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49-619: The park is in the Caatinga biome. It covers 6,271 hectares (15,500 acres). It was created by decree 45.954 of 30 April 1959, modified on 26 April 1973 and 13 December 2002. The park is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation . It lies in the municipalities of Ubajara , Tianguá and Frecheirinha in Ceará . The park adjoins the 1,592,550 hectares (3,935,300 acres) Serra da Ibiapaba Environmental Protection Area to

98-474: A microbiome is a mix of organisms that coexist in a defined space on a much smaller scale. For example, the human microbiome is the collection of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that are present on or in a human body. A biota is the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period, from local geographic scales and instantaneous temporal scales all the way up to whole-planet and whole-timescale spatiotemporal scales. The biotas of

147-627: A floristic province. Most authors divide the Caatinga into two different subtypes: dry ("sertão") and humid ("agreste"), but categorizations vary to as many as eight different vegetative regimes. The Caatinga is home to nearly 50 endemic species of birds, including Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari) , Spix's macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) , moustached woodcreeper (Xiphocolaptes falcirostris) , Caatinga parakeet , Caatinga antwren , Sao Francisco black tyrant and Caatinga cacholote . Endemic mammal species include: The oldest human remains in

196-597: A gradient (2), the moisture gradient, to express the above conclusions in what is known as the Whittaker classification scheme. The scheme graphs average annual precipitation (x-axis) versus average annual temperature (y-axis) to classify biome-types. The multi-authored series Ecosystems of the World , edited by David W. Goodall , provides a comprehensive coverage of the major "ecosystem types or biomes" on Earth: The eponymously named Heinrich Walter classification scheme considers

245-499: A simplification of Holdridge's; more readily accessible, but missing Holdridge's greater specificity. Whittaker based his approach on theoretical assertions and empirical sampling. He had previously compiled a review of biome classifications. Whittaker's distinction between biome and formation can be simplified: formation is used when applied to plant communities only, while biome is used when concerned with both plants and animals. Whittaker's convention of biome-type or formation-type

294-428: A single type of vegetation, but rather a broad mosaic. Nonetheless, all vegetative structure is adapted to the xeric climate. Succulent and crassulaceous species dominate; non-succulents exhibit small, firm leaves and intense branching at the base, akin to shrubs. Palm stands usually contain carnaúba or babaçu palms, but occasionally tucumã and macaúba . The Caatinga has enough endemic species to constitute

343-457: A swamp, can create different kinds of communities within the same biome. Schultz (1988, 2005) defined nine ecozones (his concept of ecozone is more similar to the concept of biome than to the concept of ecozone of BBC): Robert G. Bailey nearly developed a biogeographical classification system of ecoregions for the United States in a map published in 1976. He subsequently expanded

392-433: A way to recognize the irreversible coupling of human and ecological systems at global scales and manage Earth's biosphere and anthropogenic biomes. Major anthropogenic biomes: The endolithic biome, consisting entirely of microscopic life in rock pores and cracks, kilometers beneath the surface, has only recently been discovered, and does not fit well into most classification schemes. Anthropogenic climate change has

441-503: Is woody plant encroachment , which can change grass savanna into shrub savanna. Average temperatures have risen more than twice the usual amount in both arctic and mountainous biomes, which leads to the conclusion that arctic and mountainous biomes are currently the most vulnerable to climate change. South American terrestrial biomes have been predicted to go through the same temperature trends as arctic and mountainous biomes. With its annual average temperature continuing to increase,

490-485: Is a broader method to categorize similar communities. Whittaker used what he called "gradient analysis" of ecocline patterns to relate communities to climate on a worldwide scale. Whittaker considered four main ecoclines in the terrestrial realm. Along these gradients, Whittaker noted several trends that allowed him to qualitatively establish biome-types: Whittaker summed the effects of gradients (3) and (4) to get an overall temperature gradient and combined this with

539-407: Is a distinct geographical region with specific climate , vegetation , and animal life . It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate . Biomes may span more than one continent. A biome encompasses multiple ecosystems within its boundaries. It can also comprise a variety of habitats . While a biome can cover small areas,

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588-558: Is a type of semi-arid tropical vegetation , and an ecoregion characterized by this vegetation in interior northeastern Brazil . The name "Caatinga" comes from the Tupi word ka'atinga , meaning "white forest" or "white vegetation" ( ka'a = forest, vegetation, tinga = white). The Caatinga is a xeric shrubland and thorn forest , which consists primarily of small, thorny trees that shed their leaves seasonally. Cacti , thick-stemmed plants, thorny brush, and arid-adapted grasses make up

