What are the ecosystems of Ecuador

What are Ecuadorian natural ecosystems? To respond first, it is necessary to detail that there are 4 natural regions and that some ecosystems are only in one of these and others are found in several or in all regions. So,. Among the regions that form Ecuador, the island region, the coastal region, the interandin region and the Amazon region, a great diversity of ecosystems is identified. This is the Ecosystems list of Ecuador depending on whether they are terrestrial or aquatic.

ECUADOR ECUOSYSTEMAS

• Moors.
• Dry scrub of the coast.
• Coast of the coast.
• Tropical Wet Forest of Chocó.
• Western Piemontano Forest.
• Western mountain forest.
• Inter -Andean thicket.
• Eastern Montano.
• Eastern Piemontano forest.
• Amazon Tropical Wet Forest.

Aquatic ecosystems of Ecuador

• Islands and islets.
• Reefs.
• Alluvial banks
• Soft background continental platforms.
• Hard -based continental platforms.
• Continental slopes.
• Submarine cannons
• ABISAL PLANS.
• Submarine mountain ranges.
• Oceanic pits.

Next, more information will be displayed from each of the aforementioned ecosystems.

These are the Terrestrial ecosystems of Ecuador and its characteristics:

Inter -Andean thicket

It presents a rather low precipitation due to its location between the eastern and western mountain range, and is at an elevation from 1400 to 3000 meters. Its vegetation has been replaced by grasslands, sowings and exotic tree forests, although in its origin dominated the bushes. Also in the areas where the dry valleys are the present vegetation is spiny. Here you can learn more about the bushes: what are, types and fauna.

Moors

The moors of Ecuador present in the provinces of Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cañar, Bolivar, Tungurahua, Pichincha and Imbabura, are characterized by being Andean mountain ecosystems in which the small forests of cold weather, the shrubs, rosethas, wetlands and pajonals predominates, occupying the latter almost 70% of the entire territory of Ecuador. In addition, they have a very diversity fauna, dominating the hummingbird. It is in an elevation between 3000 and 3600 meters.

Dry coast of the coast

Its area is located on the margin of the coast in the center of Ecuador. Characterized by very dry and warm conditions. In the driest areas, spiny plants and cactus predominate. Also in these ecosystems some native plants have disappeared due to herbal plantation to feed cattle.

Coast -deciduous forest

These forests have suffered a strong impact on anthropic activities, mainly due to agriculture and livestock. The conditions of this area are dry, the trees present have a height less than 20 meters, there is a presence of a dense sotobos and the herbaceous plants abound. It is between 50 and 300 m elevation.

Tropical Wet Forest of Chocó

It is characterized by humid and warm conditions, in addition to its flora it presents a great diversity of trees species, with a closed canopy constituted by trees that could measure up to 30 my its undergobosque is mainly forming by plants belonging to the Araceae family and ferns. Its impact on human activities is the highest in Ecuador, and its elevation goes in a range between 0 and 300 m.

Western Piemontano Forest

The species of trees and palms of the Burseraceae, Fabaceae and Mimosaceae families dominate, and it presents a canopy that exceeds 30 meters, also the trees are covered by orchids, ferns, bromelias and mosses. In this ecosystem there is an abundant endemism and extends through the provinces of Pichincha, Esmeralas, Carchi and Imbabura, to an elevation that goes between 300 and 1300 m. It is characterized by warm and humid climatic conditions.

Western mountain forest

It presents a canopy with approximately 25 meters high and a wide variety of epiphytic plants, such as ferns, mosses, bromeliums and orchids. Its climate is tempered, and in its intermediate lifting areas, in the afternoon, the forests are wrapped by a fog, and receive precipitation of low clouds. The elevation of this ecosystem is from 1300 to 3400 m.

Eastern Montano

It is in the Andes area between 1300 and 3600 meters, it is an always-green forest with a great diversity of trees covered by epiphytic plants, such as ferns, bromelia, orchids, and by moss.

Eastern Piemontano forest

It is an ever-green anchovy are a canopy that reaches up to 30 m, also presents a sub-two and a very dense sotobosque. The trees that develop in this forest are Andean species and the low territories of the Amazon, and are distributed entering 600 and 1300 m elevation. The rainfall of this ecosystem is abundant.

Amazon Tropical Wet Forest

It has the highest rainfall in all Ecuador with an average of 3349 mm per year and its elevation reaches 600 m. Their soils are well drained and has a great diversity of trees that form a canopy between 10 and 30 meters high, there are trees that can sometimes reach 40 m. Here you can learn more about tropical forests: characteristics, flora and fauna.

These are the aquatic ecosystems of Ecuador and its characteristics:

Islands and islets

The Galapagos Islands form the archipelago that is located 972 km from the coast of Ecuador. It is an archipelago known for its large number of endemic species and has a great biodiversity of fauna and flora. Charles Darwin’s studies with which the theory of evolution arose were carried out in these islands. In this other article you can discover information about the flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands.

Reefs

There are different types of reefs; of barrier, rocky, coral … in Ecuador are mainly rocky reefs. Rocky -type reefs are primitive corals, the best known galapagos are the best.

Alluvial banks

They are dark soils of bad filtration and river origin, in which a large number of species are concentrated, in this area is the blue jurel or the smooth of Galapagos.

Continental platforms of soft and hard background

The Platform of Ecuador has 29100 square kilometers and is characterized by having a hard rock background and a soft sand. There is also the Gulf of Guayaquil with 12000 kilometers and La Puntilla de Santa Elena or Cado de San Lorenzo. This ecosystem is threatened by illegal overfishing, which is threatening species with extinction, decrease and displacement. The drag networks used for fishing destroys the seabed.

Continental slopes

They are found from 200 meters to 2000-3000 meters deep throughout the coast. It is characterized by being an irregular slope with cannons and ridges, as a consequence of volcanic eruptions. In the Galapagos Islands about 2500 meters deep you can find endemic species of fish such as black cauls, sandfish or pejeperro.

Submarine cannons

It can be said that they are underwater valleys that channel all organic mathera from the surface, they are nutrient rich areas with a very diverse fauna. Some of the cannons of Ecuador are that of Santa Elena, Esmeraldas and Guayaquil.

ABISAL PLANS

It is an ecosystem that is between 3000 and 5000 m deep, in a dark zone that does not exceed 4 degrees Celsius. In addition, it is an area with greater pressure, since the more the pressure is decreasing. In this ecosystem there are species of abyssal fish, well adapted to these more extreme conditions such as the lack of light, low temperature and greater pressure, that is why the number of species that can be found decreases. In this link you will see more information about the abyssal plains: what are and characteristics.

Submarine mountain ranges

We found the Carnegie mountain range, which is the result of the Nazca plate movement, where an underwater volcano chain was formed. This area is affected by convection currents, so there is a great variety of environments. Some of the species that can be found in this ecosystem are the Raya fish, northern sea lions, seahorses, and penguins.

Oceanic pits

It is one of the strangest marine ecosystems. It is an ecosystem where temperatures are very low between 0 and 2 ºC. In them there is marine life such as echinoderms, worms, sea sponges and jellyfish or cnidarians.

These are the main ecosystems of Ecuador in danger:

• Inter -Andean thicket.
• Coast of the coast.
• Tropical Wet Forest of Chocó.
• Dry scrub of the coast.
• Reefs.
• Continental platforms of soft and hard background.

After learning all this about the ecosystems of Ecuador, we encourage you to know the natural resources of Ecuador.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are the ecosystems of Ecuadorwe recommend that you enter our category of ecosystems.