Eastern African Marine Ecoregion
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Select Terrestrial, Freshwater and Marine Conservation Targets/Biodiversity Elements/Features Across Multiple Biological and Spatial Scales
Standard 7: Select terrestrial, freshwater and marine conservation targets/biodiversity elements/features across multiple biological and spatial scales. [plan] Rationale It is necessary to define a subset of targets that best represent the biodiversity of an ecoregion to focus the assessment. Conservation targets should cover the suite of biological scales (species to communities, ecological systems and other targets), taxa, and ecological characteristics to adequately inform comprehensive biodiversity conservation. Targets should include coarse and fine filter targets. This includes using rare and endangered, wide ranging, migratory and keystone species, rare communities, and all ecological systems and/or ecosystem types, as well as additional targets that are useful in capturing the variety of biodiversity characteristics, scales and ecological processes. Recommended Products ,,,List, and attributes of fine-filter targets such as distribution (local, widespread), conservation status (threatened and endangered), endemic, wide-ranging, rare communities and coarse-filter targets (ecological systems and ecosystems) as well as other types of targets as appropriate. See the Ecoregional Assessment Data Standards 1.0 for required fields. Maps of occurrences of targets throughout the ecoregion. Description of data gaps for specific target groups and geographic areas. GUIDANCE A systematic approach to conservation planning demands that we be explicit about what features of biodiversity we are trying to conserve (Groves 2003). With the goal of conserving the biodiversity of an ecoregion, we need to define a subset of features to work with that will adequately capture that representation and variety. We refer to these features as conservation targets (Redford et al. 2003). Conservation targets are the species, communities, ecological systems 1 and surrogates that we focus our assessments on in order to capture the broad range of biodiversity as best we can. -
Benthic Macrofaunal Structure and Secondary Production in Tropical Estuaries on the Eastern Marine Ecoregion of Brazil
Benthic macrofaunal structure and secondary production in tropical estuaries on the Eastern Marine Ecoregion of Brazil Lorena B. Bissoli and Angelo F. Bernardino Grupo de Ecologia Bêntica, Department of Oceanography, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, ES, Brazil ABSTRACT Tropical estuaries are highly productive and support diverse benthic assemblages within mangroves and tidal flats habitats. Determining differences and similarities of benthic assemblages within estuarine habitats and between regional ecosystems may provide scientific support for management of those ecosystems. Here we studied three tropical estuaries in the Eastern Marine Ecoregion of Brazil to assess the spatial variability of benthic assemblages from vegetated (mangroves) and unvegetated (tidal flats) habitats. A nested sampling design was used to determine spatial scales of variability in benthic macrofaunal density, biomass and secondary production. Habitat differences in benthic assemblage composition were evident, with mangrove forests being dominated by annelids (Oligochaeta and Capitellidae) whereas peracarid crustaceans were also abundant on tidal flats. Macrofaunal biomass, density and secondary production also differed between habitats and among estuaries. Those differences were related both to the composition of benthic assemblages and to random spatial variability, underscoring the importance of hierarchical sampling in estuarine ecological studies. Given variable levels of human impacts and predicted climate change effects on tropical estuarine -
The Eastern Africa Coastal Forests Ecoregion
The Eastern Africa Coastal Forests Ecoregion Strategic Framework for Conservation 2005 – 2025 Strategic Framework for Conservation (2005–2025) The Eastern Afrca Coastal Forests Ecoregon Strategc Framework for Conservaton 2005–2025 The Eastern Africa Coastal Forests Ecoregion Publshed August 2006 Editor: Kimunya Mugo Design and layout: Anthony Mwangi Cover design: Kimunya Mugo Front cover main photo: WWF-EARPO / John SALEHE Front cover other photos: WWF-UK / Brent STIRTON / Getty Images Back cover photo: WWF-EARPO / John SALEHE Photos: John Salehe, David Maingi and Neil Burgess or as credited. © Graphics (2006) WWF-EARPO. All rights reserved. The material and geographic designations in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of WWF concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. WWF Eastern Africa Regional Programme Office ACS Plaza, Lenana Road P.O. Box 62440-00200 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 3877355, 3872630/1 Fax: +254 20 3877389 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.panda.org/earpo Strategic Framework for Conservation (2005–2025) Contents Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... iv Foreword........................................................................................................................... v Lst of abbrevatons and acronyms.............................................................................. v A new approach to -
Russia's Boreal Forests
