South Saharan steppe and woodlands

The South Saharan steppe and woodlands, also known as the South Sahara desert, is a deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion of northern Africa. This band is a transitional region between the Sahara's very arid center (the Sahara desert ecoregion) to the north, and the wetter Sahelian Acacia savanna ecoregion to the south.[1] In pre-modern times, the grasslands were grazed by migratory gazelles and other ungulates after the rainfalls. More recently, over-grazing by domestic livestock have degraded the territory.[1] Despite the name of the ecoregion, there are few 'woodlands' in the area; those that exist are generally acacia and shrubs along rivers and in wadis.[2]

South Saharan steppe and woodlands
map of the South Saharan steppe and woodlands
Ecology
RealmPalearctic
BiomeDeserts and xeric shrublands
Geography
Area1,101,700 km2 (425,400 sq mi)
Countries
Conservation
Conservation statusrelatively intact

Location and description

The ecoregion covers 1,101,700 square kilometers (425,400 sq mi) in Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Sudan. It extends east and west across the continent in a band, forming a transition between the hyper-arid Sahara Desert to the north and the Sahel grasslands and savannas to the south.[3] [2] [1]

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Hot semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification (BSh)). This climate is characteristic of steppes, with hot summers and cool or mild winters, and minimal precipitation. The coldest month averages above 0 °C (32 °F).[4][5] Movements of the equatorial Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) bring summer rains during July and August which average 100 to 200 mm, but vary greatly from year to year. These rains sustain summer pastures of grasses and herbs, with dry woodlands and shrublands along seasonal watercourses.[6]

Flora and fauna

Almost 99% of the region is bare ground or sparse vegetation that is dependent on uncertain rainfall. The grasses are typically canegrass (Eragrostis), needlegrasses (Aristida), and species of genus Stipagrostis. The herbs include (Tribulus), (Heliotropium), and (Pulicaria). Characteristic tree species are the umbrella thorn acacia (Acacia tortilis), salam (Acacia ehrenbergiana), Egyptian balsam (Balanites aegyptiaca), and (Maerua crassifolia). Along the southern edge are steppes featuring clumps of bunchgrass (Panicum turgidum).[1]

Most of the animals of the region have been reduced to small populations, including the critically endangered addax (also known as the white antelope) (Addax nasomaculatus), the endangered slender-horned gazelle (Gazella leptoceros), the vulnerable Dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), the critically endangered dama gazelle (Gazella dama), the near threatened striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the vulnerable cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the endangered wild dog (Lycaon pictus), and the ostrich (Struthio camelus).[1]

Ecoregion delineation

In 2001, WWF devised Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World (TEOW) "a biogeographic regionalization of the Earth's terrestrial biodiversity".[7] The 2001 regionalization divided the deserts of the Sahara into several ecoregions. The South Saharan steppe and woodlands ecoregion included the transitional region between the Sahelian Acacia savanna and the Sahara's hyper-arid center, designated the Sahara desert ecoregion.[8][9]

In 2017, the authors of the 2001 system proposed a revised ecoregion system for the Sahara. The South Saharan steppe and woodlands ecoregion was extended into the central Sahara, and renamed South Sahara desert. Two new ecoregions, the West Sahara desert and East Sahara desert, were designated in the hyper-arid center.[10]

Protected areas

Approximately 11% of the ecoregion is officially protected in some form.[2] These include:

References
  1. "South Saharan steppe and woodlands". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  2. "South Saharan steppe and woodlands". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  3. "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  4. Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006. "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  6. "South Saharan steppe and woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  7. "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  8. "South Saharan steppe and woodlands". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  9. Olson, DM; Dinerstein, E; Wikramanayake, ED; Burgess, ND; et al. (2001). "Terrestrial ecoregions of the world: a new map of life on Earth". BioScience. 51 (11): 933–938. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:TEOTWA]2.0.CO;2.
  10. 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. PMID 28608869. S2CID 13136188.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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