Kirindy Forest: Difference between revisions
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=== Reptiles === |
=== Reptiles === |
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Some of the local reptiles present are: Labord's chameleon, various plated lizards, Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, big-headed gecko, Madagascar ground boa, giant hog-nosed snake, spear-nosed snake and kapidolo.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trevelyan |first1=Rosie |title=REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS OF KIRINDY |url=http://www.tropical-biology.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Kirindy-reptiles_11.pdf}}</ref> |
Some of the local reptiles present are: Labord's chameleon, various plated lizards, Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, big-headed gecko, Madagascar ground boa, giant hog-nosed snake, spear-nosed snake and kapidolo.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trevelyan |first1=Rosie |title=REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS OF KIRINDY |url=http://www.tropical-biology.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Kirindy-reptiles_11.pdf}}</ref> |
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== Flora == |
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=== Trees and Plants === |
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Madagascar is known to have a very rich flora with thousands of different species of trees and plants. The Kirindy forest is home to much endemic flora <ref name="(Weaber et al., 2009)." />. Three main species of baobab trees can be found there. Most of the canopy top is about 14 meters in height, but in wetter parts (e.g. in [[riparian zone]]s) it may almost triple in vertical extent. There are three species of baobab trees present: ''[[Adansonia grandidieri]]'', ''[[Adansonia rubrostipa]]'' and ''[[Adansonia za]]''.<ref name="Schatz2001">George E. Schatz, ''Generic Tree flora of Madagascar'', Royal botanic Gardens, Kew, Crowmwell Press, United Kingdom (2001) {{ISBN|1-900347-82-2}}</ref> . The [[Adansonia rubrostipa]] also known as fony baobab. (Baum, 1995)<ref name="Baum, D.A. (1995)" />. It usually has a bottle shaped trunk with major horizontal branches. It can range between 5 and 20 meters. (Baum, 1995)<ref name="Baum, D.A. (1995)">{{cite journal |last1=Baum |first1=David A. |title=The Comparative Pollination and Floral Biology of Baobabs (Adansonia- Bombacaceae) |journal=Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden |date=1995 |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=322 |doi=10.2307/2399883}}</ref>. The [[Adansonia za]], a tall tree that ranges from 20 to 30 meters also grows in the forest. Another baobab species endemic to the forest is the [[Adansonia grandidieri]], also known as Grandidier's baobab. This endemic tree is the biggest of the six species of baobab. Measuring up to 30 meters <ref name="Baum, D.A. (1995)">{{cite journal |last1=Baum |first1=David A. |title=The Comparative Pollination and Floral Biology of Baobabs (Adansonia- Bombacaceae) |journal=Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden |date=1995 |volume=82 |issue=2 |pages=322 |doi=10.2307/2399883}}</ref>. |
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=== Fruits === |
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These trees and plants develop an important number of fruits yearly which are contributing to the biodiversity of the forest.<ref name="Lukasic" /> By the beginning of the rainy season, these fruits contain both [[Seed|seeds]] and [[pulp]] of high nutritive value which attract many [[Insect|insects]] and [[Animal|animals]].<ref name="Lukasic">{{cite journal |last1=Łukasik |first1=P. |last2=Johnson |first2=T. |title=Arthropod communities and succession in baobab, Adansonia rubrostipa, fruits in a dry deciduous forest in Kirindy Forest Reserve, Madagascar |journal=African Entomology |date=2007 |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=214–220 |doi=10.4001/1021-3589-15.1.214}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 00:43, 20 May 2021
| Kirindy Forest | |
|---|---|
 Verreaux's sifakas at the Kirindy Forest Reserve | |
| Nearest city | Morondava |
| Coordinates | 20°04′12″S 44°39′25″E / 20.070000°S 44.6569°E |
Kirindy Forest or Kirindy Private Reserve is a private park situated in the western Madagascar, 50 km northeast of the town of Morondava.[1]The forest was earlier operated as an experimental sustainable timber harvesting scheme, which has not left indelible scars on the region.
Geography and climate
Location
The Kirindy forest is located within the Kirindy Mitea National Park. The forest is in the Toliary (Tuléar) Province, situated 60km south-west of the town of Morondava and approximately 21 km east of Belo‐sur‐Mer. Located at 44°39'E and 200 03'S [2]. The Kirindy Forest is said to be one of the largest areas of protected dry forest in Madagascar[3]. It is known for having a unique level of biodiversity [4].
Climate
The Krindy Forest’s climate is highly seasonal and tropical [5]. The cold and dry season generally takes place from March - April to November - December of each year. A season during which most trees shed their leaves. [6] The wet and hot season, also referred to as the rainy season[7] typically takes place from November - December to March - April. Some precipitations can be observed during this season which make the forest that makes access more difficult' hard to access [8] The annual rainfall is concentrated throughout the brief rainy season with an average of approximately 800mm of rainfall every year in the region. Temperatures range yearly between 19°C and 40°C((104 °F)) with an annual mean of 25°C.[5]
Fauna
The Fauna includes over sixty-five species of reptiles and amphibians. Fifty-five species of birds were also identified in the forest as well as thirty-one species of mammals.
Lemurs
There are a number of species of nocturnal lemurs present: Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (the world's smallest primate), red-tailed sportive lemur, pygmy mouse lemur, gray mouse lemur, pale fork-marked lemur, Coquerel's giant mouse lemur, Verreaux's sifaka, red-fronted brown lemur, and the fat-tailed dwarf lemur.
