Southern Annamites montane rain forests
Southern Annamites montane rain forests | |
---|---|
Indomalayan | |
Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | List
|
Geography | |
Area | 46,620 km2 (18,000 sq mi) |
Country | Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia |
Coordinates | 12°00′N 108°30′E / 12°N 108.5°E |
Conservation | |
Protected | 19.65%[1] |
The Southern Annamites montane rain forests ecoregion (WWF ID: IM0152) covers a region of high biodiversity in the central and southern mountains of the Annamite Range in Vietnam. Terrain ranges from wet lowland forest to evergreen hardwood and conifer montane rain forest.[2][3][1] There is a short dry season centered on January–February, but fog and dew are common throughout the year and support a lush forest character.
Location and description
The ecoregion consists of two main sections. The northern section begins south of the
The southern section is in the south of Vietnam around the Đà Lạt Plateau, which has a highest point of 2,200 metres (7,200 ft). The southern mountains are of weathered basalt, which creates fertile soil for agriculture.[2]
Climate
The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical savanna climate - dry winter (Köppen climate classification (Aw)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year, and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, and is drier than the average month.[4][5] In this ecoregion, annual precipitation is 1,800-2,000 mm in the Annamites and in the western regions of the Da Lat Plateau, but can reach over 3,000 mm/year on the eastern edge of the Da Lat Plateau.
Flora
The region is about 75% forested. Most of this is a closed forest of broadleaf evergreens and some needle-leaf evergreens.[2] Wet evergreen forest covers from 600 to 900 meters elevation is characterized by species of Fagaceae, Myrtaceae, and Lauraceae. Above 900 meters, the wet hardwood forest supports a wide variety of tree species, generally dependent on the geology and soil of the location. The canopy of about 30 meters is lower at higher elevations and with thinner soils.[2] Epiphytes are a common feature of these forests. Khasi pine (Pinus kesiya) is common throughout the region at elevations up to 1,800 meters, particularly in drier areas.
Fauna
There are about 134 native species of mammals, including the
410 species of birds are native to the ecoregion. Endemic and near-endemic species include Edwards's pheasant (Lophura edwardsi), Germain's peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron germaini), Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata), collared laughingthrush (Trochalopteron yersini), golden-winged laughingthrush (Trochalopteron ngoclinhensis), short-tailed scimitar babbler (Napothera danjoui), grey-faced tit-babbler (Mixornis kelleyi), black-crowned barwing (Actinodura sodangorum), grey-crowned crocias (Laniellus langbianis), and Vietnamese greenfinch (Chloris monguilloti).[2]
Protected areas
19.65% of the ecoregion is in officially protected areas, including:[1]
- Núi Chúa National Park reaches down to the South China Sea in southeast Vietnam, with Nui Chua peak reaching 1,032 meters. It is a relatively intact ecosystem.
- Bạch Mã National Park includes a former colonial hill station above central coastal city of Huế.
- Ba River.
- Đắk Lắk Provincein the central highlands of Vietnam.
References
- ^ a b c "Southern Annamites montane rain forests". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f "Southern Annamites montane rain forests". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
- ^ "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006). "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
- ^ Hara, M., Hoàng, T., Tiến, T., & Ohsawa, M. (2021). Composition and structure of mountain forests containing two tropical pines, Pinus krempfii and Pinus dalatensis, on the Da Lat Plateau, southern Vietnam. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 37(2), 51-63. doi:10.1017/S0266467421000092