Greater Antillean Pine Forests - A Global Ecoregion
Insular pine forests distinctive at a continental scale
Snapshot: Ecoregion 62
Size:
18,000 sq. km (7,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forests
Geographic Location:
Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Greater Antilles Islands
Conservation Status:
Critical/Endangered
Quiz Time!
Is it true that Todys have a ravenous appetite?
Answer:
Todys are totally voracious. These birds, which are found only on the Greater Antilles Islands and are related to motmots and kingfishers, may gobble up to 40 percent of their body weight in insects each day!
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Hispaniolan pine forests; Cuban pine forests. These forests support numerous endemic plant and animal species, including a number of limestone and serpentine soil specialists.
Mild temperatures are the norm on these tropical islands, and rainfall is less predictable - one reason why pine trees dominate this ecoregion as the needles of conifers are adapted to cope with variable climatic conditions.Local Species
Just a few of the species characteristic of this ecoregion are the Cuban tody (Todus multicolor), Cuban trogon (Priotelus temnurus), and Hispaniola trogon (Priotelus roseigaster). Reptiles include several iguanid species including Leiocephalus macropus, L. onaneyi, Anolis alayoni, and A. vanidicus.
Threats
Mining, citrus plantations, grazing, uncontrolled burning, exploitation of threatened bird, plant, and landsnail populations, and logging severely threaten the ecoregion.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
