Guayanan Highlands Forests - A Global Ecoregion
Sandstone plateaus, highest known parrot diversity
Snapshot: Ecoregion 45
Size:
386,000 sq. km (150,000 sq. miles)
Habitat type:
Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Geographic Location:
South America: Brazil, Colombia, Suriname, and Venezuela
Conservation Status:
Relatively Stable/Intact
Did You Know!
There aren't many birds that put on a more amazing mating display than the Guianan cock-of-the-rock. The bright orange males perch on low branches, posturing to other males and defending their display areas. When a female comes along, the males drop to the ground with a loud squawk and then freeze into a position that seems to best show off their beautiful plumage.
About the Area
This Global ecoregion is made up of these terrestrial ecoregions: Guayanan Highlands moist forests; Tepuis. The Guayanan highlands are recognised as an evolutionary centre for plants and animals found in both Amazonian and the Guayanan lowland forests.
The forests are exceptionally diverse (the highest known parrot diversity, for example) and harbour some of the world's last remaining, large intact tropical watersheds.The Guayanan Highlands contain all of South America's tepuis - sandstone plateaus occurring in an east-west belt from Suriname to just east of the Andes.
The biological communities of tepuis are notable for their numerous unique species and their many unusual adaptations to the nutrient-poor, cool, soggy environments - typical of tepuis summits.
Local Species
Selected Species include the Giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), Guianan cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola), Golden-handed or midas tamarin (Saguinus midas), Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), and the Red fan parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus) - so-named because of a brilliant red fan of feathers around its head.
Threats
Extensive mining, mercury pollution, dams, heavy poaching, commercial exploitation of wildlife, and planned commercial logging are serious threats in some portions of the ecoregion. Plus, high-impact tourism is a serious problem in other localities.
Resources
• NationalGeographic.com