Most of the species in the Kirindy forest are endemic and endangered due to different threats [4]. Dozens of endemic lemurs are present in the Kirindy forest weighting from 0.02kg to 7kg [9]. Two species are endemic to this specific region. The Malagasy giant jumping rat (Hypogeomys antimena) endangered due to multiple factors such as habitat loss, slow reproduction, and limited range [3]. Kirindy Forest may be best known as the only location where the endangered giant jumping rat (Hypogeomys antimena) occurs. This animal can hop like a miniature kangaroo, but is also seen walking on all four limbs. The Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae), a nocturnal primate. This primate is the smallest primate in the world (Gron 2009. The Lepilemur ruficaudatus is also present in the forest, a nocturnal lemur that weights on average 800 g [6]. Red-fronted Brown Lemurs (Eulemur fulvus rufus) can also be observed in Kirindy Forest[6].
Mammals
These mammals include various species of lemurs.[3] but further mammalian species of fossa, narrow-striped mongoose, common tenrec, greater hedgehog tenrec and are also found here.[10] The Foosa is also one of the 31 species of mammals inhabiting the forest. According to [7], by 2050, this species will go extinct if the deforestation rates stay this high.
Reptiles
Some of the local reptiles present are: Labord's chameleon, various plated lizards, Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko, big-headed gecko, Madagascar ground boa, giant hog-nosed snake, spear-nosed snake and kapidolo.[11]
Flora
Trees and Plants
Madagascar is known to have a very rich flora with thousands of different species of trees and plants. The Kirindy forest is home to much endemic flora [8]. Three main species of baobab trees can be found there. Most of the canopy top is about 14 meters in height, but in wetter parts (e.g. in riparian zones) it may almost triple in vertical extent. There are three species of baobab trees present: Adansonia grandidieri, Adansonia rubrostipa and Adansonia za.[12] . The Adansonia rubrostipa also known as fony baobab. (Baum, 1995)[13]. It usually has a bottle shaped trunk with major horizontal branches. It can range between 5 and 20 meters. (Baum, 1995)[13]. The Adansonia za, a tall tree that ranges from 20 to 30 meters also grows in the forest. Another baobab species endemic to the forest is the Adansonia grandidieri, also known as Grandidier's baobab. This endemic tree is the biggest of the six species of baobab. Measuring up to 30 meters [13].
Fruits
These trees and plants develop an important number of fruits yearly which are contributing to the biodiversity of the forest.[14] By the beginning of the rainy season, these fruits contain both seeds and pulp of high nutritive value which attract many insects and animals.[14]
See also
References
- ^ "Kirindy Private Reserve". Travel Madagascar.
- ^ Ehrensperger, Tabea; Urech, Zora Lea; Rehnus, Maik; Sorg, Jean-Pierre (2013). "Fire impact on the woody plant components of dry deciduous forest in Central Menabe, Madagascar". Applied Vegetation Science. 16 (4): 619–628. doi:10.1111/avsc.12034.
- ^ a b c Whitehurst, Amanda S.; Sexton, Joseph O.; Dollar, Luke (April 2009). "Land cover change in western Madagascar's dry deciduous forests: a comparison of forest changes in and around Kirindy Mite National Park". Oryx. 43 (02): 275. doi:10.1017/S0030605309001756.
- ^ a b "Illegal corn farming menaces a Madagascar protected area". Mongabay Environmental News. 21 February 2019.
- ^ a b Briggs, Philip. "Weather & Climate – Kirindy Forest".
- ^ a b c "New Directions in Lemur Studies". 1999. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-4705-1.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b Norscia, Ivan; Carrai, Valentina; Borgognini-Tarli, Silvana M. (1 August 2006). "Influence of Dry Season and Food Quality and Quantity on Behavior and Feeding Strategy of Propithecus verreauxi in Kirindy, Madagascar". International Journal of Primatology. 27 (4): 1001–1022. doi:10.1007/s10764-006-9056-x.
- ^ a b Waeber, P.O.; Wilmé, L.; Ramamonjisoa, B.; Garcia, C.; Rakotomalala, D.; Rabemananjara, Z.H.; Kull, C.A.; Ganzhorn, J.U.; Sorg, J.-P. (1 August 2015). "Dry forests in Madagascar: neglected and under pressure". International Forestry Review. 17 (2): 127–148. doi:10.1505/146554815815834822.
- ^ Geracimos, Ann (1 June 2013). "Looking for lemurs in Madagascar". Washington Post.
- ^ "Kirindy Forest *** | Lemurs of Madagascar". www.lemursofmadagascar.com. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
- ^ Trevelyan, Rosie. "REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS OF KIRINDY" (PDF).
- ^ George E. Schatz, Generic Tree flora of Madagascar, Royal botanic Gardens, Kew, Crowmwell Press, United Kingdom (2001) ISBN 1-900347-82-2
- ^ a b c Baum, David A. (1995). "The Comparative Pollination and Floral Biology of Baobabs (Adansonia- Bombacaceae)". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 82 (2): 322. doi:10.2307/2399883.
- ^ a b Łukasik, P.; Johnson, T. (2007). "Arthropod communities and succession in baobab, Adansonia rubrostipa, fruits in a dry deciduous forest in Kirindy Forest Reserve, Madagascar". African Entomology. 15 (1): 214–220. doi:10.4001/1021-3589-15.1.214.
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