Bahamian dry forests
Encyclopedia
The Bahamian dry forests are a tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest
ecoregion in the Bahamas
and the Turks and Caicos Islands
, covering an area of 4800 km² (1,853.3 sq mi). They are found on much of the northern Bahamas, including Andros
, Abaco
, and Grand Bahama
, where they are known as coppices. Dry forests are distributed evenly throughout the Turks and Caicos.
spray and rocky, calcareous
soil
. Trees that grow in Whiteland Coppices include Cinnecord (Acacia
choriophylla), Brasiletto (Caesalpinia
vesicaria), Haulback tree (Mimosa
bahamensis), Autograph tree (Clusia
rosea), Manchineel tree
(Hippomane mancinella), West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni
), Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera
), Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba
), Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto
), and Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum
). The understory features Snake Bark (Colubrina
arborescens) as well as cacti
such as Erect Prickly Pear (Opuntia stricta
), Turk's Cap Cactus (Melocactus
intortus), Queen of the Night (Selenicereus grandiflorus
), and Robin Tree Cactus (Pilosocereus
polygonus).
(Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis). Trees found within them include West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni
), Red Cedar (Cedrela odorata
), False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum
), Horseflesh (Lysiloma
sabicu), Pigeon Plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula
), Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba
), and Lancewood (Nectandra
coriacea). Shaded by the canopy, plants such as Satin Leaf (Chrysophyllum
oliviforme), Spanish Stopper (Eugenia
foetida
), Bahama Wild Coffee (Psychotria
ligustrifolia
), Bahama Strongbark (Bourreria
succulenta), Night-scented Orchid (Epidendrum nocturnum
), Wormvine Orchid (Vanilla barbellata), and Potbelly Airplant (Tillandsia paucifolia
) grow in the understory
.
outcrop
pings between mangrove
s and pineyards. These forests are often flooded at high tide
. They are dominated by Spiny Black Olive (Bucida
molinetii), but Swietenia mahagoni
and Cedrela odorata
also grow within them.
(Natalus tumidifrons), rock iguanas (Cyclura
spp.), the Bahamian Hutia
(Geocapromys ingrahami), and the Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala bahamensis).
Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest biome, also known as tropical dry forest, is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Though these forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive several hundred centimeters of rain per year, they have long dry seasons...
ecoregion in the Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
and the Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands, known for tourism and as an offshore financial centre.The Turks and...
, covering an area of 4800 km² (1,853.3 sq mi). They are found on much of the northern Bahamas, including Andros
Andros, Bahamas
Andros Island is an archipelago within the archipelago-nation of the Bahamas, the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands. Geo-politically considered a single island, Andros has an area greater than all the other 700 Bahamian islands combined...
, Abaco
Abaco Islands
The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand...
, and Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
, where they are known as coppices. Dry forests are distributed evenly throughout the Turks and Caicos.
Whiteland Coppice
Whiteland Coppices are shrubby forests that occur near the ocean. Vegetation occurring in Whiteland Coppice is able to withstand saltHalophyte
A halophyte is a plant that grows where it is affected by salinity in the root area or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. An example of a halophyte is the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora . Relatively few plant species are...
spray and rocky, calcareous
Calcareous
Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...
soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. Trees that grow in Whiteland Coppices include Cinnecord (Acacia
Acacia
Acacia is a genus of shrubs and trees belonging to the subfamily Mimosoideae of the family Fabaceae, first described in Africa by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. Many non-Australian species tend to be thorny, whereas the majority of Australian acacias are not...
choriophylla), Brasiletto (Caesalpinia
Caesalpinia
Caesalpinia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. Membership within the genus is controversial, with different publications including anywhere from 70 to 165 species, depending largely on the inclusion or exclusion of species alternately listed under genera such as...
vesicaria), Haulback tree (Mimosa
Mimosa
Mimosa is a genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs, in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word μιμος , meaning "mimic."...
bahamensis), Autograph tree (Clusia
Clusia
Clusia is the type genus of the family Clusiaceae. Comprising 140-150 species, it is native to tropical and subtropical America. Its species are shrubs, vines and small to medium-size trees up to 20 m tall, with evergreen foliage...
rosea), Manchineel tree
Manchineel tree
The Manchineel tree, Hippomane mancinella, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family , native to Florida in the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America...
