>BrownHairedGirl at 16:06, 1 May 2021

2021-05-01T16:06:25Z

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{{Infobox ecoregion
| name = Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests
| image = sal_forest_leofleck.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Sal forest in [[Chitwan National Park]]
| map = Ecoregion IM0115.png
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Ecoregion territory (in purple)
| biogeographic_realm = [[Indomalayan realm|Indomalayan]]
| biome = [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
| border1 = [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]]
| border2 = [[Western Himalayan broadleaf forests]]
| border3 = [[Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]]
| border4 = [[Brahmaputra Valley semi-evergreen forests]]
| border5 = [[Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands]]
| area = 38200
| country = [[Bhutan]]
| country1 = [[India]]
| country2 = [[Nepal]]
| bird_species = 343<ref name = "Atlas">
{{cite book |author1=Hoekstra, J. M. |author2=Molnar, J. L. |author3=Jennings, M. |author4=Revenga, C. |author5=Spalding, M. D. |author6=Boucher, T. M. |author7=Robertson, J. C. |author8=Heibel, T. J. |author9=Ellison, K. |title=The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |editor=Molnar, J. L. |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-520-26256-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/atlasofglobalcon0000unse |url-access=registration }}</ref>
| mammal_species = 148<ref name = "Atlas"/>
| habitat_loss = 81.553
| habitat_loss_ref = <ref name = "Atlas"/>
| protected = 6.77
| protected_ref = <ref name = "Atlas"/>
}}

The '''Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests''' is an [[terrestrial ecoregion|ecoregion]] that extends from the middle hills of central [[Nepal]] through [[Darjeeling]] into [[Bhutan]] and also into the [[India]]n States of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Bihar]]. It represents the east-west-directed band of [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|subtropical broadleaf forest]] at an altitude of between {{convert|500|to|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}} along the [[Siwaliks|Outer Himalayan Range]], and includes several forest types traversing an east to west moisture gradient.<ref name="HSBF02">Rawat, G. S., Wikramanayake, E. D. (2002) [https://books.google.com/books?id=_VGRBWqIG2gC&pg=PA332 ''Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests''] In: Wikramanayake, E. D. (ed.) ''Terrestrial ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a conservation assessment''. Island Press</ref>

==Geography==
The ecoregion covers an area of {{convert|38200|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}} and is bisected by the [[Kali Gandaki River]], which has gouged the world's deepest river valley through the [[Himalaya]]n Range. It forms a critical link in the chain of interconnected Himalayan ecosystems, where altitudinal connectivity between the habitat types is important for ecosystem function. The soil is composed of [[alluvium]] deposited over the ages by the rivers that drain this young mountain range.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

At lower elevations, the ecoregion is flanked by the [[Terai-Duar savannas and grasslands]]. Above {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}}, it yields to the [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]].

==Climate==
Rainfall varies from east to west, but annual rainfall can be as much as {{convert|2000|mm|in|abbr=on}}. The Himalayas capture moisture from the [[monsoon]]s that sweep in from the [[Bay of Bengal]], and most of this rainfall is expended in the eastern Himalayas. Therefore, the western Himalayas are drier, a trend reflected in the timberline that declines from {{convert|4000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the east to about {{convert|3500|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the west.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

==Flora==
The ecoregion hosts a broad range of plant communities, based on its complex topography, differing soils, and variations in rainfall from the drier west to the more humid east. Its location on the south slope of the Himalaya allows the intermingling of plants and animals from the [[Indomalaya]]n and [[Palearctic]] [[biogeographic realm]]s. The main forest types include ''[[Dodonaea]]'' scrub, subtropical dry evergreen forests of ''[[Olea cuspidata]]'', northern dry mixed deciduous forests, dry [[Siwalik]] [[Sal tree|sal]] (''Shorea robusta'') forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, subtropical broadleaf wet hill forests, northern tropical semi-evergreen forests, and northern tropical wet evergreen forests.

==Fauna==
Several mammals native to the ecoregion are [[Threatened species|threatened]], including the [[Bengal tiger]], [[Elephas maximus indicus|Indian elephant]], [[smooth-coated otter]], [[Neofelis nebulosa|clouded leopard]], [[Bos gaurus|gaur]], [[Capricornis sumatraensis|Sumatran serow]], [[Callosciurus pygerythrus|Irrawaddy squirrel]], and [[Hylopetes alboniger|particoloured flying squirrel]]. The [[Endemic (ecology)|endemic]] [[Trachypithecus geei|golden langur]] is distributed in a small range and limited to the broadleaf forest north of the [[Brahmaputra River]]. The bird fauna is very rich with more than 340 species. The [[Arborophila mandellii|chestnut-breasted partridge]] is [[Endemism in birds|endemic]]; the globally threatened [[Cairina scutulata|white-winged wood duck]] and five [[hornbill]] species are found here.<ref name="HSBF02"/>

==Protected areas==
Eight protected areas extend into this ecoregion covering {{convert|2710|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}, which is about 7% of the ecoregion's area:<ref name="HSBF02"/>
*in India: [[Sohagi Barwa Sanctuary]] and [[Valmiki National Park]];
*in Nepal: [[Bardia National Park]], [[Chitwan National Park]], [[Parsa National Park]];
*in Bhutan: [[Royal Manas National Park]], [[Khaling Wildlife Sanctuary]] and [[Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary]].

Two high-priority [[Bengal tiger|tiger]] conservation units (TCU) extend across adjacent ecoregions:<ref>Wikramanayake, E.D., Dinerstein, E., Robinson, J.G., Karanth, K.U., Rabinowitz, A., Olson, D., Mathew, T., Hedao, P., Connor, M., Hemley, G., Bolze, D. (1999) [http://www.savethetigerfund.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home1&template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentFileID=648 ''Where can tigers live in the future? A framework for identifying high-priority areas for the conservation of tigers in the wild''] {{dead link|date=November 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. In: Seidensticker, J., Christie, S., Jackson, P. (eds.) ''Riding the Tiger. Tiger Conservation in human-dominated landscapes.'' Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. hardback {{ISBN|0-521-64057-1}}, paperback {{ISBN|0-521-64835-1}}</ref>
*Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki TCU covers a {{convert|3549|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} huge block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests;
*Bardia-Banke TCU covers {{convert|1518|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.

==External links==
* {{WWF ecoregion|name=Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests|id=im0115}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests| ]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Asia]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of the Himalayas]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of India]]
[[Category:Ecoregions of Nepal]]
[[Category:Flora of Bhutan|*]]
[[Category:Flora of East Himalaya|*]]
[[Category:Flora of Nepal|*]]
[[Category:Forests of India]]
[[Category:Himalayan forests]]
[[Category:Indomalayan ecoregions]]
[[Category:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]]
[[Category:Forests of Nepal]]

Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests - Revision history

>BrownHairedGirl at 16:06, 1 May 2021