Araucaria forests , Pineraia [1] - coniferous subtropical forests formed by species of the genus Araucaria . They grow in South America in two regions isolated from each other. In the western part of the mainland on a large area in the Brazilian states of Parana, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, as well as in Uruguay, Eastern Paraguay and Argentina, Brazilian Araucaria ( Araucaria brasiliana ) is widespread. A significantly smaller area is occupied by forests with a predominance of Chilean araucaria ( Araucaria araucana ), which is accompanied by hardwood species, the most important of which is embuya ( Phoebe porosa ). Distributed in the Andes at 40 Β° S in the range of heights from 500 to 3000 m above sea level seas. The undergrowth is characterized by the appearance of Paraguayan Holly ( Ilex paraguariensis ), from which mate or Paraguayan tea is prepared [2] .
| Araucaria wet forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ecology | |
| Ecozone | Neotropics |
| Geography | |
| Country |
|
| Rivers | Parana |
| Climate type | Subtropical Oceanic Climate |
| Safety | |
| Safety | Critical / endangered |
Ecoregion Araucaria wetlands
The onshore ecological region of Araucaria wetlands is located in western South America , occupying the southern part of the global Atlantic forest ecoregion (NT0101 in WWF classification). The predominant type of natural vegetation - coniferous mixed forests with a predominance of araucaria - are relict ecosystems of the mountainous regions of South America, left over from the more widespread and played a greater role in the past geological era mixed coniferous-deciduous forests. Distributed in the Serra da Mantiqueira massif from medium-high plateaus (about 500 m) to higher mountain slopes, rising to 1600 m above sea level. Shrubs of the Serrado ecoregion grow to the north of this region, other savannas in the south, and humid tropical forests in the west and east [3] .
A humid subtropical climate is characterized by frequent frosts and high humidity (1300-3000 mm of precipitation per year) in the absence of a dry season [3] .
The main forest-forming species is Brazilian araucaria , sometimes reaching a height of 45 m, with the participation of representatives of the families Laurel ( Ocotea pretiosa , Ocotea catharinense ), Myrtle ( Campomanesia xanthocarpa ) and Legumes ( Parapiptadenia rigida ) [3] .
Notes
- β BRAZIL . Encyclopedia of Collier .
- β Forests of South America. BSI FEB RAS .
- β 1 2 3 Araucaria moist forests http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/nt0101