Yucatán moist forests
Yucatán moist forests | |
---|---|
Yucatán peninsula. | |
Ecology | |
Realm | Neotropical |
Biome | tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 69,849 km2 (26,969 sq mi) |
Countries | |
Conservation | |
Conservation status | Vulnerable[1] |
Protected | 23.5%[2] |
The Yucatán moist forests are an
It is found in the Yucatán Peninsula in southern Mexico, northern Guatemala, and northern Belize.[1]
Geography
The ecoregion covers an area of 69,849 square kilometres (26,969 sq mi). It has little topographic relief.[1] Porous limestone underlies much of the ecoregion, and it has few permanent rivers despite its humid climate.
It is bounded on the northwest by the semi-arid Yucatán dry forests. The Petén–Veracruz moist forests lie to the south.[2]
Climate
The ecoregion has a tropical humid climate.[1] Average annual rainfall ranges from 1000 to 1500 mm, generally lower in the north and higher in the south and east. Rainfall varies seasonally, with August and September the driest months.[3]
Flora
The most common plant communities are high and medium semi-evergreen forest. The trees form a canopy 20 to 35 meters high. Approximately 25 to 50% of the trees lose their leaves during the annual dry season.
Low flooded semi-evergreen forest grows in seasonally-flooded areas known as bajos. The canopy is 8 to 10 meters high, and about half the trees lose their leaves during the dry season. Typical trees include
Fauna
Large grazing mammals include the
There are five species of
Native primates include the
Yucatán
Conservation and threats
Although some protection exists, the ecoregion is under threat by logging and cattle farming.[1]
Protected areas
23.5% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Yucatán moist forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2013-08-20.
- ^ a b c "Yucatán moist forests". DOPA Explorer. Accessed 15 August 2021. [1]
- ^ Torrescano-Valle, Nuria, et al. (2015). "Physical Settings, Environmental History with an Outlook on Global Change." In Islebe, Gerald Alexander, Sophie Calmé, et al. (eds.) Biodiversity and Conservation of the Yucatán Peninsula. Springer International Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-3-319-06529-8.
- ^ a b Islebe, Gerald Alexander et al. (2015). "Distribution of Vegetation Types". In Islebe, Gerald Alexander, Sophie Calmé et al. (eds.) Biodiversity and Conservation of the Yucatán Peninsula. Springer International Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-3-319-06529-8.
- ^ a b c Reyna-Hurtado, Rafael et al. (2015). "Large Terrestrial Mammals". In Islebe, Gerald Alexander, Sophie Calmé, et al. (eds.) Biodiversity and Conservation of the Yucatán Peninsula. Springer International Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-3-319-06529-8.
- ^ Calmé, Sophie et al. (2015). "Birds". In Islebe, Gerald Alexander, Sophie Calmé, et al. (eds.) Biodiversity and Conservation of the Yucatán Peninsula. Springer International Publishing, 2015. ISBN 978-3-319-06529-8.