637-480: Is also a well-developed and traditional activity in the region. One of the most productive species, Melipona subnitida , known locally as jandaíra, produces up to 6 liters of honey a year, resulting in economic profit for the population. Irrigation along the São Francisco River promises to turn the region into a breadbasket. The soil is very fertile, and existing irrigation infrastructure already supports

686-412: Is classified as IUCN protected area category II (national park). It has the objectives of preserving natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research, environmental education, outdoors recreation and eco-tourism. Protected species in the park include the oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), cougar (Puma concolor), Maranhão red-handed howler (Alouatta ululata),

735-435: Is difficult because of the irregular rainfall. Native plants are used in local agriculture, much of it slash-and-burn . Pilocarpus jaborandi appears to exhibit medicinal properties. The fruits of umbú and mangabá are used as food directly, and other species are used for forage. Local palms produce commercial-grade lauric and oleic oils, which undergirds much of the economy of northeast Brazil. Meliponiculture

784-503: Is the only exclusively Brazilian biome , which means that a large part of its biological heritage cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. The Caatinga covers the interior portion of northeastern Brazil bordering the Atlantic seaboard (save for a fringe of Atlantic Forest ), extending across nine states: Piauí , Ceará , Rio Grande do Norte , Paraíba , Pernambuco , Alagoas , Sergipe , Bahia , and parts of Minas Gerais . Altogether,

833-566: Is used as an international, non-regional, terminology—irrespectively of the continent in which an area is present, it takes the same biome name—and corresponds to his "zonobiome", "orobiome" and "pedobiome" (biomes determined by climate zone, altitude or soil). In the Brazilian literature, the term biome is sometimes used as a synonym of biogeographic province , an area based on species composition (the term floristic province being used when plant species are considered), or also as synonym of

882-594: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) developed a scheme that divided the world's land area into biogeographic realms (called "ecozones" in a BBC scheme), and these into ecoregions (Olson & Dinerstein, 1998, etc.). Each ecoregion is characterized by a main biome (also called major habitat type). This classification is used to define the Global 200 list of ecoregions identified by the WWF as priorities for conservation. For

931-550: The terrestrial ecoregions , there is a specific EcoID, format XXnnNN (XX is the biogeographic realm , nn is the biome number, NN is the individual number). The applicability of the realms scheme above - based on Udvardy (1975)—to most freshwater taxa is unresolved. According to the WWF, the following are classified as freshwater biomes: Biomes of the coastal and continental shelf areas ( neritic zone ): Example: Pruvot (1896) zones or "systems": Longhurst (1998) biomes : Other marine habitat types (not covered yet by

980-507: The variable antshrike (Thamnophilus caerulescens) and the frogs Adelophryne baturitensis and Adelophryne maranguapensis . Set in a hillside in the Ibiapaba Mountains , 320 kilometres from Fortaleza , the grotto has impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations, the result of nature's patient work with limestone and water over many thousands of years - each centimetre of crystallised growth takes three years to form. Access to

1029-420: The "morphoclimatic and phytogeographical domain" of Ab'Sáber , a geographic space with subcontinental dimensions, with the predominance of similar geomorphologic and climatic characteristics, and of a certain vegetation form. Both include many biomes in fact. To divide the world into a few ecological zones is difficult, notably because of the small-scale variations that exist everywhere on earth and because of

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1078-473: The 16th century decimated numerous indigenous nations and tribes through diseases, enslavement, and invasion of territories for cattle ranching, sugar mills, and new settlements. Many of the Northeastern indigenous peoples chose assimilation, abandoning their customs, language, and religion to survive European advances, so many Northeasterners are mixed descendants of indigenous peoples and Europeans. Currently,

1127-494: The Atlantic Ocean. During the dry winter periods there is no foliage or undergrowth, as plants try to conserve water. Roots protrude through the surface of the stony soil, to absorb water before it is evaporated. Leaves fall off the trees to reduce transpiration . With all the foliage and undergrowth dead during the drought periods and all the trees having no leaves the Caatinga has a yellow-grey, desert -like look. During

1176-718: The Caatinga are found in the Serra da Capivara National Park, in Piauí, where artifacts, rock paintings, and a skull named "Zuzu" were discovered, dating back approximately 8,000 years. This fossil, under study, may be even older than the Luzia fossil, which is currently the oldest in the South American continent. In the biome, two major indigenous groups inhabited: the Macro-Jê and the Kariris, who have been in

1225-412: The Caatinga comprises 850,000 km², about 10% of the surface area of Brazil. By comparison, it is over nine times the surface area of Portugal , whence came Brazil's early European settlers. Located between 3°S 45°W and 17°S 35°W, the Caatinga experiences irregular winds from all directions. Rainfall is thus intermittent but intense, totalling 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) on average. Although