(Hippomane mancinella), West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni, commonly known as the West Indies Mahogany, is a species of Swietenia native to southern Florida, USA, The Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. It is the species from which the original mahogany wood was produced....
), Sea Grape (Coccoloba uvifera
Coccoloba uvifera
Coccoloba uvifera is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, that is native to coastal beaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean, including southern Florida, the Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda...
), Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba
Bursera simaruba
Bursera simaruba, commonly known as the Gumbo-limbo, is a tree species in the family Burseraceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas from the southeasternmost United States south through Mexico and the Caribbean to Brazil and Venezuela...
), Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto
Sabal palmetto
Sabal palmetto, also known as cabbage palm, palmetto, cabbage palmetto, palmetto palm, blue palmetto, Carolina palmetto, common palmetto, swamp cabbage and sabal palm, is one of 15 species of palmetto palm . It is native to the southeastern United States, Cuba, and the Bahamas...
), and Poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum
Metopium toxiferum
Metopium toxiferum is a species of flowering tree in the cashew or sumac family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to the American neotropics...
). The understory features Snake Bark (Colubrina
Colubrina
Colubrina is a genus of about 30 species of flowering plants in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions of Africa, the Americas, southern Asia, northern Australia, and the Indian Ocean islands. Common names include nakedwood, snakewood, greenheart and hogplum...
arborescens) as well as cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
such as Erect Prickly Pear (Opuntia stricta
Opuntia stricta
Opuntia stricta is a species of cactus from southern North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. Common names include Erect Prickly Pear and Nopal Estricto ....
), Turk's Cap Cactus (Melocactus
Melocactus
Melocactus is a genus of cactus with about 40 species. They are native to the Caribbean, northern South America, with some species along the Andes down to southern Peru, and a concentration of species in northeastern Brazil....
intortus), Queen of the Night (Selenicereus grandiflorus
Selenicereus grandiflorus
Selenicereus grandiflorus is a cactus species originating from the Antilles, Mexico and Central America. The species is commonly referred to as Nightblooming Cereus, Queen of the Night , Large-flowered Cactus, Sweet-Scented Cactus or Vanilla Cactus. The true species is extremely rare in cultivation...
), and Robin Tree Cactus (Pilosocereus
Pilosocereus
Pilosocereus is a genus of cactus.The commonly cultivated Pilosocereus pachycladus is a blue cactus with hairy areoles that emit golden spines.-Synonymy:...
polygonus).
Blackland Coppice
Blackland Coppice covers the interior of many of the islands, usually in elevated regions. For this reason some Blackland Coppice exists on hills entirely surrounded by forests of Caribbean PineCaribbean Pine
The Caribbean Pine, Pinus caribaea, is a hard pine native to Central America, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It inhabits tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, which include both lowland savannas and montane forests...
(Pinus caribaea var. bahamensis). Trees found within them include West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni, commonly known as the West Indies Mahogany, is a species of Swietenia native to southern Florida, USA, The Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. It is the species from which the original mahogany wood was produced....
), Red Cedar (Cedrela odorata
Cedrela odorata
Cedrela odorata . The genus Cedrela has undergone two major systematic revisions since 1960. The most recent revision reduced the number of species in the genus to seven . The common cedro, Cedrela odorata L., embraces 28 other named species, including C. mexicana M. J...
), False Mastic (Sideroxylon foetidissimum
Sideroxylon foetidissimum
Sideroxylon foetidissimum, commonly known as False Mastic, is a species of flowering plant in the chicle family, Sapotaceae. It is native to Florida in the United States, the Caribbean, and northern Central America.-External links:...
), Horseflesh (Lysiloma
Lysiloma
Lysiloma is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae.-Selected species:* Lysiloma acapulcense Benth.* Lysiloma candidum Brandegee* Lysiloma divaricatum J.F.Macbr....
sabicu), Pigeon Plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula
Piscidia piscipula
Piscidia piscipula, commonly named Florida fishpoison tree, Jamaican dogwood or Fishfuddle, is a medium-sized, deciduous, tropical tree endemic to southern Florida, the Florida Keys, Texas, Caribbean, and Latin America. Native Americans of the West Indies discovered extracts from the tree could...
), Gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba
Bursera simaruba
Bursera simaruba, commonly known as the Gumbo-limbo, is a tree species in the family Burseraceae, native to tropical regions of the Americas from the southeasternmost United States south through Mexico and the Caribbean to Brazil and Venezuela...
