The Southern Zanzibar–Inhambane coastal forest mosaic, also known as the Southern Swahili coastal forests and woodlands, is a
tropical moist broadleaf forest 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 ...
of eastern Africa. It is a southern variation of
Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic
Northern may refer to the following:
Geography
* North, a point in direction
* Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe
* Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States
* Northern Province, Sri Lanka
* Northern Range, a ...
. The ecoregion supports habitats of
forest
A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...
,
savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland- grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
and
swamps. The southern portion of the ecoregion is not as well studied due to the 1977-1992
civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
in
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
.
Geography
The
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 ...
extends along the coast of
Tanzania
Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...
and
Mozambique
Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...
, from Tanzania's
Lukuledi River south almost the whole way to the mouth of the
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in South Africa and flows generally eastward through Mozambique to the Indian Ocean. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a group of Tsonga settlers led by Hosi Rivombo who settled in the mountain ...
.
It is mostly coastal, generally within 50 km of the Indian Ocean. It encompasses coastal lowlands, rolling hills, and isolated plateaus and inselbergs, including the
Rondo
The rondo is an instrumental musical form introduced in the Classical period.
Etymology
The English word ''rondo'' comes from the Italian form of the French ''rondeau'', which means "a little round".
Despite the common etymological root, rondo ...
and
Makonde plateaus in southern Tanzania, the
Mueda Plateau
The Mueda Plateau, also known as the Maconde Plateau, is a plateau in Cabo Delgado Province of northeastern Mozambique.
Geography
The Mueda Plateau lies between the Ruvuma River on the north, which forms the border with Tanzania, and the Messal ...
in northern Mozambique.
It includes some isolated mountainous enclaves further inland, including
Mount Chiperone,
Mount Mabu,
Mount Morrumbala,
Mount Namuli
Mount Namuli is the second highest mountain in Mozambique and the highest in the Province of Zambezia. It is high and was measured, surveyed and described in 1886 by Henry Edward O'Neill, the British consul in Mozambique. The Namuli massif con ...
, and
Mount Tumbine in northern Mozambique, and the southeastern slopes of the
Eastern Highlands
:''"Eastern Highlands" also refers to Eastern Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea, and part of the Great Dividing Range, Australia.''
The Eastern Highlands, also known as the Manica Highlands, is a mountain range on the border of Zimbabw ...
, including
Moribane forest. The mountains intercept humid southwesterly winds from the Indian Ocean, which form clouds and rain and create a cooler, wetter climate than the surrounding lowlands. These mountains are home to lowland evergreen forests with a similar flora to the coastal lowland forests, and higher-elevation montane forests, woodlands, grasslands, and heathlands which are home to many
Afromontane species. The
WWF scheme follows
Frank White's 1983 "Vegetation Map of Africa" by including these inland mountains in the coastal forest mosaic ecoregion. Other researchers, including Jonathan Timberlake of Kew Gardens, maintain that the flora and fauna of Northern Mozambique's interior inselbergs, especially at higher elevations, have greater affinity with the
Afromontane Eastern Arc forests
The Eastern Arc forests is a montane tropical moist forest ecoregion of eastern Africa. The ecoregion comprises several separate highland areas above 800 meters in Kenya, and (mostly) Tanzania.
Setting
The Eastern Arc forests extend across a tot ...
.
The ecoregion is bounded on the east by the
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by t ...
. To the north, it abuts the
Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic
Northern may refer to the following:
Geography
* North, a point in direction
* Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe
* Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States
* Northern Province, Sri Lanka
* Northern Range, a ...
. It transitions to drier open woodlands to the west – the
Eastern miombo woodlands at the northern end, the
Zambezian and mopane woodlands
The Zambezian and mopane woodlands is a tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion of southeastern Africa.
The ecoregion is characterized by the mopane tree ''(Colophospermum mopane)'', and extends across portions ...
in the central portion, and the
Southern miombo woodlands
The Southern miombo woodlands is a tropical grasslands and woodlands ecoregion extending across portions of Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
It is one of four miombo woodlands ecoregions that span the African continent south of the Con ...
at the southern end. To the south, it borders the
Maputaland coastal forest mosaic. It also includes some small offshore islands in Mozambique, including the
Quirimbas Islands
The Quirimbas Islands lie in the Indian Ocean off northeastern Mozambique, close to Pemba, the capital of the province of Cabo Delgado. The archipelago consists of about 32 islands, including Ibo, Matemo, Medjumbe, Quirimba, Metundo, Quisiva ...
and
Bazarruto Archipelago.
Climate
The climate is tropical in the northern portion, becoming sub-tropical at the southern end. In the area around Lindi in Tanzania there is one long dry season and one wet season. Rainfall is 800–1000 mm per year, and is higher on some of the plateaus and mountains. The climate is similar in the Mozambican portion, although rainfall is lower (800 mm) in northern Mozambique, which is in the
rain shadow of
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
. Mean maximum temperatures are 30-27 °C in the north and 24 °C in the south, and mean minimum temperature is 18-15 °C throughout the ecoregion.
