Montane grasslands and shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund.[1] The biome includes high elevation grasslands and shrublands around the world. The term "montane" in the name of the biome refers to "high elevation", rather than the ecological term that denotes the region below the treeline.
Extent of montane grasslands and shrublands
This biome includes high elevation (montane and alpine) grasslands and shrublands, including the puna and páramo in South America, subalpine heath in New Guinea and East Africa, steppes of the Tibetan plateaus, as well as other similar subalpine habitats around the world.[1]
The plants and animals of tropical montane páramos display striking adaptations to cool, wet conditions and intense sunlight. Around the world, characteristic plants of these habitats display features such as rosette structures, waxy surfaces, and abundant pilosity.[1]
The páramos of the northern Andes are the most extensive examples of this habitat type. Although ecoregion biotas are most diverse in the Andes, these ecosystems are distinctive wherever they occur in the tropics. The heathlands and moorlands of East Africa (e.g., Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Rwenzori Mountains), Mount Kinabalu of Borneo, and the Central Range of New Guinea are all limited in extent, isolated, and support endemic plants and animals.[1]
The montane grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau still support relatively intact migrations of Tibetan antelope (Pantholops Hodgsoni) and kiang, or Tibetan wild ass (Equus hemionus). A unique feature of many tropical páramos is the presence of giant rosette plants from a variety of plant families, such as Lobelia (Africa), Puya (South America), Cyathea (New Guinea), and Argyroxiphium (Hawai’i). These plant forms can reach elevations of 4,500–4,600 metres (14,800–15,100 ft) above sea level.[1]
Steppe – Ecoregion of plain grasslands without trees
Referencesedit
^ abcdef This article incorporates text available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license. World Wide Fund for Nature. "Montane Grasslands and Shrubland Ecoregions". from the original on 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
^Werger, MJA; van Bruggen, AC, eds. (1978). Biogeography and ecology of southern Africa. Springer. ISBN9789061930839.
^White, F (1983). The vegetation of Africa: A descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AETFAT/UNSO vegetation map of Africa. Natural Resources Research. Vol. 20. Paris, France: UNESCO.
External linksedit
Media related to Montane grasslands and shrublands at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
montane, grasslands, shrublands, also, montane, ecosystem, biome, defined, world, wildlife, fund, biome, includes, high, elevation, grasslands, shrublands, around, world, term, montane, name, biome, refers, high, elevation, rather, than, ecological, term, that. See also Montane ecosystem Montane grasslands and shrublands are a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund 1 The biome includes high elevation grasslands and shrublands around the world The term montane in the name of the biome refers to high elevation rather than the ecological term that denotes the region below the treeline Extent of montane grasslands and shrublands This biome includes high elevation montane and alpine grasslands and shrublands including the puna and paramo in South America subalpine heath in New Guinea and East Africa steppes of the Tibetan plateaus as well as other similar subalpine habitats around the world 1 The plants and animals of tropical montane paramos display striking adaptations to cool wet conditions and intense sunlight Around the world characteristic plants of these habitats display features such as rosette structures waxy surfaces and abundant pilosity 1 The paramos of the northern Andes are the most extensive examples of this habitat type Although ecoregion biotas are most diverse in the Andes these ecosystems are distinctive wherever they occur in the tropics The heathlands and moorlands of East Africa e g Mount Kilimanjaro Mount Kenya Rwenzori Mountains Mount Kinabalu of Borneo and the Central Range of New Guinea are all limited in extent isolated and support endemic plants and animals 1 Drier subtropical montane grasslands savannas and woodlands include the Ethiopian Highlands the Zambezian montane grasslands and woodlands and the montane habitats of southeastern Africa 1 2 3 The montane grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau still support relatively intact migrations of Tibetan antelope Pantholops Hodgsoni