Pernambuco interior forests

Pernambuco interior forests

The Pernambuco interior forests is an ecoregion of eastern Brazil. It is part of the larger Atlantic forests complex, and lies between the coastal Pernambuco coastal forests and the dry Caatinga shrublands of Brazil's interior.

etting

The Pernambuco interior forests cover an area of 22,700 square kilometers (8,800 square miles), extending across portions of Paraíba, Pernambuco, and Alagoas states. They extend from the Curimataú River in the north to the São Francisco River in the south. The Pernambuco interior forests lie inland from the Pernambuco coastal forests, extending from sedimentary plateaus near the coast up the eastern slopes of the Borborema Plateau. In the northern portion of the ecoregion, the interior forests lie close to the coast, just behind the coastal Rio Piranhas mangroves and Atlantic coast restingas.

Climate

The climate is tropical. Annual rainfall ranges from 1,250 to 1,750 mm, with a dry season from October to March.

Flora

The predominant forest type is the four-tiered (emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor) Atlantic semi-deciduous forest, with emergent trees reaching up to 35 meters. Many trees shed their leaves during the October to March dry season. Characteristic emergent and canopy trees include "Astronium fraxinifolium" (family Anacardiaceae), "Enterolobium contortisiliquum" (Leguminosae), "Cordia trichotoma" (Boraginaceae), and "Tabebuia chrysotricha" (Bignoniaceae). The Pernambuco interior forests are home to the largest remaining populations of Brazilwood or Pau-Brasil, "(Caesalphinia echinata)"

Fauna

Many species are endemic to the Pernambuco interior and coastal forests. Bird species include the Buff-breasted Tody-tyrant "(Hemitriccus mirandae)", White-winged Cotinga "(Xipholena atropurpurea)", Seven-coloured Tanager "(Tangara fastuosa)", and Yellow-faced Siskin "(Carduelis yarrellii)".

Conservation and threats

Only 5% of the original forest remains; the rest has been cleared for timber and fuel wood, agriculture, or cattle ranching. Most of the remaining forest remnants are small (1-10 hectares) and species-impoverished.

As of 1997, only three protected areas covered portions of the ecoregion, protecting an area of 90 square kilometers of forest. The Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve, in Quebrangulo, Alagoas, is an important refuge for the endangered and threatened birds of the ecoregion.

References and external links

* [http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0152_full.html Pernambuco interior forests (World Wildlife Fund)]
* [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0152.html Pernambuco interior forests (National Geographic)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pernambuco coastal forests — The Pernambuco coastal forests are a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of northeastern Brazil, part of the larger Atlantic Forest region.ettingThe Pernambuco coastal forests occupy an 80 km wide strip along the Atlantic coast of… …   Wikipedia

  • Pernambuco — Infobox Brazilian State name = State of Pernambuco motto = anthem = capital = Recife latd= |latm= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longEW= largest city = Recife demonym = Pernambucano leader name1 = Eduardo Campos leader name2 = João Lyra Neto area =… …   Wikipedia

  • Atlantic semi-deciduous forests — The Atlantic semi deciduous forests, also known as the Atlantic interior forests, are a belt of tropical moist broadleaf forests that are part of the Atlantic Forests complex of eastern Brazil. The semi deciduous forests form a transitional zone… …   Wikipedia

  • Atlantic Forest — Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves * UNESCO World Heritage Site Virgin Mata Atlântica in Pernambuco …   Wikipedia

  • List of ecoregions in Brazil — The following is a list of ecoregions in Brazil, as defined by the WWF:Terrestrial ecoregionsby major habitat typeTropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests*Araucaria moist forests (Argentina, Brazil) *Atlantic Coast restingas (Brazil)… …   Wikipedia

  • List of ecoregions (WWF) — This is a list of ecoregions as compiled by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The WWF identifies terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecoregions.The terrestrial scheme divides the Earth s land surface into 8 terrestrial ecozones, containing 867… …   Wikipedia

  • Neotropic ecozone — For the musical artist, see Neotropic (band). The Neotropic Ecozone In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Neotropic ecoregions by bioregion — Amazonia bioregion= Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests*Caqueta moist forests (Brazil, Colombia) *Guianan moist forests (Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela) *Gurupa varzea (Brazil) *Iquitos varzea (Bolivia, Brazil,… …   Wikipedia

  • Neotropique — Néotropique Le néotropique est l une des huit écozones ou régions biogéographiques terrestres. Carte du Néotropique Ce type de projection cartographique surestime les surfaces septentrionales de l hémisphère nord L écozone néotropique comprend la …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Néotropique — Carte du Néotropique Ce type de projection cartographique surestime les surfaces septentrionales de l hémisphère nord Le néotropique ou le néotropical est l une des huit écozones ou régions biogéographiques terrestres. Dans la nomenclature d… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”