Tropical forest ecoregion
The Cuban moist forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion that occupies 21,400 km2 (8,300 sq mi; 5,300,000 acres) on Cuba and Isla de la Juventud . The ecoregion receives more than 2,000 mm (79 in) of rainfall annually, and does not have a dry season. Soils are usually derived from quartz , limestone , or serpentinites . Cuban moist forests can be differentiated into lowland forests (sea level to 400 m or 1,300 ft), sub-montane forests (400–800 m or 1,300–2,600 ft), and montane forests (800–1,900 m or 2,600–6,200 ft).[ 2]
Lowland forests
Lowland forests are found at elevations from sea level to 400 m (1,300 ft) and reach heights of 40 m (130 ft). They consist of three tree stories. The upper story includes achiotillo (Alchornea latifolia Carapa guianensis Manilkara valenzuelana Diospyros caribaeaOcotea floribundaOxandra laurifoliaTalauma minor Terminalia Ficus tree ferns , Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae . Epiphytes are abundant and varied, including the endemic Hymenodium crinitumOleandra articulataColumnea tinctaPsychotria pendulaCalyptronoma plumeriana Prestoea acuminata montana and Bactris cubensis Heliconia mosses , and liverworts are also important plants.[ 2]
Sub-montane forests
Sub-montane forests occur elevations of 400–800 m (1,300–2,600 ft). Typical sub-montane forests consist of two tree stories and an understory ; they reach a height of up to 30 m (98 ft) in height. Achiotillo (Alchornea latifolia Buchenavia capitataGuatteria blainiiLicaria jamaicensisTabebuia hypoleuca Zanthoxylum elephantiasisAmyris lineataPrunus myrtifolia Ditta myricoidesLaplacea Oxandra laurifoliaOcotea Rapanea ferrugineaPodocarpus Tree ferns , Myrtaceae and Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae flourish in the understory.
Sub-montane forests growing in ultisols reach a height of 20 m (66 ft) and have two stories with trees such as Calophyllum utileGuatteria cubensisMagnolia cristalensis Tabebuia dubia Zanthoxylum cubenseBactris cubensis [ 2]
Montane forests
Montane forests are found at elevations of 800–1,900 m (2,600–6,200 ft). These forests consist of two arboreal stories and reach a height of 20 m (66 ft). The upper story is dominated by barril (Cyrilla racemiflora Magnolia cubensis Persea anomalaLaplacea angustifoliaCleyera nimanimaeFreziera grisebachiiHaenianthus salicifoliusLyonia Torralbasia cuneataJuniperus saxicola Epiphytes , mosses , ferns , terrestrial orchids , and clubmosses are abundant.[ 2]
Fauna
Birds of Cuba's moist forests include the Cuban tody (Todus multicolor ), bee hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae ), Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus ),[ 3] Cuban solitaire (Myadestes elisabeth ), Cuban kite (Chondrohierax wilsonii ), red-legged honeycreeper (Cyanerpes cyaneus ), Cuban parakeet (Aratinga euops ), Stygian owl (Asio stygius ) and Gundlach's hawk (Accipiter gundlachi ).[ 2] Cuban solenodon (Atopogale cubana ), a small mammal , is endemic to the eastern montane forests along the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa mountain range. Other notable mammals include the hutias , 4-5 species of small to medium-sized, climbing rodents related to the guinea pig .[ 3]
See also
References
^ a b c d
Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference University of California Press . ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0
^ a b c d e "Cuban moist forests" . Terrestrial Ecoregions . World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 2009-04-21 .^ a b World Wildlife Fund, ed. (2001). "Cuban moist forests" . WildWorld Ecoregion Profile . National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2009-04-21 .