and kiang or Tibetan wild ass Equus hemionus A unique feature of many tropical paramos is the presence of giant rosette plants from a variety of plant families such as Lobelia Africa Puya South America Cyathea New Guinea and Argyroxiphium Hawai i These plant forms can reach elevations of 4 500 4 600 metres 14 800 15 100 ft above sea level 1 Contents 1 Montane grassland and shrubland ecoregions 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksMontane grassland and shrubland ecoregions editAfrotropical montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvte Angolan montane forest grassland mosaic Angola Angolan Scarp savanna and woodlands Angola Drakensberg alti montane grasslands and woodlands Lesotho South Africa Drakensberg montane grasslands woodlands and forests Lesotho South Africa Eswatini Swaziland East African montane moorlands Kenya Sudan Tanzania Uganda Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest grassland mosaic Mozambique Zimbabwe Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands Ethiopia Sudan Ethiopian montane moorlands Ethiopia Sudan Highveld grasslands Lesotho South Africa Jos Plateau forest grassland mosaic Nigeria Madagascar ericoid thickets Madagascar Maputaland Pondoland bushland and thickets Mozambique South Africa Eswatini Swaziland Rwenzori Virunga montane moorlands Democratic Republic of the Congo Rwanda Uganda South Malawi montane forest grassland mosaic Malawi Mozambique Southern Rift montane forest grassland mosaic Malawi Tanzania Australasian montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvte Australian Alps montane grasslands Australia Central Range sub alpine grasslands Indonesia Papua New Guinea Southland montane grasslands New Zealand Indomalayan montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvte Kinabalu montane alpine meadows Malaysia Neotropical montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvte Central Andean dry puna Argentina Bolivia Chile Central Andean puna Argentina Bolivia Peru Central Andean wet puna Bolivia Peru Cordillera Central paramo Ecuador Peru Cordillera de Merida paramo Venezuela High Monte Argentina Northern Andean paramo Colombia Ecuador Santa Marta paramo Colombia Talamanca Paramo Costa Rica Panama Southern Andean steppe Argentina Chile Zacatonal Mexico Guatemala Palearctic montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvte Altai alpine meadow and tundra China Kazakhstan Mongolia Russia Central Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe China Eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows Bhutan Myanmar China India Nepal Ghorat Hazarajat alpine meadow Afghanistan Hindu Kush alpine meadow Afghanistan Karakoram West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe Afghanistan China India Pakistan Khangai Mountains alpine meadow Mongolia Kopet Dag woodlands and forest steppe Iran Turkmenistan Kuh Rud and Eastern Iran montane woodlands Iran Mediterranean High Atlas juniper steppe Morocco North Tibetan Plateau Kunlun Mountains alpine desert China Northwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows China India Pakistan Ordos Plateau steppe China Pamir alpine desert and tundra Afghanistan China Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Qilian Mountains subalpine meadows China Sayan alpine meadows and tundra Mongolia Russia Southeast Tibet shrub and meadows China Sulaiman Range alpine meadows Afghanistan Pakistan Tian Shan montane steppe and meadows China Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tibetan Plateau alpine shrublands and meadows China Western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows India Nepal Yarlung Zambo arid steppe ChinaSee also edit nbsp Environment portal nbsp Ecology portal nbsp Earth sciences portal Montane ecosystems Ecosystems found in mountains Steppe Ecoregion of plain grasslands without treesReferences edit a b c d e f nbsp This article incorporates text available under the CC BY SA 3 0 license World Wide Fund for Nature Montane Grasslands and Shrubland Ecoregions Archived from the original on 2011 04 01 Retrieved 2019 05 29 Werger MJA van Bruggen AC eds 1978 Biogeography and ecology of southern Africa Springer ISBN 9789061930839 White F 1983 The vegetation of Africa A descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO AETFAT UNSO vegetation map of Africa Natural Resources Research Vol 20 Paris France UNESCO External links edit nbsp Media related to Montane grasslands and shrublands at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Montane grasslands and shrublands amp oldid 1213711811, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