Flora
The vegetation of the ecoregion is a mosaic of tropical moist forest, tropical dry forest, thicket,
miombo woodland
The Miombo woodland is a tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome (in the World Wide Fund for Nature scheme) located primarily in Central Africa. It includes four woodland savanna ecoregions (listed below) characterized b ...
, grassland, and wetland.
Dry forests and thickets are found in the northern portion of the ecoregion. This region, comprising southeastern Tanzania and northeastern Mozambique, is in the
rain shadow of
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
, and rainfall is lower (less than 1000 mm annually) than in the coastal forests to the north and south. The dry forests have a closed canopy, with a large proportion of deciduous species that lose their leaves in the long and hot dry season. Dense thickets form where dry forests have been disturbed by human activity. Dry forests are typically found on soils derived from iron-rich sandstone and conglomerates of the Mikindani Formation. Typical dry forest tree species in Mozambique's
Cabo Delgado Province
Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique. It has an area of and a population of 2,320,261 (2017). As well as bordering Mtwara Region in the neighboring country of Tanzania, it borders the provinces of Nampula and Niassa. The r ...
include ''
Manilkara sansibarensis
''Manilkara'' is a genus of trees in the family Sapotaceae. They are widespread in tropical and semitropical locations, in Africa, Madagascar, Asia, Australia, and Latin America, as well as various islands in the Pacific and in the Caribbean. ...
'', ''
Warneckea sansibarica
''Warneckea'' is a genus of plant in family Melastomataceae. It contains the following species (but this list may be incomplete):
* ''Warneckea cordiformis'' R. D. Stone
* ''Warneckea memecyloides'' (Benth.) H.Jacques-Felix
* ''Warneckea wildean ...
'', ''
Baphia macrocalyx
''Baphia macrocalyx'' is a species of plant in the family Fabaceae. It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania. It is threatened by habitat loss
Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a nat ...
'', and ''
Pteleopsis myrtifolia''. 738 plant species were identified from the dry forests of Cabo Delgado. The plant families with the most species include
Rubiaceae
The Rubiaceae are a family of flowering plants, commonly known as the coffee, madder, or bedstraw family. It consists of terrestrial trees, shrubs, lianas, or herbs that are recognizable by simple, opposite leaves with interpetiolar stipules a ...
with 84 species,
Leguminaceae subfamilies
Papilionoideae
The Faboideae are a subfamily of the flowering plant family Fabaceae or Leguminosae. An acceptable alternative name for the subfamily is Papilionoideae, or Papilionaceae when this group of plants is treated as a family.
This subfamily is widely ...
(43 species),
Mimosoideae
The Mimosoideae are a traditional subfamily of trees, herbs, lianas, and shrubs in the pea family (Fabaceae) that mostly grow in tropical and subtropical climates. They are typically characterized by having radially symmetric flowers, with petals ...
(29 species), and
Caesalpinioideae (24 species), and
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae, the spurge family, is a large family of flowering plants. In English, they are also commonly called euphorbias, which is also the name of a genus in the family. Most spurges, such as '' Euphorbia paralias'', are herbs, but some, ...
(41 species),
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae (from ''Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison Members of ...
(28 species), and
Lamiaceae (28 species). Human activity has fragmented the dry forests into small patches, and it is estimated that 80% have been lost in the last 100 to 150 years.
The Rondo, Chitoa, and Makonde plateaus and adjacent coastal lowlands of southeastern Tanzania, at the northern end of the ecoregion, are home to at least 76 endemic species of plants, along with several endemic species and subspecies of animals. The region is known as the Lindi sub-centre of endemism.
[Burgess, N.D., Clarke, G.P., Rodgers, W.A. (1998) "Coastal forests of eastern Africa: status, endemism patterns and their potential causes". ''Biological Journal of the Linnean Society'' (1998), 64: 337-367.]
There are fewer known endemics in the Mozambican portion of the ecoregion. ''
Cola clavata'' is an
endangered
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and in ...
tree endemic to the coastal forests of Sofala and Zambezia provinces in central Mozambique.
Fauna
Large mammals include the
African bush elephant (''Loxodonta africana''),
African buffalo (''Syncerus caffer''),
sable antelope
The sable antelope (''Hippotragus niger'') is an antelope which inhabits wooded savanna in East and Southern Africa, from the south of Kenya to South Africa, with a separate population in Angola.
Taxonomy
The sable antelope shares the genus ''Hi ...
(''Hippotragus niger''),
roan antelope (''H. equinus''), and
Lichtenstein's hartebeest
Lichtenstein's hartebeest (''Alcelaphus buselaphus lichtensteinii'')Wilson, Don E. & Reeder, DeeAnn M. (editors). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed), Johns Hopkins University Press, 2,142 ppAvailable ...
