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 which denotes the region below 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
November 15, 2023
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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 which denotes the region below treeline Extent of montane grasslands and shrublandsThis 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 ecoregionsvteAngolan montane forest grassland mosaic AngolaAngolan Scarp savanna and woodlands AngolaDrakensberg alti montane grasslands and woodlands Lesotho South AfricaDrakensberg montane grasslands woodlands and forests Lesotho South Africa Eswatini Swaziland East African montane moorlands Kenya Sudan Tanzania UgandaEastern Zimbabwe montane forest grassland mosaic Mozambique ZimbabweEthiopian montane grasslands and woodlands Ethiopia SudanEthiopian montane moorlands Ethiopia SudanHighveld grasslands Lesotho South AfricaJos Plateau forest grassland mosaic NigeriaMadagascar ericoid thickets MadagascarMaputaland Pondoland bushland and thickets Mozambique South Africa Eswatini Swaziland Rwenzori Virunga montane moorlands Democratic Republic of the Congo Rwanda UgandaSouth Malawi montane forest grassland mosaic Malawi MozambiqueSouthern Rift montane forest grassland mosaic Malawi TanzaniaAustralasian montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvteAustralian Alps montane grasslands AustraliaCentral Range sub alpine grasslands Indonesia Papua New GuineaSouthland montane grasslands New ZealandIndomalayan montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvteKinabalu montane alpine meadows MalaysiaNeotropical montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvteCentral Andean dry puna Argentina Bolivia ChileCentral Andean puna Argentina Bolivia PeruCentral Andean wet puna Bolivia PeruCordillera Central paramo Ecuador PeruCordillera de Merida paramo VenezuelaHigh Monte ArgentinaNorthern Andean paramo Colombia EcuadorSanta Marta paramo ColombiaTalamanca Paramo Costa Rica PanamaSouthern Andean steppe Argentina ChileZacatonal Mexico GuatemalaPalearctic montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregionsvteAltai alpine meadow and tundra China Kazakhstan Mongolia RussiaCentral Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe ChinaEastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows Bhutan Myanmar China India NepalGhorat Hazarajat alpine meadow AfghanistanHindu Kush alpine meadow AfghanistanKarakoram West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe Afghanistan China India PakistanKhangai Mountains alpine meadow MongoliaKopet Dag woodlands and forest steppe Iran TurkmenistanKuh Rud and Eastern Iran montane woodlands IranMediterranean High Atlas juniper steppe MoroccoNorth Tibetan Plateau Kunlun Mountains alpine desert ChinaNorthwestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows China India PakistanOrdos Plateau steppe ChinaPamir alpine desert and tundra Afghanistan China Kyrgyzstan TajikistanQilian Mountains subalpine meadows ChinaSayan alpine meadows and tundra Mongolia RussiaSoutheast Tibet shrub and meadows ChinaSulaiman Range alpine meadows Afghanistan PakistanTian Shan montane steppe and meadows China Kazakhstan KyrgyzstanTibetan Plateau alpine shrublands and meadows ChinaWestern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows India NepalYarlung Zambo arid steppe ChinaSee also edit nbsp Environment portal nbsp Ecology portal nbsp Earth sciences portalMontane 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 1183302595, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
