Английская Википедия:Argentine Espinal

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The Espinal (NT0801) is an ecoregion of dry, thorny forest, savanna and steppe in Argentina. It has been extensively modified by large scale cattle ranching, but remnants of the original flora remain. It is threatened by the advance of the irrigation-based agricultural frontier.

Location

The espinal is a broad arc of arid land in the interior of Argentina to the north and west of Buenos Aires, extending from the northern Uruguay border west through Santa Fe to Cordoba and south to the Atlantic coast south of Bahía Blanca.Шаблон:Sfn It includes central Santa Fe Province, Córdoba Province and the northern part of San Luis Province.Шаблон:Sfn It has an area of Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn The name "espinal" (thorny) refers to the thorny deciduous shrubland forest of the region between the flooded wetlands along the Paraná River to the east and the Sierras de Córdoba to the west.Шаблон:Sfn

The northern part of the ecoregion adjoins the Humid Pampas around Buenos Aires to the south, the Uruguayan savanna to the east, and the Humid Chaco and Dry Chaco to the north and northwest. A belt of Paraná flooded savanna runs from north to south through the ecoregion along the Paraná River. The southern part of the ecoregion lies between the Low Monte ecoregion to the west and the Humid Pampas to the east.Шаблон:Sfn

Physical

The region mostly covers flat plains with loess or sandy soils. There are wide variations in climate. The climate in the north is warm and wet, with rains in the summer.Шаблон:Sfn The Köppen climate classification is "Cfa": warm temperate, fully humid, hot summer.Шаблон:Sfn At a sample location at coordinates Шаблон:Coord the mean temperature ranges from Шаблон:Convert in July to Шаблон:Convert in January. The yearly average mean temperature is about Шаблон:Convert. Yearly total precipitation is about Шаблон:Convert. Monthly precipitation ranges from Шаблон:Convert in June to Шаблон:Convert in March.Шаблон:Sfn

Ecology

The espinal is in the Neotropical realm, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome.Шаблон:Sfn The dry ecoregion was once home to many species of birds, mammals and plants. The introduction of cattle in the 17th century had a huge impact, and the original habitat is now found only in isolated patches.Шаблон:Sfn

Flora

Vegetation includes deciduous xerophytic forests, palm groves, grassy savannahs, grassy steppes and bushy steppes. Plants of the Prosopis and Acacia genera of the Mimosoideae family are common, add the mature forest areas are dominated by trees of the Prosopis genus. Other plants belong to genera such as Jodina (Santalaceae family), Celtis, Schinus, Geoffroea and Atamisquea (Capparaceae family).Шаблон:Sfn

In the carob subregion in the north of the espinal the main tree species include Prosopis nigra, Prosopis alba, Celtis tala, Geoffroea decorticans, Vachellia caven, Jodina rhombifolia, Scutia buxifolia and Schinus longifolia. Isolated specimens or groups of the Trithrinax campestris palm are still found in some areas. The "caldén" subregion in the south of the espinal has xerophytic forests with many Prosopis caldenia (calden) trees, an endemic species. It also contains areas of grassy savanna, dunes with flora adapted to sand, and areas with salty soils holding scrublands or halophilic steppes.Шаблон:Sfn

Fauna

There are three species of endemic birds. The Mar Chiquita lake and the Dulce River swamps are designated a Ramsar wetland that is a key site for endangered neotropical birds. The wetland supports a rich and diverse fauna with 138 known species of birds, including large breeding groups of Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis).Шаблон:Sfn Native species include guanacos, greater rheas, and giant anteaters.Шаблон:Sfn Endangered amphibians include blunt-headed salamander (Ambystoma amblycephalum).Шаблон:Sfn Endangered birds include yellow cardinal (Gubernatrix cristata), Chaco eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) and Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis).Шаблон:Sfn

Status

The World Wildlife Fund gives the espinal ecoregion the status of "Critical/Endangered".Шаблон:Sfn Much of the ecoregion has been used for agriculture, and the trees of the sparse dry forests have been used for firewood, fence posts, flooring and furniture. Irrigation systems are expanding the agricultural frontier into area that were previously not affected. The Dulce River floodplain and Mar Chiquita lake are threatened by increasing use of the water upstream.

In parts of the ecoregion, woody plant encroachment has been observed.

Protected areas

1.74% of the ecoregion is in protected areas. They include the Lihué Calel National Park, La Reforma University Reserve, Chacharramendi Provincial Reserve and Luro Provincial Reserve.Шаблон:Sfn Other units are the El Palmar National Park and the Parque Atlántico Mar Chiquita.Шаблон:Sfn

Sources

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