Forest Area Key Facts & Carbon Emissions Russia’s Boreal Forests from Deforestation Forest location and brief description Russia is home to more than one-fifth of the world’s forest areas (approximately 763.5 million hectares). The Russian landscape is highly diverse, including polar deserts, arctic and sub-arctic tundra, boreal and semi-tundra larch forests, boreal and temperate coniferous forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, forest-steppe and steppe (temperate grasslands, savannahs, and shrub-lands), semi-deserts and deserts. Russian boreal forests (known in Russia as the taiga) represent the largest forested region on Earth (approximately 12 million km2), larger than the Amazon. These forests have relatively few tree species, and are composed mainly of birch, pine, spruce, fir, with some deciduous species. Mixed in among the forests are bogs, fens, marshes, shallow lakes, rivers and wetlands, which hold vast amounts of water. They contain more than 55 per cent of the world’s conifers, and 11 per cent of the world’s biomass. Unique qualities of forest area Russia’s boreal region includes several important Global 200 ecoregions - a science-based global ranking of the Earth’s most biologically outstanding habitats. Among these is the Eastern-Siberian Taiga, which contains the largest expanse of untouched boreal forest in the world. Russia’s largest populations of brown bear, moose, wolf, red fox, reindeer, and wolverine can be found in this region. Bird species include: the Golden eagle, Black- billed capercaillie, Siberian Spruce grouse, Siberian accentor, Great gray owl, and Naumann’s thrush. Russia’s forests are also home to the Siberian tiger and Far Eastern leopard. -
Potential Invasive Plant Expansion in Global Ecoregions Under Climate Change
Potential invasive plant expansion in global ecoregions under climate change Chun-Jing Wang1,2, Qiang-Feng Li2 and Ji-Zhong Wan1 1 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, China 2 College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Qinghai University, Xining, China ABSTRACT Climate change is increasing the risk of invasive plant expansion worldwide. However, few studies have specified the relationship between invasive plant expansion and ecoregions at the global scale under climate change. To address this gap, we provide risk maps highlighting the response of invasive plant species (IPS), with a focus on terrestrial and freshwater ecoregions to climate change, and further explore the climatic features of ecosystems with a high potential for invasive plant expansion under climate change. We use species distribution modelling to predict the suitable habitats of IPS with records at the global scale. Hotspots with a potential risk of IPS (such as aquatic plants, trees, and herbs) expanding in global ecoregions were distributed in Northern Europe, the UK, South America, North America, southwest China, and New Zealand. Temperature changes were related to the potential of IPS expansion in global ecoregions under climate change. Coastal and high latitude ecoregions, such as temperate forests, alpine vegetation, and coastal rivers, were severely infiltrated by IPS under climate change. Monitoring strategies should be defined for climate change for IPS, particularly for aquatic plants, trees, and herbs in the biomes of regions with coastal or high latitudes. The role of climate change on the potential for IPS expansion should be taken into consideration for biological conservation and risk evaluation of IPS at ecoregional scales. -
Overall Assessment of the State of the Coast in the Western Indian Ocean
36 Overall Assessment of the State of the Coast in the Western Indian Ocean José Paula Opposite page: Will the marine resources these girls collect in the tidal flats near Ulo village, north Mozambique, be available in the future for food security or will they benefit from economic development and depend on modern amenities instead? © José Paula. INTRODUCTION Pacific biogeographic realm, but its southwest limit enters the Temperate Southern Africa biogeographic realm This chapter offers an overall view of the state of the coast (Spalding and others, 2007). The WIO region presents such in the western Indian Ocean (WIO), by integrating the four uniqueness of features that render it a structural and func- sectorial assessments and following the Drivers – Pressures tional unity within the world global ocean (Obura and oth- – State – Impact – Response (DPSIR) methodology. It ers, 2012). The main portion of WIO region is also referred analyses the current condition of ecosystems, resources, to as the Eastern African Marine Ecoregion (WWF 2001). services and human activities and their expected evolution Geomorphological and oceanographic features define (state and trends) in response to root causes that drive change the character of the WIO (see detailed description in Chap- (drivers), further highlighting the ways these factors act on ter 1). The bathymetric structure influences water flows the environment and human related dependencies (pres- (Parson and Evans 2005), modulating the ecosystems’ sures) and their expected outcome on the environment and large-scale mosaics and associated biodiversity (Obura and livelihoods (impacts). Human societies adapt by acting on others, 2012). The main oceanographic features are the the drivers and pressures (responses) to mitigate impacts, monsoonal regime in the northern WIO and the equatorial aiming to maintain state of the environment or reverse current that diverges close to the mainland and produces negative trends. -
