Caatinga enclaves moist forests
Encyclopedia
The Caatinga enclaves moist forests are a tropical moist forest
ecoregion
of northeastern
Brazil
, which forms a series of discontinuous, island-like enclaves in the dry Caatingas xeric shrubland and thorn forests
and Cerrado
savannas
.
Brazil
. The enclaves are found mostly on four major regional plateau
s, the Chapada do Araripe
, Serra de Ibiapaba
, Serra de Baturité, and Serra da Borborema. The enclaves are found on windward
slopes and plateaus between 600 and 800 m (1,968.5 and 2,624.7 ft) elevation.
with four strata of vegetation and emergent tree
s taller than 30 m (98.4 ft). The forest is generally similar in composition to the Atlantic Forests further east, but includes species from the Caatinga
, Cerrado
, and Amazon Rainforest
as well. The emergent and canopy layers are made up mostly of tree species of the families Fabaceae
(Peltophorum dubium
), Meliaceae
(Cedrela fissilis
) and Apocynaceae
(Aspidosperma parvifolium
).
and the Atlantic Forest, and, to a lesser degree, the Caatinga
. Animals associated with this habitat include bird
s such as the Grey-breasted Parakeet
(Pyrrhura griseipectus), Ochraceous Piculet
(Picumnus limae), Ceará Gnateater
(Conopophaga lineata cearae) and Araripe Manakin
(Antilophia bokermanni), frogs such as Adelophryne baturitensis
and A. maranguapensis
, and lizard
s such as Mabuya arajara and Leposoma baturitensis. In contrast to other groups, only a single species of mammal
is endemic to these moist forests enclaves, the recently described Cariri climbing mouse
(Rhipidomys cariri).
and, consequently, IUCN. In general the status of other animals is comparably poorly known, but likely to be similar to that of the birds.
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests , also known as tropical moist forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome....
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of northeastern
Northeast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, which forms a series of discontinuous, island-like enclaves in the dry Caatingas xeric shrubland and thorn forests
Deserts and xeric shrublands
Deserts and xeric shrublands is a biome characterized by, relating to, or requiring only a small amount of moisture.-Definition and occurrence:...
and Cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
savannas
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands are a grassland terrestrial biome located in semi-arid to semi-humid climate regions of subtropical and tropical latitudes. Grasslands are dominated by grass and other herbaceous plants. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees...
.
Setting
The Caatinga enclaves moist forests cover an area of 4800 km² (1,853.3 sq mi) in northeasternNortheast Region, Brazil
The Northeast Region of Brazil is composed of the following states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia, and it represents 18.26% of the Brazilian territory....
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The enclaves are found mostly on four major regional plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
s, the Chapada do Araripe
Chapada do Araripe
The Chapada do Araripe, also known as the Serra do Araripe, is a chapada in northeastern Brazil. The chapada forms the boundary of Ceará and Pernambuco states, and forms the watershed between the Jaguaribe River of Ceará, which flows northward into the Atlantic, and the much larger basin of the...
, Serra de Ibiapaba
Serra de Ibiapaba
The Serra de Ibiapaba is an upland in northeastern Brazil, which lies on the boundary of Piauí and Ceará states. The range runs north and south, extending from near the Atlantic coast in the north to connect with the Serra do Araripe, which forms the southern boundary of Ceará...
, Serra de Baturité, and Serra da Borborema. The enclaves are found on windward
Windward and leeward
Windward is the direction upwind from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side"...
slopes and plateaus between 600 and 800 m (1,968.5 and 2,624.7 ft) elevation.
Flora
The main vegetation type is semi-deciduous forestAtlantic 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...
with four strata of vegetation and emergent tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s taller than 30 m (98.4 ft). The forest is generally similar in composition to the Atlantic Forests further east, but includes species from the Caatinga
Caatinga
Caatinga is a type of vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in the northeastern part of Brazil. The name "Caatinga" is a Tupi word meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation"...
