Madagascar succulent woodlands

Madagascar succulent woodlands
	Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava
Ecology
Realm	Afrotropical
Biome	Deserts and xeric shrublands
Borders	Madagascar dry deciduous forests, Madagascar subhumid forests, Madagascar spiny forests
Animals	Standing's day gecko, flat-backed spider tortoise
Bird species	Appert's greenbul
Mammal species	Malagasy giant rat, Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, Verreaux's sifaka, narrow-striped mongoose
Geography
Area	79,700 km2 (30,800 sq mi)
Country	Madagascar
Elevation	0–600 metres (0–1,969 ft)
Coordinates	22°36′S 44°36′E
Geology	Sands, sandstone, limestone, metamorphic, and igneous basement rocks
Climate type	Hot semi-arid climate (BSh)
Soil types	Sandy
Conservation
Conservation status	Critical, endangered

The Madagascar succulent woodlands are a xeric shrublands ecoregion in southwestern and central western Madagascar. They are threatened by various human activities.

Geography

The succulent woodlands are found in the southwest and centre-west of Madagascar, in the rain shadow region that receives less moisture than the east and the Central Highlands. The climate is tropical and dry, with rainfall ranging from 575 to 1,330 mm per year, and a marked dry season from May to October.[1]

To the north, the succulent woodlands make a transition into the Madagascar dry deciduous forests, while to the south, they border the even drier Madagascar spiny thickets and to the east, the Madagascar subhumid forests.[1]

Flora

The vegetation is similar to the dry deciduous forests to the north, but includes more dry-adapted, xerophytic species. Forests, reaching 15 metres (49 ft) in height, contain trees and shrubs of the families Burseraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, and Sapindaceae. Notable endemics include two species of baobab, Adansonia za and A. grandidieri (near threatened and endangered, respectively), and succulents in the genus Pachypodium.[1]

Fauna

Between 60 and 90 bird species and eight lemur species are found in the ecoregion and a number of mammals, frogs, and reptiles are endemic to the area.[1] A notable lemur species is the endangered Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, the world's smallest primate.[2]

Threats and conservation

The Madagascar succulent woodlands are threatened by burning, logging (which impacts species such as the endemic tree Hazomalania voyroni), cattle and goat farming, and hunting of several mammals. Protected areas include Zombitse-Vohibasia National Park, Andranomena Reserve, Kirindy Mitea National Park, and Kirindy Forest.[1]

References

Crowley, H. (2004). "114 – Madagascar Succulent Woodlands". In Burgess, N.; D'Amico Hales, J.; Underwood, E.; et al. (eds.). Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment (PDF). World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments (2nd ed.). Washington D.C.: Island Press. pp. 417–418. ISBN 978-1559633642. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-01.
Goodman, S.M.; Ganzhorn, J.U.; Rakotondravony, D. (2003). "Introduction to the Mammals". In Goodman, S.M.; Benstead, J.P. (eds.). The Natural History of Madagascar. Chicago, London: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 1159–1190. ISBN 978-0226303062.

External links

"Madagascar succulent woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

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[Crowley2004-succulent-woodlands-1] Crowley, H. (2004). "114 – Madagascar Succulent Woodlands". In Burgess, N.; D'Amico Hales, J.; Underwood, E.; et al. (eds.). Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment (PDF). World Wildlife Fund Ecoregion Assessments (2nd ed.). Washington D.C.: Island Press. pp. 417–418. ISBN 978-1559633642. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-01.

[Goodman2003-2] Goodman, S.M.; Ganzhorn, J.U.; Rakotondravony, D. (2003). "Introduction to the Mammals". In Goodman, S.M.; Benstead, J.P. (eds.). The Natural History of Madagascar. Chicago, London: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 1159–1190. ISBN 978-0226303062.