Grasslands 4/16/03 3:46 PM
Ecoregion: Grasslands 4/16/03 3:46 PM Grasslands INTRODUCTION About 25% of Earth’s land surface is covered by temperate grassland. These large expanses of flat or hilly country cover much of North America, as well as large areas of Europe, Asia, and South America. Most grasslands are found in the interiors of continents, where there is too little rainfall for a forest but too much rain for a desert. Art Explosion Art Explosion Rolling hills covered with grasses and very few trees A few scattered trees are found on savannas, are typical of North American grassland prairies. tropical grasslands of Africa. Temperate grasslands have subtle differences and different names throughout the world. Prairies and plains of North America are grasslands with tall grasses, while the steppes of Russia are grasslands with short grasses. Veldts are found in South Africa, the puszta in Hungary, and the pampas in Argentina and Uruguay. Savannas are tropical grasslands that support scattered trees and shrubs. They often form a transitional biome file:///Ecoregion/grass/content.html Page 1 of 6 Ecoregion: Grasslands 4/16/03 3:46 PM between deserts and rain forests. Some temperate grasslands are also called savannas. The word savanna comes from the Spanish word zavanna, meaning “treeless plain.” Savannas cover almost half of Africa (mostly central Africa) and large areas of Australia and South America. ABIOTIC DATA The grassland climate is rather dry, averaging about 20 to 100 centimeters (8–40 inches) of precipitation a year. Summers are very hot and may reach 45°C (113°F). Winter temperatures often fall below freezing, which is 0°C (32°F). -
Fact Sheet- Central California Coast Ecoregion
California State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) 2015 Central California Coast Region Annual and Perennial Grassland Habitat About Our Region and the Grassland Habitat Annual grassland habitats are open grasslands composed primarily of annual plant species such as introduced annual grasses and forbs. Annual grasslands also occur as understory plants in Valley Oak Woodland and other habitats. Perennial grassland habitats occur as coastal prairie and interspersed within annual grasslands. Vernal pools also are an important habitat component of many grassland systems. The structure of grasslands depends upon prevailing weather patterns and grazing. A number of wildlife species spend their entire life within grasslands while others use grasslands for foraging and breeding. What are the sensitive species found in the grassland habitat? The following 32 grassland dependent species from this region are found to be sensitive: Amphibian [3] CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER WESTERN SPADEFOOT RED-LEGGED FROG Reptile [1] BLUNT-NOSED LEOPARD LIZARD Bird [15] BURROWING OWL NORTHERN HARRIER CALIFORNIA CONDOR OREGON VESPER SPARROW GIANT KANGAROO RAT PURPLE MARTIN GRASSHOPPER SPARROW SAND-HILL CRANE GOLDEN EAGLE SHORT-EARED OWL LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE SWAINSON’S HAWK LONG-BILLED CURLEW TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD MOUNTAIN PLOVER Mammal [13] BIG FREE-TAILED BAT PALLID SAN DIEGO POCKET MOUSE CALIFORNIA LEAF-NOSED BAT POCKETED FREE-TAILED BATRINGTAIL HOARY BAT SOUTHERN GRASSHOPPER MOUSE JACUMBA POCKET MOUSE SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX LONG-EARED MYOTIS TOWNSEND BIG- EARED BAT MAINLAND -
Characterization of Ecoregions of Idaho
1 0 . C o l u m b i a P l a t e a u 1 3 . C e n t r a l B a s i n a n d R a n g e Ecoregion 10 is an arid grassland and sagebrush steppe that is surrounded by moister, predominantly forested, mountainous ecoregions. It is Ecoregion 13 is internally-drained and composed of north-trending, fault-block ranges and intervening, drier basins. It is vast and includes parts underlain by thick basalt. In the east, where precipitation is greater, deep loess soils have been extensively cultivated for wheat. of Nevada, Utah, California, and Idaho. In Idaho, sagebrush grassland, saltbush–greasewood, mountain brush, and woodland occur; forests are absent unlike in the cooler, wetter, more rugged Ecoregion 19. Grazing is widespread. Cropland is less common than in Ecoregions 12 and 80. Ecoregions of Idaho The unforested hills and plateaus of the Dissected Loess Uplands ecoregion are cut by the canyons of Ecoregion 10l and are disjunct. 10f Pure grasslands dominate lower elevations. Mountain brush grows on higher, moister sites. Grazing and farming have eliminated The arid Shadscale-Dominated Saline Basins ecoregion is nearly flat, internally-drained, and has light-colored alkaline soils that are Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and America into 15 ecological regions. Level II divides the continent into 52 regions Literature Cited: much of the original plant cover. Nevertheless, Ecoregion 10f is not as suited to farming as Ecoregions 10h and 10j because it has thinner soils. -
Taiga Plains