, Cerrado
Cerrado
The Cerrado, is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Gioas and Minas Gerais...
, and Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
as well. The emergent and canopy layers are made up mostly of tree species of the families Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
(Peltophorum dubium
Peltophorum dubium
Peltophorum dubium is a tree in the Fabaceae family, and subfamily Caesalpinioideae. This species is known as the Ibirá-pitá in Argentina and Paraguay, arbol de Artigas in Uruguay, and Cana-fístula in Brazil. It is a large tree, growing around 20-25 meters, with a rectangular trunk.* Foliage:...
), Meliaceae
Meliaceae
The Meliaceae, or the Mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs in the order Sapindales....
(Cedrela fissilis
Cedrela fissilis
Cedrela fissilis is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. This plant is currently threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
) and Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
(Aspidosperma parvifolium
Aspidosperma parvifolium
Aspidosperma parvifolium Aspidosperma parvifolium Aspidosperma parvifolium (syn. Aspidosperma argenteum Müll.Arg., Aspidosperma australe Müll.Arg., Aspidosperma pyricollum Müll.Arg., Aspidosperma olivaceum Müll.Arg., Aspidosperma vargasii A.DC., Aspidosperma ulei Markgr., Macaglia australis...
).
Fauna
Fauna associated with this habitat shows a strong connection with both the Amazon RainforestAmazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
and the Atlantic Forest, and, to a lesser degree, the Caatinga
Caatinga
Caatinga is a type of vegetation, and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in the northeastern part of Brazil. The name "Caatinga" is a Tupi word meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation"...
. Animals associated with this habitat include bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s such as the Grey-breasted Parakeet
Grey-breasted Parakeet
The Grey-breasted Parakeet is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to Ceará in north-eastern Brazil and restricted to a few mountains with relatively humid forest and woodland in a region otherwise dominated by arid Caatinga.Until recently, it was considered a subspecies of...
(Pyrrhura griseipectus), Ochraceous Piculet
Ochraceous Piculet
The Ochraceous Piculet is a species of bird in the Picidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
(Picumnus limae), Ceará Gnateater
Rufous Gnateater
The Rufous Gnateater is a passerine bird of the gnateater family, Conopophagidae. It is found in forest understory and bushes in eastern Brazil from Rio Grande do Sul north to Ceará. Its range also extends into eastern Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina and it has recently been recorded in Uruguay...
(Conopophaga lineata cearae) and Araripe Manakin
Araripe Manakin
The Araripe Manakin is a critically endangered bird from the family of Manakins . It was discovered in 1996 and scientifically described in 1998. The species epithet commemorates Brazilian zoologist and wildlife filmmaker Werner Bokermann, who died in 1995...
(Antilophia bokermanni), frogs such as Adelophryne baturitensis
Adelophryne baturitensis
Adelophryne baturitensis is a species of frog in the Leptodactylidae family.It is endemic to Brazil.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and plantations ....
and A. maranguapensis
Adelophryne maranguapensis
Adelophryne maranguapensis is a species of frog in the Eleutherodactylidae family. It is endemic to a mountain named as Serra de Maranguape, State of Ceará, Northern Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical humid forests and plantations in high altitudinal sites on the Serra de...
, and lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s such as Mabuya arajara and Leposoma baturitensis. In contrast to other groups, only a single species of mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
is endemic to these moist forests enclaves, the recently described Cariri climbing mouse
Cariri climbing mouse
The Cariri climbing mouse, Rhipidomys cariri, is a partly arboreal rodent species from South America. It is known from two mesic localities in Ceara, northeastern Brazil, within the semiarid caatinga ecoregion. It has been found in areas under cultivation. Cariri is the name of an administrative...
(Rhipidomys cariri).
Conservation
Most birds endemic to these moist forests enclaves are considered threatened, primarily due to habitat loss, by BirdLife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
and, consequently, IUCN. In general the status of other animals is comparably poorly known, but likely to be similar to that of the birds.