(''Alcelaphus buselaphus lichtensteinii''), which also inhabit the adjacent Eastern miombo woodlands.
Vincent's bush squirrel (''Paraxerus vincenti'') is
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 else ...
to
Mount Namuli
Mount Namuli is the second highest mountain in Mozambique and the highest in the Province of Zambezia. It is high and was measured, surveyed and described in 1886 by Henry Edward O'Neill, the British consul in Mozambique. The Namuli massif con ...
in Mozambique.
[
The northernmost portion of the ecoregion around Lindi in Southeastern Tanzania, including coastal forests and the Rondo, Chitoa, and Makonde plateaus, is home to several endemic and limited range species. These include the southern population of the primate ]Rondo dwarf galago
The Rondo dwarf galago (''Paragalago rondoensis'') or Rondo bushbaby is a species of primate in the family Galagidae. The dwarf galagos are the smallest members of the genus Galagoides.Wild, Gabby, and Justine Gwegime. "Rondo Dwarf Galago." EDGE ...
(''Paragalago rondoensis''), the endemic birds Reichenow's batis
Reichenow's batis (''Batis reichenowi'') is a passerine bird in the wattle-eye family, Platysteiridae occurring in southeast Tanzania in east Africa. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the forest batis.
Taxonomy
Reichenow's batis was d ...
(''Batis reichenowi'') and an endemic subspecies of green barbet
The green barbet (''Stactolaema olivacea'') is a species of bird in the Lybiidae family (African barbets). It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. It occurs in forests from sea level to . Its isolated populations are ...
(''Stactolaema olivacea hylophona''), the reptiles '' Melanoceps rondoensis'', '' Scolecoseps litapoensis'', '' Typhlops rondoensis'', and '' Chirindia rondoensis'', and two endemic butterfly species.[ The forests of the Lindi region are also home to populations of ]lemon dove
The lemon dove or cinnamon dove (''Columba larvata'') is a species of bird in the pigeon family (biology), family Columbidae found in montane forests of sub-Saharan Africa. The São Tomé lemon dove is usually treated as a subspecies. The lemon d ...
(''Columba larvata''), green-headed oriole
The green-headed oriole (''Oriolus chlorocephalus''), or montane oriole, is a species of bird in the family Oriolidae. It is found in eastern Africa.
Taxonomy and systematics Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized:
* ''O. c. amani'' - Be ...
(''Oriolus chlorocephalus''), and black-fronted bushshrike (''Chlorophoneus nigrifrons''), species generally found in montane forests further inland.[Jensen, Flemming P., Anders P. Tøttrup, and Kim D. Christensen (2005). "The avifauna of coastal forests in southeast Tanzania". ''Scopus'' 25: 122, December 2005.]
The Namuli apalis (''Apalis lynesi'') is a bird endemic to Mount Namuli.
The skinks '' Scelotes duttoni, Scelotes insularis'', and '' Lygosoma lanceolatum'' are endemic to the Bazaruto Archipelago.[
]
Protected areas
14.24% of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[ Protected areas within the ecoregion include:
* Rondo Forest Reserve, Tanzania
* Matibane Forest Reserve, Mozambique
* Inhamitanga Forest Reserve, Mozambique
* Nhapacué Forest Reserve, Mozambique
* ]Bazaruto National Park
The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (BANP) is a protected area in the Inhambane Province of Mozambique on the Bazaruto Archipelago.
The park was proclaimed on 25 May 1971. It is off the coast of the Vilanculos and Inhassoro districts, covering ...
, Mozambique
* Baixo Pinda Forest Reserve, Mozambique
* Caça do Gilé Wildlife Reserve (part), Mozambique
* Gorongosa National Park
Gorongosa National Park is at the southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the heart of central Mozambique, Southeast Africa. The more than park comprises the valley floor and parts of surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on nearby ...
(part), Mozambique
* Moribane Forest Reserve
The 144 km2 Moribane Forest Reserve (Portuguese: Reserva Florestal de Moribane) which was proclaimed in 1957, is a natural forest in the buffer zone of the 640 km2 Chimanimani National Reserve, and is situated 24 km north of Dombé ...
, Mozambique
* Pomene National Reserve, Mozambique
* Quirimbas National Park, Mozambique
See also
*Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests
The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest is a habitat type defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature and is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. Though these forests occur in climates that are warm year-round, and may receive ...
*Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands is a terrestrial biome defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature. The biome is dominated by grass and/or shrubs located in semi-arid to semi-humid climate regions of subtropical and t ...
References
External links
Eastern Africa Coastal Forests (WWF)
Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic (WWF)
Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic (Encyclopedia of Earth)
Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic (DOPA Explorer)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic
Afrotropical ecoregions
Ecoregions of Mozambique
Ecoregions of Tanzania
Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests