Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests
| Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests | |
|---|---|
| Ecology | |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Geography | |
| Area | 58,792 km2 (22,700 sq mi) |
| Countries | Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable |
The Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests are a Central American tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion located in Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
These forests lie in the neotropic terrestrial region. At the junction of Central and South America, this Atlantic component of this rainforest is located along the Atlantic lowlands of this region, at approximately 500 meters elevation. The Isthmian-Pacific moist forest is along the Pacific.
Due to the connection of North and South America via Central America, this rainforest contains flora and fauna from both regions in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
The average temperature for the Isthmian-Atlantic Rainforests is 24° Celsius or above. The coolest months tend to be from November to January, and the warmest from March to May. The topography affects the region’s climate as well; the seasons come to each slope of the hills at slightly different times.
The average rainfall for the area can range from 2,500 mm to over 5,000 mm per annum. This translates to an average temperature of 75° Fahrenheit, with an estimated rainfall of 100 inches to more than 200 inches a year. On the Caribbean slope, the side facing the Atlantic Ocean, the rainy season lasts from mid to late April and continues until December and possibly January. A dry spell tends to occur towards the end of summer. On most days during this time period, it may rain for two to three hours then become sunny again.
Due to relatively recent volcanic activity in Central America, the bedrock in the Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests is mostly basalt, a black igneous rock. The soil of the forests is subject to leeching. This and the trees feeding from the soil makes it poor for farming or other agricultural purposes.
The layout of the forests is typical of tropical rainforests. Tall evergreen buttressed trees that can grow up to 40 meters make up the canopy. There is also a large diversity in the selection of epiphyte flora, plants that grow on other plants but are not parasites, in that region. In the understory and canopy are slow-growing trees such as the Almendro tree and the Cream nut tree.
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Wikipedia