Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests

The Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion in South Asia. It includes a chain of coralline islands in the Indian Ocean, including Lakshadweep (Laccadive Islands), a union territory of India; the Maldives, an independent country; and the British Indian Ocean Territory, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.[2]

Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests
Ecology
RealmIndomalayan realm
Biometropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests
Geography
Area277 km2 (107 sq mi)
CountriesIndia (Lakshadweep, Maldives and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory)
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/endangered
Protected73 km² (26%)[1]

Geography

The ecoregion is made up of low sandy islands, generally no more that 5 meters above sea level, and surrounded by extensive coral reefs. They extend north and south across the equator, from latitude 14º N to 8º S. Lakshadweep lies to the north, 300 km from the southwest coast of India. Lakshadweep consists of 36 small islands between 8º - 14º N, with a total land area of 32 km². The Maldives are the largest island group, with approximately 1190 islands between 7º N and the equator. The Chagos Archipelago lies between 5° and 8° S.[3]

Climate

The climate of the island is tropical and equatorial, with warm temperatures that stay relatively constant throughout the year. Rainfall occurs mostly with the April-to-October southwest monsoon, and there is a dry season from December to March associated with the northeast monsoon off the Asian continent. Rainfall varies from 1600 mm annually in dry parts of Lakshadweep to 3,800 mm per year in the southern Maldives.

The islands' soil is made of porous coral sand, and the islands have no running streams; freshwater percolates 1-3 meters below the ground to shallow aquifers lying above salt water.[4]

Flora

Tropical rain forests grow where soils have formed. Areas with poor soil are covered with sedges and shrubs.[5]

Fauna

The islands have few terrestrial animals. They are home to large numbers of seabirds.

Protected areas

A 2017 assessment found that 73 km², or 26%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas.[6]

  • "Maldives-Lakshadweep-Chagos Archipelago tropical moist forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.

References
  1. Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
  2. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  3. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  4. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  5. Wikramanayake, Eric; Eric Dinerstein; Colby J. Loucks; et al. (2002). Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: a Conservation Assessment. Washington, DC: Island Press.
  6. Eric Dinerstein, David Olson, et al. (2017). An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm, BioScience, Volume 67, Issue 6, June 2017, Pages 534–545; Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
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