Central Andean puna
Encyclopedia
The Central Andean puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands
ecoregion
in the Andes
of southern Peru
, Bolivia
, and northern Argentina
.
s, lakes, plateau
s, and valleys. It transitions to the Central Andean wet puna
to the north and the Central Andean dry puna
to the south. Elevations range from 3200 to 6600 m (10,498.7 to 21,653.5 ft).
cold semi-arid. Precipitation ranges from 250 to 500 mm (9.8 to 19.7 in) per year.
s with rocks, bunchgrass, herbs
, moss
, and lichen
. Grasses are represented by the genera
Calamagrostis
, Agrostis
, and Festuca. Parasthrephia lepidophylla and Margyricarpus
are small bush species found here. Azorella compacta and Puya raimondi are shared with the wet puna. Polylepis
, Buddleja
, and Escallonia
are trees found at lower elevations.
). Threatened bird species include the royal cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae), the tamarugo conebill (Conirostrum tamarugense), James's flamingo (Phoenicopterus jamesi), and the giant coot (Fulica gigantea).
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Montane grasslands and shrublands is a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund. The biome includes high altitude grasslands and shrublands around the world....
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...
in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of southern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, and northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Setting
The landscape in this ecoregion consists of high mountains with permanent snow and ice, meadowMeadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
s, lakes, 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, and valleys. It transitions to the Central Andean wet puna
Central Andean wet puna
The Central Andean wet puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.-Setting:This ecoregion occurs above and consists of high-elevation, wet, montane grasslands amid lakes, plateaus, valleys, and high mountains. It is bordered on the west by the Sechura...
to the north and the Central Andean dry puna
Central Andean dry puna
The Central Andean dry puna is an ecoregion, in the Montane grasslands and shrublands biome, located in the Andean High plateau, in South America...
to the south. Elevations range from 3200 to 6600 m (10,498.7 to 21,653.5 ft).
Climate
The climate is Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
cold semi-arid. Precipitation ranges from 250 to 500 mm (9.8 to 19.7 in) per year.
Flora
Flora consists typically of open meadowMeadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
s with rocks, bunchgrass, herbs
Herbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
, moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
, and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
. Grasses are represented by the genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Calamagrostis
Calamagrostis
Calamagrostis, or Small-reed or Reedgrass, is a genus in the Grass family Poaceae with about 260 species that occur mainly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and the southern hemisphere. Towards equatorial latitudes, species of Calamagrostis generally occur at higher elevations in...
, Agrostis
Agrostis
Agrostis is a genus of over 100 species belonging to the grass family Poaceae, commonly referred to as the bent grasses...
, and Festuca. Parasthrephia lepidophylla and Margyricarpus
Margyricarpus
Margyricarpus pinnatus, commonly known as Pearlfruit, is an ornamental plant in the Rosaceae family, which is native to Southern America.-External links:*...
are small bush species found here. Azorella compacta and Puya raimondi are shared with the wet puna. Polylepis
Polylepis
Polylepis is a genus containing about twenty species of shrubs or trees native to the mid- and high-elevation regions of the tropical Andes. This group is unique in the rose family in that it is predominantly wind-pollinated. They are usually gnarled in shape, but in certain areas some trees are...
, Buddleja
Buddleja
Buddleja, often misspelled Buddleia but commonly known as the Butterfly Bush, is a genus of flowering plants. The generic name bestowed by Linnaeus honours the Reverend Adam Buddle , a botanist and rector in Essex, England, but who could never have seen a plant of the genus.-Classification:The...
, and Escallonia
Escallonia
Escallonia is a genus of flowering plants of the Escalloniaceae family.Commonly used as a hedging plant, it grows about 1 ft per year, and reaches between 4-8 ft in height. It is happy in coastal areas, but not very tolerant of dry winds....
are trees found at lower elevations.
Fauna
Darwin's rhea (Pterocnemia pennata) and the puna mouse (Punomys lemminus) are endemic mammal species found here. Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), guanaco (Lama guanicoe), chinchilla (Chinchilla brevicaudata), and viscacha (LagidiumLagidium
Lagidium is a genus of rodent in the family Chinchillidae.It contains the following species:* Northern Viscacha * Southern Viscacha * Wolffsohn's Viscacha...
). Threatened bird species include the royal cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae), the tamarugo conebill (Conirostrum tamarugense), James's flamingo (Phoenicopterus jamesi), and the giant coot (Fulica gigantea).
Natural areas
- Tariquía Flora and Fauna National ReserveTariquía Flora and Fauna National ReserveTariquía Flora and Fauna National Reserve is a protected area in the Tarija Department, Bolivia, situated in the Aniceto Arce Province, Burnet O'Connor Province, Gran Chaco Province and José María Avilés Province...
- Cordillera de Sama Biological ReserveCordillera de Sama Biological ReserveCordillera de Sama Biological Reserve is a protected area in Bolivia located in the Tarija Department, in the Cercado Province, Eustaquio Méndez Province and José María Avilés Province. It protects part of the Central Andean puna and Bolivian montane dry forests ecoregions.- External links :*...
- Aymara Lupaca Reserved Zone
- Salinas and Aguada Blanca National ReservationSalinas and Aguada Blanca National ReservationThe Salinas and Aguada Blanca National Reservations are located in Arequipa and Moquegua. Their main purpose is to preserve the flora, fauna and the landscapes formation. They lie within the Central Andean puna and Sechura Desert ecoregions.-Sources:...
- Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape ReserveCotahuasi Subbasin Landscape ReserveThe Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve is a protected area in Peru located in the Arequipa Region, La Unión Province. It protects part of the Central Andean puna and Sechura Desert ecoregions.- External links :*...