Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests

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The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests (also Kathiarbar-Gir or Kathiawar-Gir) is a mostly arid ecoregion in northwestern India that stretches over Template:Convert across Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The dry deciduous forests in the region are dominated by teak, and thorny trees and scrub in drier areas.[1]

Landscape

File:Aravali Hills in winter fog.JPG
The Aravalli Range is part of this ecoregion

The Khathiar–Gir dry deciduous forests include the Aravalli Range, the high point of which is Mount Abu with an elevation of Template:Convert, and a small part of the Northwestern thorn scrub forests in the west. In the west is the Kathiawar Peninsula and the strip of western Rajasthan between the Aravalli Range and Thar Desert. To the northwest, the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests transit to the Upper Gangetic Plains moist deciduous forests. To the southeast lies the Narmada Valley dry deciduous forests, of the Vindhya Range, and the Narmada River Valley. The ecoregion also borders the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests in southeastern Gujarat.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The ecoregion has a tropical monsoon climate, with most of its 550 to 700 mm average annual rainfall during the June–September southwest monsoon and little for the remaining months of the year, while temperatures often exceed 40 °C. Higher elevations of the Aravallis stay cooler, and the windward slopes (generally southeast-facing) receive higher rainfall. This results in a dry landscape of thorny scrub, bare trees and rocks.[1]

Flora

File:Silk Cotton Tree ( Bombax ceiba) flowers.JPG
A silk-cotton tree in full bloom

The composition of the ecoregion's forests varies with moisture and soil. They have a three-storied structure, with the top story reaching Template:Convert. Arid areas are dominated by Anogeissus pendula growing in association with khair, especially on the quartzite ridges and gneiss hillocks of the Aravalli Range. Less arid areas are dominated by teak (Tectona grandis), bael (Aegle marmelos), Boswellia serrata, Desmodium oojeinense, Diospyros species, silk-cotton tree, Sterculia urens, Phyllanthus emblica, Dalbergia lanceolaria subsp. paniculata, and Terminalia elliptica. Thorn scrub forests, characterized by Euphorbia caducifolia, Gymnosporia emarginata, Senegalia senegal, Commiphora mukul, Wrightia tinctoria, Flueggea leucopyrus, Grewia species, occur on rocky Aravalli hillsides and in degraded areas. Date palms (Phoenix sylvestris) and fig trees (Ficus racemosa) grow near rivers and streams of the hills. Strobilanthes halbergii is endemic to the ecoregion.[1]

Mount Abu is covered in dry deciduous thorn forest at lower elevations, with semi-evergreen forest along watercourses and in higher-elevation valleys. Common trees include Terminalia coronata var. parvifolia, Boswellia serrata, Mangifera indica, Phoenix sylvestris, Ficus bengalensis, other Ficus spp. Carissa spinarum, Caesalpinia spp., and Zizyphus spp. 830 plant species from 112 families are native to Mount Abu, including the endemic species Dicliptera abuensis and 328 species of medicinal value.[2]

Fauna

Bird species include the:[1]

Mount Abu's range of habitats, including dry thorn forests and its relict semi-evergreen forests, make it an important area for birds. The mountain is home to two Critically Endangered species, the white-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus), and two Vulnerable species, the green munia (Amandava formosa) and white-naped tit (Machlolophus nuchalis). Mount Aravalli is home to the northernmost population of grey junglefowl (Gallus sonneratii), a mostly southern Indian species. The Aravalli red spurfowl (Galloperdix spadicea caurina) is a subspecies of red spurfowl endemic to the Aravalli Range, with its largest population on and around Mount Abu.[2]

The protected areas of this region are also home to 80 mammal species including[1]

Other native mammals include the northern plains gray langur (Semnopithecus entellus), small Indian civet (Viverricula indica), Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica), honey badger or ratel (Mellivora capensis), Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), and Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis).

Threats to biodiversity

The human population in the region is growing, and wildlife habitats have mostly been removed or degraded due to collection of firewood and timber, and use as grazing land for livestock.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Protected areas

Protected areas cover Template:Convert in this ecoregion, and include:[1]

See also

References

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External links

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Template:Ecoregions of India

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Template:WWF ecoregion
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