Southern Andean Yungas
Encyclopedia
The Southern Andean Yungas is a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion
in the Yungas
of southwestern Bolivia
and northwestern Argentina
.
evergreen forest, with trees typically less than 15 metres (49.2 ft) tall. Between 1200 to 2500 m (3,937 to 8,202.1 ft) the forest is dominated by Andean alder (Alnus acuminata
) and mountain pine (Podocarpus parlatorei
). At lower elevations these species mix with other trees, especially Lauraceae
and Myrtaceae
.
Mammals that may be found here include the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Cats include the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), margay (Felis wiedii), and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi).
Birds with ranges restricted to this ecoregion include the red-faced guan (Penelope dabbenei), Rothschild's swift (Cypseloides rothschildi), and the rufous-throated dipper (Cinclus schulzi).
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 Yungas
Yungas
The Yungas is a stretch of forest along the eastern slope of the Andes Mountains from southeastern Peru through central Bolivia. It is a transitional zone between the Andean highlands and the eastern forests. Like the surrounding areas, it has characteristics of the Neotropic ecozone...
of southwestern 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 northwestern 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...
.
Climate
This ecoregion has a subtropical highland climate. The climate is influenced by trade winds that bring about 2500 millimetres (98.4 in) of rain per year.Flora
The Southern Andean Yungas consists of a mesicMesic habitat
In ecology, a mesic habitat is a type of habitat with a moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture, e.g., a mesic forest, a temperate hardwood forest, or dry-mesic prairie. Compared to a dry habitat, a mesic habitat is moister....
evergreen forest, with trees typically less than 15 metres (49.2 ft) tall. Between 1200 to 2500 m (3,937 to 8,202.1 ft) the forest is dominated by Andean alder (Alnus acuminata
Alnus acuminata
Alnus acuminata Alnus acuminata Alnus acuminata (also called Alder is a species of tree in the Betulaceae family. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.-References:...
) and mountain pine (Podocarpus parlatorei
Podocarpus parlatorei
Podocarpus parlatorei is a species of Podocarpus, native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.It is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree...
). At lower elevations these species mix with other trees, especially Lauraceae
Lauraceae
The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of flowering plants included in the order Laurales. The family contains about 55 genera and over 3500, perhaps as many as 4000, species world-wide, mostly from warm or tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America...
and Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
.
Fauna
Many tropical species find the southern limit of their range in this ecoregion.Mammals that may be found here include the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), the collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), and the South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Cats include the jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), margay (Felis wiedii), and jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi).
Birds with ranges restricted to this ecoregion include the red-faced guan (Penelope dabbenei), Rothschild's swift (Cypseloides rothschildi), and the rufous-throated dipper (Cinclus schulzi).
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...
- Calilegua National ParkCalilegua National ParkThe Calilegua National Park is a national park of Argentina, located at the southeast of the province of Jujuy , at the Ledesma Department, on the eastern slopes of the Calilegua hills....
- Baritú National ParkBaritú National ParkThe Baritú National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Santa Victoria Department, in the north of the province of Salta, in the Argentine Northwest. The park borders Bolivia , and is more easily accessed through that country. It has an area of 720 square kilometres and it is the...
- El Rey National ParkEl Rey National ParkThe El Rey National Park is a national park of Argentina, located in the Anta Department, province of Salta, in the Argentine Northwest, 80 km from the provincial capital. It has an area of 441.62 km²....