this rainfall is expended in the eastern Himalayas. Therefore, the western Himalayas are drier, a trend reflected in the timberline that declines from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in the east to about 3,500 m (11,500 ft) in the west.[2]
Flora
The ecoregion hosts a broad range of plant communities, based on its complex topography, differing soils, and variations in rainfall from the drier west to the more humid east. Its location on the south slope of the Himalaya allows the intermingling of plants and animals from the
Fauna
Several mammals native to the ecoregion are
Protected areas
Eight protected areas extend into this ecoregion covering 2,710 km2 (1,050 sq mi), which is about 7% of the ecoregion's area:[2]
- in India: Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary and Valmiki National Park;
- in Nepal: Bardia National Park, Chitwan National Park, Parsa National Park;
- in Bhutan: Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary.
Two high-priority tiger conservation units (TCU) extend across adjacent ecoregions:[3]
- Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki TCU covers a 3,549 km2 (1,370 sq mi) huge block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests;
- Bardia-Banke TCU covers 1,518 km2 (586 sq mi).
References
- ^ a b c d
Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0.
- ^ a b c d e Rawat, G. S., Wikramanayake, E. D. (2002) Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests In: Wikramanayake, E. D. (ed.) Terrestrial ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a conservation assessment. Island Press
- ISBN 0-521-64835-1
External links
- "Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.