Bayliss, Julian; Bittencourt-Silva, Gabriela B.; Branch, William R.; Bruessow, Carl; Collins, Steve; Congdon, T. Colin E.; Conradie, Werner; Curran, Michael; Daniels, Savel R.; Darbyshire, Iain; Farooq, Harith; Fishpool, Lincoln; Grantham, Geoffrey; Magombo, Zacharia; Matimele, Hermenegildo; Monadjem, Ara; Monteiro, Jose; Osborne, Jo; Saunders, Justin; Smith, Paul; Spottiswoode, Claire N.; Taylor, Peter J.; Timberlake, Jonathan; Tolley, Krystal A.; Tovela, Érica and Platts, Philip J. (2024) A biogeographical appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago ecoregion. Scientific Reports, 14 (5971), pp. 1-16.
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Document available online at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-54671-z
Summary in the original language of the document
Recent biological surveys of ancient inselbergs in southern Malawi and northern Mozambique have led to the discovery and description of many species new to science, and overlapping centres of endemism across multiple taxa. Combining these endemic taxa with data on geology and climate, we propose the "South East Africa Montane Archipelago" (SEAMA) as a distinct ecoregion of global biological importance. The ecoregion encompasses 30 granitic inselbergs reaching >1000 m above sea level, hosting the largest (Mt Mabu) and smallest (Mt Lico) mid-elevation rainforests in southern Africa, as well as biologically unique montane grasslands. Endemic taxa include 127 plants, 45 vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals) and 45 invertebrate species (butterflies, freshwater crabs), and two endemic genera of plants and reptiles. Existing dated phylogenies of endemic animal lineages suggests this endemism arose from divergence events coinciding with repeated isolation of these mountains from the pan-African forests, together with the mountains' great age and relative climatic stability. Since 2000, the SEAMA has lost 18% of its primary humid forest cover (up to 43% in some sites)— one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa. Urgently rectifying this situation, while addressing the resource needs of local communities, is a global priority for biodiversity conservation.
EPrint Type: | Journal paper |
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Keywords: | Adaptive radiation, Biodiversity, Biogeography, Climate and Earth system modelling, Conservation biology, Ecological modelling, Ecology, Ecosystem ecology, Ecosystem services, Evolution, Forest ecology, Palaeoecology, Speciation, Taxonomy, Tropical ecology, Zoology |
Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI English biodiversity conservation http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33955 English mountain areas -> highlands http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3614 English diversity index -> species diversity http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_00ba8c53 English deforestation http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_15590 English biogeography http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_915 English ecology http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2467 English forest ecology http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3044 |
Subjects: | Environmental aspects > Biodiversity and ecosystem services "Organics" in general > Countries and regions > Africa |
Research affiliation: | Other countries Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > International > Regions > Africa Switzerland > FiBL - Research Institute of Organic Agriculture Switzerland > Sustainability > Biodiversity Denmark > KU - University of Copenhagen Kenya Malawi UK > Other organizations United Kingdom |
ISSN: | 2045-2322 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-024-54671-z |
Deposited By: | Curran, Dr. Michael |
ID Code: | 53042 |
Deposited On: | 28 Mar 2024 13:32 |
Last Modified: | 28 Mar 2024 13:32 |
Document Language: | English |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Peer-reviewed and accepted |
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