Fiji tropical dry forests

The Fiji tropical dry forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion in Fiji. The dry forests occupy the leeward northwestern portion of Fiji's two largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Fiji tropical dry forests
Mount Batilamu in Koroyanitu National Heritage Park
Location of the Fiji tropical dry forests (OC0201) in the Fijian islands.
Ecology
RealmOceanian
Biometropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
BordersFiji tropical moist forests
Geography
Area6,757 km2 (2,609 sq mi)
CountryFiji
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/endangered[1]
Protected204 km² (3%)[2]

Geography

The dry forests are in the rain shadow of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu's central mountains, which intercept the prevailing southeast trade winds.[1]

The Fijian islands are mostly volcanic in origin, with areas of uplifted coral limestone and sedimentary rock. The islands emerged from the sea between 5 and 20 million years ago.[1]

Climate

The climate is tropical and seasonally dry. Rainfall is from 1500 to 2250 mm annually, falling mostly during the December-to-April summer. The other months are relatively dry. Occasionally tropical cyclones hit the islands from the northwest between November and April.[1]

Flora

The natural vegetation of the ecoregion is tropical dry forest. The most widespread dry forest community was characterized Dacrydium nidulum and Fagraea gracilipes, with Myristica castaneifolia, Dysoxylum richii, Parinari insularum, Intsia bijuga, Syzygium spp., Aleurites moluccana, Ficus theophrastoides, the conifers Podocarpus neriifolius and Gymnostoma vitiense, the cycad Cycas seemannii and groves of bamboo (Bambusa spp.). Forests of the endemic sandalwood Santalum yasi, Casuarina equisetifolia, Gymnostoma vitiense and the climbing fern Lygodium scandens are found in drier areas.[1]

Frequent burning of the forest and subsequent erosion have reduced the dry forests to fragments. A sparse grass-fern plant community called talasiqa (meaning "sun burnt") is widespread in degraded areas. Talasiqa is characterized by the grass Sporobolus indicus and the ferns Pteridium aquilinum and Dicranopteris linearis. Other formerly-forested areas have been converted to a shrub savanna, with the tree Casuarina equisetifolia and a brushy understory that includes Mussaenda raiateensis, Decaspermum fruticosum, Dodonaea viscosa, C. seemannii, and the palm Pritchardia pacifica.[1]

Protected areas

A 2017 assessment found that 204 km², or 3%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[2] Protected areas include Koroyanitu National Heritage Park on Viti Levu.

  • "Fiji tropical dry forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  • Tropical Dry Forests of Fiji (UCLA)

References
  1. "Fiji tropical dry forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  2. Dinerstein, Eric; Olson, David; et al. (June 2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014.CS1 maint: date and year (link) Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
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