Central Andean wet puna
| Central Andean wet puna | |
|---|---|
|
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| Ecology | |
| Biome | Montane grasslands and shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 117,300 km2 (45,300 sq mi) |
| Countries | Peru and Bolivia |
The Central Andean wet puna is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia.
This ecoregion occurs above 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) and consists of high-elevation, wet, montane grasslands amid lakes, plateaus, valleys, and high mountains. It is bordered on the west by the Sechura Desert and on the east by the Peruvian Yungas. To the north it transitions to the Cordillera Central páramo, to the south, the Central Andean puna.
The ecoregion can be subdivided into three subregions: the high andean puna, wet puna, and wet montane grassland.
The high Andean puna lies between 4,200 and 5,000 metres (13,800 and 16,400 ft). Nightly freezes occur throughout the year and annual precipitation is less than 700 millimetres (28 in), falling mainly as snow and hail.
The wet puna is located in the altiplano at elevations between 3,700 and 4,200 metres (12,100 and 13,800 ft). It is wetter in the north, where the wet season lasts eight months, and drier in the south, where the wet season lasts two months. Precipitation ranges from 500 to 700 millimetres (20 to 28 in) per year. Night freezes occur from March to October.
The wet montane grasslands occur in the eastern section of the ecoregion, at elevations between 3,800 and 4,200 metres (12,500 and 13,800 ft). They form in deep mountain valleys with glacial origins. They are more humid than the puna.
The climate varies between cold semi-arid and subtropical highland.
The vegetation is composed of bunchgrass communities, wetlands, small shrubs and trees, and herbaceous plants.
Conspicuous grass genera include: Agrostis, Calamagrostis, Festuca, Paspalum and Stipa; in more humid areas Chusquea and Cortaderia.
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Wikipedia