ECOLOGICAL REGIONS OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Taiga Plains Ecosystem Classification Group Department of Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Northwest Territories Revised 2009 ECOLOGICAL REGIONS OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES TAIGA PLAINS This report may be cited as: Ecosystem Classification Group. 2007 (rev. 2009). Ecological Regions of the Northwest Territories – Taiga Plains. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT, Canada. viii + 173 pp. + folded insert map. ISBN 0-7708-0161-7 Web Site: http://www.enr.gov.nt.ca/index.html For more information contact: Department of Environment and Natural Resources P.O. Box 1320 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 Phone: (867) 920-8064 Fax: (867) 873-0293 About the cover: The small photographs in the inset boxes are enlarged with captions on pages 22 (Taiga Plains High Subarctic (HS) Ecoregion), 52 (Taiga Plains Low Subarctic (LS) Ecoregion), 82 (Taiga Plains High Boreal (HB) Ecoregion), and 96 (Taiga Plains Mid-Boreal (MB) Ecoregion). Aerial photographs: Dave Downing (Timberline Natural Resource Group). Ground photographs and photograph of cloudberry: Bob Decker (Government of the Northwest Territories). Other plant photographs: Christian Bucher. Members of the Ecosystem Classification Group Dave Downing Ecologist, Timberline Natural Resource Group, Edmonton, Alberta. Bob Decker Forest Ecologist, Forest Management Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Hay River, Northwest Territories. Bas Oosenbrug Habitat Conservation Biologist, Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Charles Tarnocai Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Tom Chowns Environmental Consultant, Powassan, Ontario. Chris Hampel Geographic Information System Specialist/Resource Analyst, Timberline Natural Resource Group, Edmonton, Alberta. -
Impacts of Climate Change on the Worldts Most Exceptional Ecoregions
Impacts of climate change on the world’s most exceptional ecoregions Linda J. Beaumonta,b,1, Andrew Pitmanc, Sarah Perkinsc, Niklaus E. Zimmermannd, Nigel G. Yoccoze, and Wilfried Thuillerb aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; bLaboratoire d’Ecologie Alpine, Unité Mixte de Recherche Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 5553, Université de Grenoble, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble Cedex 9, France; cClimate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; dLandscape Dynamics, Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland; and eDepartment of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway Edited by Rodolfo Dirzo, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and approved December 16, 2010 (received for review June 6, 2010) The current rate of warming due to increases in greenhouse gas 200 would be of immense value to conservation efforts worldwide (GHG) emissions is very likely unprecedented over the last 10,000 y. because of their richness in endemic species, high taxonomic Although the majority of countries have adopted the view that uniqueness, unique ecological or evolutionary phenomena, global global warming must be limited to <2 °C, current GHG emission rarity, and their representation of biomes (16). However, the rates and nonagreement at Copenhagen in December 2009 increase majority of these regions are threatened by habitat loss, frag- the likelihood of this limit being exceeded by 2100. Extensive evi- mentation, and degradation, with 147 of 185 terrestrial and fi dence has linked major changes in biological systems to 20th cen- freshwater regions being classi ed as either vulnerable or critically fi tury warming. -
The Impact of Watamu Marine National Park on Marine Biodiversity & Habitats
The Impact of Watamu Marine National Park on Marine Biodiversity & Habitats A Conservation Research Project by A Rocha Kenya Robert Sluka, Benjamin Cowburn, Colin Jackson A Rocha Kenya, Watamu Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi — A Rocha Kenya Occasional Research Report #24 — August 2012 Impact of Watamu Marine National Park on Marine Biodiversity – A Rocha Kenya & KWS, 2012 Executive Summary The original project vision was “to study the impacts of Watamu Marine National Park (WMNP) on marine biodiversity, habitats, and animal behaviour through high level research and facilitate capacity building for East African marine research and volunteer-led marine conservation at Mwamba Field Study Centre, A Rocha Kenya, Watamu.” From the original proposal the main research goal was to collect baseline data that would provide a basis for identifying key research questions and areas of conservation concern within the National Park environment. During the 2011/2012 field season we were able to conduct three studies identified as important by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) who are the government institution managing the marine park: biodiversity of WMNP, Tourism Impacts on Coral Gardens, and Coral Recruitment studies. During these studies our taxonomic identification capacity grew to include fish and coral species found in WMNP and have focussed our attention on IUCN red list priority species for pursuing further data collection. In order to present at conferences and publish results in peer reviewed journals we are using data to produce two papers currently focusing on the results of the tourist study. We are working in a partnership with CORDIO to use our biodiversity data in another paper to be submitted in 2013.