), and Lancewood (Nectandra
Nectandra
Nectandra is a genus of plant in family Lauraceae.-Overview:Plants from this genus have been used in the treatment of several clinical disorders in humans. It has been demonstrated that Nectandra plants have potential analgesic, antiinflammatory, febrifuge, energetic and hypotensive activities...
coriacea). Shaded by the canopy, plants such as Satin Leaf (Chrysophyllum
Chrysophyllum
Chrysophyllum is a genus of about 70-80 species of tropical trees, growing rapidly to 10–20 m or more in height. The genus is native to tropical regions throughout the world, with the greatest number of species in northern South America. One species, C...
oliviforme), Spanish Stopper (Eugenia
Eugenia
Eugenia is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It has a worldwide, although highly uneven, distribution in tropical and subtropical regions. The bulk of the approximately 1,000 species occur in the New World tropics, especially in the northern Andes, the Caribbean, and the...
foetida
Eugenia foetida
Eugenia foetida is a member of the family Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, and is colloquially referred to as "Spanish Stopper" or "Boxleaf Stopper."...
), Bahama Wild Coffee (Psychotria
Psychotria
Psychotria is a plant genus of 1900 species in the family Rubiaceae. Members of the genus are low trees in tropical forests. The distinction between Psychotria and the genus Cephaelis are not well known and many species were formerly placed there....
ligustrifolia
Psychotria ligustrifolia
Psychotria ligustrifolia is a species of plant in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas.-References:* *...
), Bahama Strongbark (Bourreria
Bourreria
Bourreria is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as strongbark or strongback. The generic name was chosen by Patrick Browne to honour German pharmacist Johann Ambrosius Beurer.-Selected species:* Bourreria baccata Raf.* Bourreria...
succulenta), Night-scented Orchid (Epidendrum nocturnum
Epidendrum nocturnum
Epidendrum nocturnum is the type species of the genus Epidendrum of the Orchidaceae .The species occurs in Florida, Bahamas, West Indies, Central America to northern Brazil and the Guyanas...
), Wormvine Orchid (Vanilla barbellata), and Potbelly Airplant (Tillandsia paucifolia
Tillandsia paucifolia
Tillandsia paucifolia is a species of the genus Tillandsia. This species is native to Costa Rica, Mexico, Venezuela, southern United States, and the Bahamas.-Cultivars:* Tillandsia 'Aleta'* Tillandsia 'Ask Harry'* Tillandsia 'Asombroso'...
) grow in the understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
.
Rocky Coppice
Rocky Coppice occurs on limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
outcrop
Outcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
pings between mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s and pineyards. These forests are often flooded at high tide
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
. They are dominated by Spiny Black Olive (Bucida
Bucida
Bucida is a genus of flowering plants in the Indian almond family, Combretaceae. It contains the following species :* Bucida angustifolia * Bucida buceras L...
molinetii), but Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni
Swietenia mahagoni, commonly known as the West Indies Mahogany, is a species of Swietenia native to southern Florida, USA, The Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola. It is the species from which the original mahogany wood was produced....
and Cedrela odorata
Cedrela odorata
Cedrela odorata . The genus Cedrela has undergone two major systematic revisions since 1960. The most recent revision reduced the number of species in the genus to seven . The common cedro, Cedrela odorata L., embraces 28 other named species, including C. mexicana M. J...
also grow within them.
Fauna
Fauna that reside within Bahamian dry forests includes the Bahaman Funnel-eared BatBahaman Funnel-eared Bat
The Bahaman Funnel-eared Bat is a species of bat in the Natalidae family.This bat is endemic to the Bahamas, in the northeastern Caribbean.-References:...
(Natalus tumidifrons), rock iguanas (Cyclura
Cyclura
Cyclura is a genus of lizards from the family Iguanidae. Members of this genus are known as "cyclurids" or more commonly as rock iguanas and only occur on islands in the West Indies...
spp.), the Bahamian Hutia
Bahamian Hutia
The Bahamian Hutia or Ingraham's Hutia is a species of rodent in the Capromyidae family.Geocapromys ingrahami is endemic to the Bahamas.-Habitat:...
(Geocapromys ingrahami), and the Cuban Amazon (Amazona leucocephala bahamensis).