| Central American montane forests | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Ecoregion territory (in purple) | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 13,200 km2 (5,100 sq mi) |
| Countries | |
| Conservation | |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable[2] |
| Protected | 31.34%[1] |
TheCentral American montane forests are anecoregion of thetropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forestsbiome, as defined by theWorld Wildlife Fund, located in mountains ofCentral America.[2]
Central American montane forests consist of forest patches located at altitudes ranging from 1,800–4,000 metres (5,900–13,100 ft), on the summits and slopes of the highest mountains in Central America, including theSierra Madre de Chiapas. It extends fromChiapas state in southeastern Mexico, throughGuatemala,El Salvador, andHonduras, to northernNicaragua.
The montane forests ecoregion is surrounded at lower elevations by theCentral American pine–oak forests, except for the enclaves in northern Guatemala, northern Honduras, and central Nicaragua, which are bounded by theCentral American Atlantic moist forests.
The ecoregion covers an area of 13,200 square kilometres (5,100 sq mi)2.[2] The ecoregion has atemperate climate with relatively highprecipitation levels.[2]
The climate is humid and montane. Average annual rainfall ranges from 2000 to 4000 millimeters, with many areas experiencing regular heavy cloud cover. At the highest elevations, regular nighttime frosts occur between December and March.[2]
Plant communities include lower montane wet forest, lower montane moist forest, montane forest, and subalpine grassland.[2]
The Guatemalan subalpine grassland plant community occurs above 3,050 m (10,000 ft) on the high volcanoes on the border between Guatemala and Mexico'sChiapas state, includingVolcán Tacaná andVolcán Tajumulco. On Tacaná, subalpine grasslands occur above a belt ofJuniperus standleyi shrubs that define the treeline at about 4000 meters elevation. The subalpine grasslands are dominated byLupinus montanus and tussocks of the grassCalamagrostis vulcanica growing up to 1 meter high. Other grasses and herbaceous plants includeAlchemilla pinnata,Arenaria bryoides,Draba volcanica,Festuca tolucensis,Gentiana pumilio,Gnaphalium salicifolium,Haplopappus stolonifer,Lobelia nana,Luzula racemosa,Pernettya prostrata,Potentilla heterosepala,Viola nannei,Weldenia candida, andWerneria nubigena. Mosses form the ground layer, and the mossRacomitrium crispulum dominates rocky outcrops. Other subalpine grasses includeBromus carinatus,Briza rotunda,Festuca amplissima,Muhlenbergia gigantea,M. macroura,M. robusta,Piptochaetium virescens,Stipa ichu, andTrisetum irazuense.[3]
Thehorned guan (Oreophasis derbianus) is an endemic bird.[2]
Thenarrow-nosed harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys tenuirostris) is endemic to the subalpine grasslands.[3]
31.34% of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[1] Protected areas includeLa Tigra National Park (242.4 km2),Cerro Saslaya National Park (150 km2),Lago de Yojoa Multiple Use Area (442.3 km2),Montecristo National Park (19.7 km2),Macizos de Peñas Blancas Natural Reserve (113.1 km2),Cordillera Dipilto and Jalapa Natural Reserve (412 km2),Cerro Kilambe Natural Reserve (101.3 km2),Cerro Tisey–Estanzuela Nature Reserve (93.4 km2),Montecristo Trifinio National Park (82.9 km2), andCelaque National Park (266.3 km2).[1]
