Marshes composed of mostly bulrushes (Scirpus sp.) in Lake Junin. Photo: Sernanp Freshwater Marshes Freshwater marshes are emerging or floating vegetation found at the edges of lakes, ponds, lagoons, and also in very slow moving watercourses. Vegetation in the freshwater marshes varies from region to region and elevation. Some freshwater marshes can be largely cattail […]
Pastures with scattered native trees constitute habitat for many native and resident bird species. Photo: David. Pastures and Agricultural Lands Extensive areas of pastures and agricultural lands occur in southeastern Brazil and northern Argentina. These pastures likely were native grasslands prior to the planting of more productive grasses and their conversion to pasture for cattle
Riparian thickets along the Camana-Arequipa River. Photo: David Samata. Riparian Thickets Riparian thickets occupy the banks and floodplain of streams and rivers. This habitat type is composed of shrubs, scrub, grasses, and small trees. Riparian thickets grow in the desert areas and are bordered by no vegetation or vegetation adapted to dry conditions. On the dry
Paramo grasslands in Northwest Peru. Photo: Alexander More. Paramo Grasslands Unlike the puna grasslands, the paramo grasslands are rather humid grasslands mixed with shrubby vegetation. The Paramo Grasslands occur above treeline and above the montane evergreen forest and elfin forests. Scattered small lakes and boggy depressions are common features in Paramo habitats. Paramo grasslands occur
Typical riverine sand beach showing some of the first colonizing shrubs. Photo: Diego Calderon. Riverine Sand Beaches Riverine sand beaches occur largely in whitewater Amazonian rivers, which are subject to changes in water levels of up to 7 meter between the wet and dry seasons. During the dry season, extensive sandbars are exposed along the
Arid lowland scrub in northwest Peru. Photo: Segundo Crespo. Arid Lowland Scrub The arid lowland scrub includes a variety of plant communities generally composed of shrubs, scrub, grasses, cacti, and scattered small trees. The Arid lowland scrub is a vegetative cover of short stature that occurs throughout Tropical America. A sample of arid lowland scrub
Mangrove forest subject to tidal flood of saltwater in Tumbes, Peru. Photo: Alfredo Begazoa. Mangrove Forest A stand of mangrove may have the appearance of scrub or a relatively short forest formation that occurs at the edges of salt or brackish bodies of water. Mangroves species are salt-tolerant and have evolved in harsh conditions of being
Palm forest composed of Mauritia flexuosa palm next to an oxbow lake in Southeastern Peru. Photo: Victor Gamarra. Palm Forest A stand of palm forest occurs in old lake beds, in swamps, as well as in wet areas of poor drainage in tropical South America. Palm forests can be extensive stands of pure Mauritia flexuosa, as
White sand forest in Brazil. Photo: Courtesy of Mongabay.com White Sand Forest The white sand forest is patchily distributed in Tropical South America. The appearance of white sand forest varies from stands of scrub and shrubs with bare patches of sand to forest structurally similar to the forest that surrounds patches of white sand forest. Typical
Pine forest in Mexico. Photo: Davin Baron/Flickr. Pine Forest The pine forest is found largely in the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. To a lesser extent, pine forests also extend to Nicaragua, but not continuously but in isolated patches. The pine forest is also a dominant forest type on some islands in the Bahamas, Cuba,
