The Central Range sub-alpine grasslands is a
montane grasslands and shrublands
Montane grasslands and shrublands is a biome defined by the World Wildlife Fund. The biome includes high elevation grasslands and shrublands around the world. The term "montane" in the name of the biome refers to "high elevation", rather than th ...
ecoregion
An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of l ...
on the island of
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
. The ecoregion covers the highest-elevation portions of the
New Guinea Highlands
The New Guinea Highlands, also known as the Central Range or Central Cordillera, is a long chain of mountain ranges on the island of New Guinea, including the island's tallest peak, Puncak Jaya , the highest mountain in Oceania. The range is home ...
, which extend along the spine of the island. The high elevations support rare tropical sub-alpine and alpine habitats, including many endemic plants and animals.
Geography
The ecoregion includes isolated areas above 3000 metres elevation in the Central Range, or Central Cordillera, of New Guinea, and some outliers in the mountains of the
Huon Peninsula
Huon Peninsula is a large rugged peninsula on the island of New Guinea in Morobe Province, eastern Papua New Guinea. It is named after French explorer Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec. The peninsula is dominated by the steep Saruwaged and Finister ...
. The Central Range extends east and west across New Guinea, with the western portion of the range in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
and the eastern portion in
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
. High-elevation areas in the highlands include the
Snow Mountains
The Sudirman Range, also known as the Snow Mountains,"Sudirman Mountains (Snow Mountains)". Papua Insects Foundation. Accessed 5 August 2021/ref> Dugunduguoo, or Nassau Range is a mountain range in Central Papua province, Indonesia. It is named a ...
in Indonesia's Papua Province, the
Star Mountains
The Star Mountains ( Dutch ( colonial)'': Sterrengebergte''; Indonesian'': Pegunungan Bintang'') are a mountain range in western Papua New Guinea and the eastern end of Highland Papua, Indonesia, stretching from the eastern end of Indonesia t ...
on the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea border, the Central and Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, and the
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. Its highest point is Mount Victoria at , while its most prominent peak is Mount Suckling.
History
Owen Stanley Range was seen in 1849 by Captain Owe ...
in Southeastern Papua.
[
Below 3000 metres elevation the sub-alpine grasslands transition to montane rain forests - the ]Central Range montane rain forests
The Central Range montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion on the island of New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the Central Range of the New Guinea Highlands, which extends along the spine of the island. The montane rain forests of ...
along most of the Central Range, the Southeastern Papuan rain forests in the southeast (Owen Stanley Range), and the Huon Peninsula montane rain forests
The Huon Peninsula montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion in New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the mountains of northeastern New Guinea's Huon Peninsula.
Geography
The ecoregion is made up of montane rain forests on the Huon Pe ...
on the Huon Peninsula.
Flora
Plant communities in the ecoregion include sub-alpine grasslands, shrublands, and heathlands, and alpine grasslands.
High mountain forests lie below the tree line, made up of conifers – species of ''Podocarpus
''Podocarpus'' () is a genus of conifers, the most numerous and widely distributed of the podocarp family, the Podocarpaceae. The name comes from Greek πούς (poús, “foot”) + καρπός (karpós, “fruit”). ''Podocarpus'' species ...
, Dacrycarpus
''Dacrycarpus'' is a genus of conifers belonging to the family Podocarpaceae.Christopher N. Page. 1990. "Podocarpaceae" pages 332-346. In: Klaus Kubitzki (general editor); Karl U. Kramer and Peter S. Green (volume editors) ''The Families and Gene ...
, Dacridium
''Dacrydium'' is a genus of conifers belonging to the podocarp family Podocarpaceae. Sixteen species of evergreen dioecious trees and shrubs are presently recognized. The genus was first described by Solander in 1786, and formerly included man ...
, Papuacedrus
''Papuacedrus papuana'' is a species in the conifer family Cupressaceae, the sole species in the genus ''Papuacedrus''. Some botanists do not consider this species as forming a distinct genus, but include it in the related genus '' Libocedrus''. ...
, Araucaria
''Araucaria'' (; original pronunciation: .ɾawˈka. ɾja is a genus of evergreen Conifer, coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae. There are 20 extant taxon, extant species in New Caledonia (where 14 species are endemism, ende ...
'', and ''Libocedrus
''Libocedrus'' is a genus of five species of coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to New Zealand and New Caledonia. The genus is closely related to the South American genera ''Pilgerodendron'' and '' Austrocedrus'', and ...
'' - and broadleaf trees in the myrtle family. The high mountain forests typically have a low, thin canopy and prominent understory. The tree line is approximately 3000 metres elevation, which is the upper boundary of the Central Range montane rain forests
The Central Range montane rain forests is a tropical moist forest ecoregion on the island of New Guinea. The ecoregion covers the Central Range of the New Guinea Highlands, which extends along the spine of the island. The montane rain forests of ...
ecoregion, but in places forests extend up to 3900 metres.[
sub-alpine communities include shrubby heaths of '']Rhododendron
''Rhododendron'' (; from Ancient Greek ''rhódon'' "rose" and ''déndron'' "tree") is a very large genus of about 1,024 species of woody plants in the heath family (Ericaceae). They can be either evergreen or deciduous. Most species are nati ...
