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A biogeographical appraisal of the threatened South East Africa Montane Archipelago ecoregion

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
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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