S
ierra Madre Oriental and Occidental Pine-Oak Forests [61] – Mexico, United States
Geographic Location: Mountains of the Southwestern United States and Central Mexico
Biodiversity Features: Consisting of numerous mountain peaks and ridges that extend from just over the border in the southwestern United States into Central Mexico, this ecoregion supports a vast array of plant and animal species; many of which are restricted to single peaks or different ranges. Among these species are some important wild relatives of agricultural crops, such as agave (Agave spp.). HIGH LEVELS OF RICHNESS ACROSS A NUMBER OF TAXA, INCLUDING HIGH LEVELS OF ENDEMISM AMONG PLANTS CHARACTERIZE THIS ECOREGION’S BIODIVERSITY.
Selected Species: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Euphorbiaceae represent the most speciose plant families in this ecoregion. In total, 12 species of oak trees are found within these conifer forests. Together these plants support an impressive avifauna: Mexican jay (Aphelocoma ultramarina), Mexican chickadee (Parus sclateri), zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus), maroon-fronted and thick-billed parrots (Rhynchopsitta terrisi and R. pachyrhyncha), Strickland’s woodpecker (Picoides stricklandi), and Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) among others. Predators with large ranges, such as gray wolf (Canis lupis) and jaguar (Panthera onca) frequent these habitats as well.
General Threats: Chief threats include overgrazing, clearing of forests for timber and fuelwood, and development. Other problems stem from recreationl pressures and use of the area for military exercises.
Neotropical
reater Antillean Pine Forests [62] – Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti
Geographic Location: Greater Antilles islands of the northwest Caribbean
Biodiversity Features: These forests support numerous endemic plant and animal species, including a number of limestone and serpentine soil specialists. insular pine forests distinctive at a continental scale, with high endemism at species, genera, and family levels
Selected Species: Cuban tody (Todus multicolor), Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus), Hispaniola trogon (Priotelus roseigaster) are just a few of the species characteristic of this ecoregion. Reptiles include several iguanid species: Leiocephalus macropus, L. onaneyi, Anolis alayoni, and A. vanidicus.
General Threats: Mining, citrus plantations, grazing, uncontrolled burning, and logging severely threaten the ecoregion. Exploitation of threatened bird, plant, and landsnail populations is an additional threat.
M
esoamerican Pine-Oak Forests [63] – Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador
Geographic Location: Mountains of Southern Mexico and northern Central America
Biodiversity Features: This ecoregion contains some of the world's most extensive subtropical coniferous forests. Many plant and animal species are locally restricted in their distributions throughout the region. Most notably, birds, conifers, reptiles, and amphibians exemplify this pattern. together with the Sierra Madre Oriental and Occidental Forests, these are the richest subtropical conifer forests in the world. Although the Araucaria forests of the Southern Cone are distinctive, they are not as rich. the richest subtropical conifer forests in the world with very high levels of regional and local endemism
Selected Species: Species include the almost certainly extinct imperial woodpecker (Campephilus imperialis), dwarf jay (Cyanocorax nana), the cycad, Dioon tomasellii, volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi), and two species of wild maize (Zea perennis and Z. diploperennis).
General Threats: Commercial logging, land conversion for cultivation, and overgrazing by livestock pose serious threats to the ecoregion.
Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests
Forests in the temperate world experience a wide range of variability in temperature. In regions where rainfall is broadly distributed throughout the year, deciduous trees mix with species of evergreens. Species such as oak (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus spp.), birch (Betupa spp.), and maple (Acer spp.) typify the composition of the Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests. Structurally, these forests are characterized by four layers: a canopy composed of mature full-sized dominant species and a slightly lower layer of mature trees, a shrub layer, and understory layer of grasses and other herbaceous plants. In contrast to tropical rain forests, most biodiversity is concentrated much closer to the forest floor.
Australasia
E
astern Australia Temperate Forests [64] – Australia
Geographic Location: Southeastern Australia
Biodiversity Features: The generally more moderate climate and high rainfall of southeastern Australia give rise to unique Eucalyptus forests and open woodland dominated by Acacia trees. The region served as a refuge when drier conditions prevailed over most of the continent; consequently, it has a remarkable diversity of plants and animals with high levels of regional and local endemism. The LaRGEST BLOCK OF temperate forests in Australia, globally distinctive species, genera, and family levels
Selected Species: Species include koala (Phasolarctos cinereus), golden-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), squirrel glider (Peterus norfolcensis), wombat (Vombatus ursinus). The ecoregion is home to a number of endemic species; for example, forests of mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) provide habitat for the endemic Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri). Among the other endemic mammal species are false water rat (Xeromys myoides), Hastings River mouse (Pseudomys oralis), Eastern little mastiff bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis), red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis), parma wallaby (Macropus parma), long-footed potoroos (Potorous longipes), and Eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii). Southern forest dragon (Hypsilurus spinipes), Lesueur's velvet gecko (Oedura lesueurii), collared scalyfoot (Delma torquata), Australian red-eyed treefrog (Litoria chloris), and tusked frog (Adelotus brevis) are a part of the herpetofauna restricted to these forests. Birds include endemic species such as Albert's lyrebird (Menura alberti) and russet-tailed thrush (Zoothera heinei) as well as a vast number of wider ranging species like black-necked stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), Australian king-parrot (Alisterus scapularis), and yellow-tailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus).
General Threats: Much of the pre-European settlement vegetation in this ecoregion has suffered from historical conversion of forests to any of a number of uses: sububurban/urban centers, livestock production, agriculture, and timber production, among others. With the exception of southwestern Australia, this is the most heavily altered area on the continent. Invasive plant and animal species are numerous and problematic throughout the ecoregion. Increased growth of suburban and urban areas, the alteration of natural disturbance regimes, and grazing are just a few of the continuing threats facing the ecoregion’s biotas.
T
asmanian Temperate Rain Forests [65] – Australia
Geographic Location: Island off of southeastern Australia
Biodiversity Features: Along with similar forests in southeastern Australia, the temperate rainforest of Tasmania supports rich and varied communities of plants and animals, and together form one of the most important refuges for wildlife in Australia. There are over 800 plant species, including many endemic genera and species in the alpine flora. One of only five major temperate rainforests and the LARGEST one in Australia, high levels of regional endemism and unusual biogeographic patterns. THIS ECOREGION IS A STRONGHOLD FOR MANY GONDWANAN SPECIES
Selected Species: A number of mammals are found on this amazing island and nowhere else, such as Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), not to mention the presumed extinct thylacene or marsupial wolf (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). There are also many other mammal species; among these are short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), swamp antechinus (Antechinus minimus), southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), and the last remaining populations of the once widely distributed Tasmanian bettong (Bettongia gaimardi). The island is home to three endemic bird species. They are yellow wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa), black-headed honeyeater (Melithreptus affinis), and forty-spotted pardalote (Pardalotus quadragintus). Many of the numerous birds found here are wide-ranging Australian species, such as sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus), azure kingfisher (Alcedo azurea), and striated fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus). The genus Niveoscincus to which the ocellated skink (N. ocellatus) and a number of its relatives belong, is largely restricted to this island. Other reptiles include white-lipped snake (Drysdalia coronoides), black tiger snake (Notechis ater), and White's skink (Egernia whitii). A species of giant freshwater crayfish (Astacopsis gouldi) is found in this ecoregion.
General Threats: Logging, plantation forestry, and fire threaten Tasmanian forests.
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