, Vaccinium
''Vaccinium'' is a common and widespread genus of shrubs or dwarf shrubs in the heath family (Ericaceae). The fruits of many species are eaten by humans and some are of commercial importance, including the cranberry, blueberry, bilberry (whort ...
, Coprosma
''Coprosma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. It is found in New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Borneo, Java, New Guinea, islands of the Pacific Ocean to Australia and the Juan Fernández Islands.
Description
The name ''Copros ...
, Rapanea
''Rapanea'' is a genus of plant in family Primulaceae. It has often been placed in synonymy with ''Myrsine'', and many species have been moved to ''Myrsine''. , Plants of the World Online does not accept the genus, regarding it as a synonym of '' ...
'', and Saurauia
''Saurauia'' is a genus of plants in the family Actinidiaceae. It comprises about over 300 species distributed in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and South and Central America. Genetic evidence and the cell biology of the group support monophy ...
at the forest edges, savannas of tree ferns (''Cyathea
''Cyathea'' is a genus of tree ferns, the type genus of the fern order Cyatheales.
The genus name ''Cyathea'' is derived from the Greek ''kyatheion'', meaning "little cup", and refers to the cup-shaped sori on the underside of the fronds.
Des ...
'' spp.) above grasses, bogs, and grasslands. Low shrublands and ''Deschampsia
''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries. '' tussock grasslands occur immediately below the alpine zone.[
Alpine communities occur above 4000 metres, and are composed of compact herbs, including species of '' Ranuculus, ]Potentilla
''Potentilla'' is a genus containing over 300Guillén, A., et al. (2005)Reproductive biology of the Iberian species of ''Potentilla'' L. (Rosaceae).''Anales del Jardín Botánico de Madrid'' 1(62) 9–21. species of annual, biennial and perenni ...
, Gentiana
''Gentiana'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the gentian family (Gentianaceae), the tribe Gentianeae, and the monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species it is considered a large genus. They are notable for their mostl ...
'', and ''Epilobium
''Epilobium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Onagraceae, containing about 197 species. The genus has a worldwide distribution. It is most prevalent in the subarctic, temperate and subantarctic regions, whereas in the subtropics and ...
'', grasses including species of '' Poa'' and ''Deschampsia
''Deschampsia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family, commonly known as hair grass or tussock grass. The genus is widespread across many countries. '', ferns, mosses, and lichens. rosette and cushion herbs, low ferns, mosses, and lichens become more abundant at increasing altitudes, and replace grasses above 4,300 metres elevation. Permanent ice and snow and bare rock are found at the highest elevations.[
]
Fauna
Only nine mammals are native to the ecoregion. These include three marsupials (Doria's tree kangaroo
Doria's tree-kangaroo (''Dendrolagus dorianus'') is a long-tailed, furry, bear-like mammal found only in tropical mountain forests on the island of New Guinea (in Papua New Guinea). It is one of the largest tree-kangaroos (genus '' Dendrolagus'') ...
, (''Dendrolagus dorianus''), black-tailed dasyure
The black-tailed dasyure (''Murexia melanurus'') is a species of marsupial in the family Dasyuridae.
Range and habitat
The Black-tailed dasyure is native to New Guinea, where it ranges across the Central Cordillera of Western New Guinea, which ...
(''Murexia melanurus''), and a cuscus
Cuscus ( or ) is the common name generally given to the species within the four genera of Australasian possum of the family Phalangeridae with the most tropical distribution:
* ''Ailurops''
* ''Phalanger''
* ''Spilocuscus''
* ''Strigocuscus'' ...
), four murid rodents (the western shrew mouse
The western shrew mouse (''Pseudohydromys occidentalis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in West Papua (region), West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
References
*
Pseudohydromys
Rodents of Papua New Gui ...
(''Pseudohydromys occidentalis''), glacier rat
The glacier rat (''Rattus richardsoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to the New Guinea Highlands near Puncak Trikora (=Mt. Wilhelmina) and Puncak Jaya (=Carstensz Pyramid), West Papua, Indonesia. Its altitudinal r ...
(''Rattus richardsoni''), and alpine woolly rat
The alpine woolly rat (''Mallomys gunung'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
It is found only in West Papua, Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the I ...
(''Mallomys gunung''), and one other), and two microchiropteran bats. The western shrew mouse, glacier rat, and alpine wooly rat are endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the ecoregion.[
There are 84 native bird species in the ecoregion. Four species are strictly endemic – the ]Snow Mountain quail
The Snow Mountain quail (''Synoicus monorthonyx''), is a large, approximately 28 cm (11 in) long, dark brown quail of alpine grasslands. It was formerly considered the only member of the genus ''Anurophasis'', but phylogenetic analysis ...
