Nguru Mountains

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Location of the Nguru Mountains

The Nguru Mountains (= Southern Nguru Mountains) are located about 120 km from the coast of the Indian Ocean in the Mvomero district of the Morogoro region in Tanzania . They consist of the main massif Nguru (2400 m) and the isolated Mount Kanga (2018 m), between these massifs the Mjonga River runs . They and their ancient rainforests are among the world's biodiversity centers and are home to numerous species, including many endemics . They are located roughly in the center of the Eastern Arc Mountains, the nearest massifs are Nguu (= Northern Nguru Mountains), Ukaguru and Uluguru.

The Nguru Mountains are bounded in the east and south by high and often steep fractures, in the north and northwest they gradually descend to the Massai steppe, they drain to the Wami River . The southeast trade winds give them high annual rainfall (an average of 1800 mm). Their slopes are often made up of rainforests, the characteristics vary according to altitude and exposure. Lowland rainforest can be found between 300 and 900 m, it is followed by submontane forests. Mountain forests grow at 1400–2000 m, over 2000 m and heather on very poor soils. The entire massif has an extension of about 1703.26 km², of which about 340.4 km² are forest.

Protected areas

There are three protected forest areas: Nguru South Catchment Forest Reserve (one of the largest mountain forests in Tanzania with 19,793 hectares), Mkindo CFR (7,451 hectares, also known as Mikindo) and Kanga South CFR (6664 hectares). The Nguru Mountains are listed as "Important Bird Area" (IBA) TZ059. The degree of overlap between the IBA and the CFRs is low.

Flora and fauna

The Southern Nguru Mountains are difficult to access and little explored. Between October 2004 and May 2006, 322 plant and 329 animal species were recorded here. 5 of these plant species and 9 of the verified animal species (1 reptile and 8 amphibian species) were strictly endemic (only occurring in the Southern Nguru Mountains), 73 other species were endemic to the Eastern Arc Mountains, plus 38 almost endemic species.

The Nguru Mountains represent a biodiversity hot spot, especially for amphibians and reptiles. Menegon et al. (2008) presented a list of 92 species of herpetofauna , including 16 newly discovered species. Since then, further initial descriptions have been made.

Danger

Conversion of forest into arable land as well as underplanting of crops (e.g. cardamom and bananas with simultaneous removal of the undergrowth) and logging endanger habitats and biodiversity. The vast majority of species were found only in largely undisturbed forests, but not in other habitats (e.g. teak plantations).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Nguru Mountains at the Eastern Arc Mountains Conservation Endowment Fund ( Memento of February 28, 2009 in the Internet Archive ). Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  2. ↑ a b http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=7022 Nguru Mountains at birdlife.org. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.ub.bildarchiv-dkg.uni-frankfurt.de/Bildprojekt/Lexikon/php/suche_db.php?suchname=Nguru Deutsches Kolonial-Lexikon (1920), Volume II, p. 650 f. Retrieved June 4, 2012.
  4. ↑ a b c Archived copy ( memento of the original dated August 13, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Doggart, N. & D. Loserian (eds.) (2007): South Nguru Mountains: A Description of the biophysical landscape . TFCG Technical Paper No 11. DSM Tz pp 1-71. Retrieved June 3, 2012. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.tfcg.org
  5. ↑ http://www.fupress.net/index.php/ah/article/view/2678/2420 Menegon, M., N. Doggart & N. Owen (2008): The Nguru mountains of Tanzania, an outstanding hotspot of herpetofaunal diversity . Acta Herpetologica 3: 107-127.

Web links