Arabian Highland Woodlands & Shrublands - A Global Ecoregion
Unique clouded woodlands on the Arabian Peninsula
Snapshot: Ecoregion 127
Size:
470,000 sq. km (181,500 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Deserts and Xeric Shrublands
Geographic Location:
Arabian Peninsula, in Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Is it true that the weather in this region is as unpredictable as it gets?
Answer
Monsoon storms of heavy winds and rain create four times as much moisture in the south and southwest of the Arabian Peninsula as in other areas. But monsoons are just one of the intense weather patterns found in this part of the world. Summers are very sunny and as hot as 54°C. Dust and sand storms are common during the winter, and droughts can last several years.
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Al Hajar Al Gharbi montane woodlands; Southwestern Arabian montane woodlands; Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert; Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna.
Part of this ecoregion is blanketed in heavy fog and dew for months at a time resulting in high moisture conditions that attract a greater number of species than the surrounding deserts.The Al Hajar Mountain Range within this region is the highest in eastern Arabia, forming a spectacular wall of rock rising above the desert. Known to be unique for having plants and trees above 6,600 feet (2,000 m), the mountains serve as an important refuge for endemic and relict species.
The southwestern highlands are an important stopover site for migrating birds and the fog desert is the site of the successful reintroduction of the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx).
Local Species
Notable species include the endemic Arabian tahr (Hemitragus jayakari), Arabian gazelle (Gazella gazella), Nubian ibex (Capra ibex nubiana), Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), Wild cat (Felis sylvestris), and Leopard (Panthera pardus).
Representative bird species include the Yellow-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus xanthopygos), Graceful warbler (Prinia gracilis), Brown woodland warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens), Yemen linnet (Carduelis yemenensis), Gambage dusky flycatcher (Muscicapa gambagae), Arabian partridge (Alectoris melanocephalia), and Black kite (Milvus migrans).
Threats
Major threats include overgrazing by cattle, deforestation, off-road vehicle use on the coastal plain and in the mountains, and human population growth.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