(''Anurophasis monorthonyx''), Snow Mountain robin (''Petroica archboldi''), Short-bearded honeyeater (''Melidectes nouhuysi''), and Long-bearded honeyeater
The long-bearded honeyeater (''Melionyx princeps''), is a bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae.
This species was formerly placed in the genus ''Melidectes''. It was moved to the resurrected genus ''Melionyx'' based on the results of a mol ...
(''Melidectes princeps'').[
Another 20 limited-range bird species inhabit the ecoregion and the adjacent lower-elevation montane forests. These limited-range species include the ]painted tiger parrot
The painted tiger parrot (''Psittacella picta'') is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae.
It is mainly found in Papua New Guinea.
Description
The painted tiger parrot has green wings and tail, red cap, yellow eye, red rump and tiger ...
(''Psittacella picta''), Archbold's owlet-nightjar (''Aegotheles archboldi''), Alpine pipit (''Anthus gutturalis''), Papuan thornbill (''Acanthiza murina''), greater ground robin (''Amalocichla sclateriana''), Alpine robin (''Petroica bivittata''), blue-capped ifrita (''Ifrita kowaldi''), black sittella
The black sittella (''Daphoenositta miranda'') is one of two species of birds in the family Neosittidae.
It is found in endemic to New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-l ...
(''Daphoenositta miranda''), Lorentz's whistler (''Pachycephala lorentzi''), orange-cheeked honeyeater (''Oreornis chrysogenys''), Huon honeyeater (''Melidectes foersteri''), spangled honeyeater
The spangled honeyeater (''Melipotes ater'') is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae.
It is endemic to the Huon Peninsula (Papua New Guinea).
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest
Montane ecosystems are ...
(''Melipotes ater''), sooty honeyeater (''Melidectes fuscus''), Belford's honeyeater (''Melidectes belfordi''), rufous-backed honeyeater (''Ptiloprora guisei''), black-backed honeyeater (''Ptiloprora perstriata''), mountain firetail
The mountain firetail (''Oreostruthus fuliginosus'') is a common species of estrildid finch found in New Guinea. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000-50,000 km2. It is the only species in the genus ''Oreostruthus''.
It ...
(''Oreostruthus fuliginosus''), red satinbird
The red satinbird (''Cnemophilus sanguineus''), antenna satinbird or crested cnemophilus, formerly known as the sickle-crested bird-of-paradise is a species of bird in the family Cnemophilidae. It was formerly placed in the bird-of-paradise famil ...
(''Cnemophilus sanguineus''), MacGregor's bird of paradise (''Macgregoria pulchra''), brown sicklebill
The brown sicklebill (''Epimachus meyeri'') is a species of bird-of-paradise that is found in the mountain forests of New Guinea.
Its appearance resembles the closely related and larger black sicklebill. In areas where these two large sicklebills ...
(''Epimachus meyeri''), Princess Stephanie's astrapia
Stephanie's astrapia (''Astrapia stephaniae''), also known as Princess Stephanie's astrapia, is a species of bird-of-paradise of the family Paradisaeidae, native to the Bird's Tail Peninsula (Papua New Guinea). This species was first described b ...
(''Astrapia stephaniae''), splendid astrapia
The Splendid astrapia (''Astrapia splendidissima'') is a species of ''Astrapia'' of the birds-of-paradise family, Paradisaeidae, and one of the least known and most elusive of its family and genus.
Taxonomy and Subspecies
The Splendid astrapia ...
(''Astrapia splendidissima''), ribbon-tailed astrapia
The ribbon-tailed astrapia, also known as Shaw Mayer's astrapia (''Astrapia mayeri''), is a species of bird-of-paradise.
The ribbon-tailed astrapia is distributed and endemic to subalpine forests in western part of the central highlands of Papua ...
(''Astrapia mayeri''), and Huon astrapia (''Astrapia rothschildi'').[
]
Protected areas
40.25% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. These include Lorentz National Park
Lorentz National Park is a national park located in Central Papua, Indonesia, in the southwest of western New Guinea. With an area of 25,056 km2 (9,674 mi2), it is the largest national park in Southeast Asia. In 1999 Lorentz was declare ...
, Enarotali Nature Reserve, Pegunungan Wayland Nature Reserve, Pegunungan Jayawijaya Wildlife Reserve, Mount Wilhelm National Park, and YUS Conservation Area.[
]
External links
*
Central Range sub-alpine grasslands (DOPA Explorer)
References
{{reflist
Australasian ecoregions
Ecoregions of Indonesia
Ecoregions of New Guinea
Ecoregions of Papua New Guinea
*
Grasslands of Oceania
Montane grasslands and shrublands
Natural history of Western New Guinea