Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic

Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic
Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic
	Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo
	Map of the Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion
Ecology
Realm	Afrotropical
Biome	tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Borders	List Cameroon Highlands forests; Cross–Sanaga–Bioko coastal forests; East Sudanian savanna; Guinean forest–savanna mosaic; Northeastern Congolian lowland forests; Northwestern Congolian lowland forests;
Geography
Area	703,010 km2 (271,430 sq mi)
Countries	Cameroon; Central African Republic; Democratic Republic of the Congo; South Sudan;
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical/endangered
Protected	104,288 km2 (15%)

The Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic is a forest and savanna

Guineo-Congolian forests and the tropical dry forests, savannas, and grasslands to the north and south.^[2]

Geography

The Northern Congolian forest–savanna mosaic lies between the equatorial

Cameroon Highlands in the west, across central Cameroon and the southern Central African Republic to southwestern South Sudan and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it is bounded on the east by flooded grasslands of the Sudd, the eastern block of the East Sudanian savanna, and the Albertine Rift montane forests

.

The ecoregion lies on a dissected plateau composed of ancient

Nile River

.

The ecoregion has a tropical savanna climate. Average annual rainfall ranges from 1200 to 1600 mm. Rainfall is generally higher in the south, in the transition to the Congolian forests, and lower in the north at the edge of the Sudanian savanna. There is a summer rainy season and winter dry season. Temperatures range from 34 °C in the summer wet season to 13 °C in the cooler winter dry season.

Flora

The ecoregion is a mosaic of forest, open woodland, and grassland.

Gallery forests occur along year-round rivers and in areas with year-round groundwater. Typical gallery forest trees include

Morus mesozygia, and Khaya grandifoliola.^[2]

Wooded and open grasslands are widespread. The ground is thickly covered by perennial grasses, including species of Andropogon, Hyparrhenia, and Loudetia. Trees, including Annona senegalensis, Burkea africana, Combretum collinum, Hymenocardia acida, Parinari curatellifolia, Stereospermum kunthianum, and species of Vitex and Strychnos, form open-canopied woodlands or are scattered in grassy savannas. Frequent human-caused fires have allowed grasslands to spread into areas formerly covered with forest or woodland.^[2]

Isolated patches of dry forest are found in areas with sparse human population and few human-caused fires, particularly in the Central African Republic and central Cameroon.

Anogeissus leiocarpus, Borassus aethiopum, and species of Terminalia.^[2]

Fauna

The ecoregion is home to various large mammals, including both forest- and grassland-adapted species. Grazing mammals include the

patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) and olive baboon (Papio anubis).^[2]^[3] The western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes) once ranged across the ecoregion, but is now thought to be extinct. The northern white rhinoceros

(Ceratotherium simum cottoni) once inhabited the eastern portion of the ecoregion, but is now extinct in the wild.

Near-endemic mammals include Pousargues's mongoose (Dologale dybowskii), which also inhabits the Victoria Basin forest–savanna mosaic to the east, and the ochre mole-rat (Fukomys ochraceocinereus).^[3]

Common birds include the

forest ground-thrush (Geokichla oberlaenderi) is a near-endemic species.^[3]

Endemic frogs include the

Sudan beaked snake (Letheobia sudanensis) and the lizard Ichnotropis chapini are endemic reptiles.^[3]

Protected areas

A 2017 assessment found that 104,288 km², or 15%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.

Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Nigeria, Garamba National Park, Virunga National Park, Bili-Uere Hunting Reserve, and Gangala-na-Bodio Hunting Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lantoto, Shambe, and Southern national parks in South Sudan, and Chinko Nature Reserve and Zemongo Faunal Reserve in the Central African Republic.^[4]

External links

"Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

References

^ ^a ^b Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Burgess, Neil, Jennifer D'Amico Hales, Emma Underwood, et al. (2004). "Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment". World Wildlife Fund. Island Press, 2004, pp. 294-296.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
^ "Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 9 November 2021. [2]

[Dinerstein-1] Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b. [1]

[Burgess-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Burgess, Neil, Jennifer D'Amico Hales, Emma Underwood, et al. (2004). "Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment". World Wildlife Fund. Island Press, 2004, pp. 294-296.

[wwf-3] "Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

[dopa-4] "Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 9 November 2021. [2]

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