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   09 Sep 2010
 
  
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 BERDS > FIND > ECOSYSTEM
Ecosystem Type:Deciduous broad-leaved lowland riparian shrubland in hills

General Ecotype:Shrubland

UNESCO Code:IIIB1b(f)H

Description:This community is found along fast flowing mountain streams of the Maya Mountains. Typically the vegetation is a mixture of vines, graminoid, herbaceous and shrubby species adapted to annual disturbance caused by sudden flash floods. Tree species have difficulty to get established in this highly dynamic habitat but isolated trees occur.


.:. IIIB1b(f)H .:.
map
Altitude:50 - 500 m.

Geology & Soil:Over non-calcareous rock but alluvial deposit moderately rich in calcium.

Water Regime:Well drained, but subject to submergence during flash floods.

Rainfall:Average rainfall mostly between 2000 and 3000 mm per year.

Fire Risk:None.

Frequent Plant Species: ecosystem imageThe trees are usually fast growing and short-lived species such as Ceiba pentandra and Schizolobium parahybum. Other characteristic species include: Acalypha spp., Byttneria sp., Calathea sp., Calliandra emarginata, Canna indica, Casearia sp., Castilia elastica, Cecropia obtusifolia, Cedrela odorata, Cestrum racemosum, Cordia aliodora, Critonia morifolia, Croton sp., Crysophila stauracantha, Ficus insipida, Gouania sp., Guazuma ulmifolia, Hamelia patens, Heliconia latispatha, Helicteres guazumifolia, Inga affinis, Ipomoea spp., Lonchocarpus guatemalensis, Maranta arundinaceae, Mimosa hondurana, Mucuna sp., Pleuranthodendron lindenii, Quararibea sp., Solanum americanum, Spondias mombin, Tripsacum latifolium, Waltheria indica and Xanthosoma sp.


Faunistic Comments:This habitat type appears to be a favored habitat for the endangered Central American Tapir Tapirus bairdii and critical breeding habitat for the even more endangered local subspecies of the Scarlet Macaw Ara macao cyanopteris.

References:Meerman 1999c, 1999d, Wright et al. 1959: 7;Iremonger and Brokaw 1995: I.2.2.2; II.2.3. SOURCE: Central American Ecosystems Map. Vol. II.

Picture: Tripsacum latifolium. Upper Macal River, Cayo district. J. Meerman.

Associated Resources:
We are sorry, no data records were found.
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