West Saharan montane xeric woodlands
West Saharan montane xeric woodlands | |
---|---|
Ecology | |
Realm | Palearctic |
Biome | deserts and xeric shrublands |
Geography | |
Area | 257,460 km2 (99,410 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Climate type | hot and dry, sometimes extremely so |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | relatively intact |
Protected | 107,606 km2 (42%)[1] |
The West Saharan montane xeric woodlands is an ecoregion that extends across several highland regions in the Sahara. Surrounded at lower elevations by the largely barren Sahara, the West Saharan montane xeric woodlands are isolated refuges of plants and animals that can survive in the higher humidity and lower temperatures of the highlands.
Setting
The Sahara is a vast desert, stretching across northern Africa from the
This ecoregion has an area of 258,100 km2 (99,700 sq mi). The boundaries for the largest part of this ecoregion, which includes the
The mountains of the West Saharan montane xeric woodland ecoregion are found within the Sahara Desert and are predominantly of volcanic origin. They rise from the surrounding flat desert landscape or sand dunes and create islands of moister habitat (guelta) which support flora and fauna. The most important area is the Tassili n'Ajjer Plateau, an outlier of the Ahaggar Mountains in Algeria which supports some near-endemic species and some globally threatened antelopes. The highest point of these mountains is 3,003 meters (Mount Tahat).[2]
Winters are quite rigorous, with an amplitude in temperature of over 20°C. Day temperatures may be over 20 °C (68 °F) while nights are freezing. In summer, days are very hot, though less so than in the central Sahara. Rainfall is rare and sporadic.[2]
Flora and fauna
Vegetation varies greatly depending on altitude and landscape, in particular wind protection. It is often composed of
In the gueltas, vegetation is very diverse and hosts many animals. Trees may be found at lower elevations, while higher areas mostly host bushes. It is possible to find wild olive trees, or
Other species with a preference for moist habitats are
Population and conservation
The human population of the ecoregion is very small, with fewer than 5 persons per square kilometre. Many people are nomadic though some small cities also exist (such as Idlès). The vegetation remains fairly intact.[2]