1274-453: The Caatinga for at least two thousand years. After the 11th century, the Tupis group arrived in the region, coming from the southeast and through the Atlantic coast. Thus, these three major groups developed a series of rituals, customs, traditions, languages, and religions based on their interaction with the Caatinga's nature and other cultural heritages. However, the first contacts with colonizers in

1323-653: The Caatinga still has indigenous peoples, the largest of which are the Potyguaras, of Tupi origin and also native to the Atlantic Forest, totaling more than 20,000 indigenous peoples. In the interior, the largest groups are the Xukurus and Pankarus, from the Pernambuco Caatinga, totaling 12,000 and 7,000 indigenous peoples, possibly of Macro-Jê origin. The Fulni-Ô people are known for being the only indigenous ethnic group in

1372-532: The Caatinga, one of the most devastated biomes in the country. Based on radiocarbon dating of potsherds , proponents of historical ecology such as William Denevan and William Balee have suggested that large sections of the Caatinga region may be of anthropogenic origin. Over 1000 years ago, native peoples may have unintentionally created the environment of the modern-day Caatinga through constant slash-and-burn agriculture , thereby stymying plant succession and preventing major rainforests from growing within

1421-489: The Earth make up the biosphere . The term was suggested in 1916 by Clements , originally as a synonym for biotic community of Möbius (1877). Later, it gained its current definition, based on earlier concepts of phytophysiognomy , formation and vegetation (used in opposition to flora ), with the inclusion of the animal element and the exclusion of the taxonomic element of species composition . In 1935, Tansley added

1470-639: The Global 200/WWF scheme): Humans have altered global patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. As a result, vegetation forms predicted by conventional biome systems can no longer be observed across much of Earth's land surface as they have been replaced by crop and rangelands or cities. Anthropogenic biomes provide an alternative view of the terrestrial biosphere based on global patterns of sustained direct human interaction with ecosystems, including agriculture , human settlements , urbanization , forestry and other uses of land . Anthropogenic biomes offer

1519-736: The Northeast to have kept their ancestral language alive, as well as having saved unique cultural elements such as the Ouricuri Ritual; they are one of the least acculturated Northeastern peoples by European invaders. Other notable Caatinga peoples are the Kambiwás, Tremembés, Pitaguarys, Kariris, Kiriris, and Tabajaras. Indigenous Peoples and the Preservation of the Caatinga Several environmentalists, researchers, and indigenous leaders point out that

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1568-507: The climate is typically hot and semi-arid, the Caatinga includes several enclaves of humid tropical forest , with trees 30–35 m (98–115 ft) tall. To the northwest, the Caatinga is bounded by the Maranhão Babaçu forests ; to the west and southwest, the Atlantic dry forests and Cerrado savannas; to the east, the humid Atlantic coastal forests ; and to the north and northeast,

1617-474: The climatic and soil aspects to the idea, calling it ecosystem . The International Biological Program (1964–74) projects popularized the concept of biome. However, in some contexts, the term biome is used in a different manner. In German literature, particularly in the Walter terminology, the term is used similarly as biotope (a concrete geographical unit), while the biome definition used in this article

1666-410: The demarcation of indigenous lands is very beneficial for environmental preservation, as it causes a decrease in deforestation, preservation of primary and secondary forests, pollution control of watercourses, thus helping to combat the increase in global temperature. Thus, demarcation, environmental and indigenous activism in the Caatinga is a glimmer of hope to recover the ecosystems, fauna, and flora of

1715-455: The export of grapes , papayas and melons . At the same time, irrigation threatens to salinize the soil. Cattle ( Guzerá and Red Sindhi cattle) and goat farming are popular and very productive in the region. Overgrazing and timbering for fuelwood have decimated local vegetative populations; outside irrigated regions, the area has begun to desertify à la Sahara and Sahel . Biome A biome ( / ˈ b aɪ . oʊ m / )

1764-401: The gradual changeover from one biome to the other. Their boundaries must therefore be drawn arbitrarily and their characterization made according to the average conditions that predominate in them. A 1978 study on North American grasslands found a positive logistic correlation between evapotranspiration in mm/yr and above-ground net primary production in g/m /yr. The general results from

1813-648: The grotto is by a chairlift. The park has waterfalls and paths through the forest. Visits are supervised by Ibama , the national body for environmental conservation, and must be arranged in advance. Other attractions in the Ibiapaba mountains include Morro do Céu , 820 metres high, and Pedra de Itagurussu , the source of the Pirangi waterfall . Caatinga 6°00′00″S 40°00′00″W  /  6.0000°S 40.0000°W  / -6.0000; -40.0000 Caatinga ( Portuguese pronunciation: [kaaˈtʃĩɡɐ] )

1862-408: The ground layer. Most vegetation experiences a brief burst of activity during the three-month long rainy season . Caatinga falls entirely within earth's tropical zone and is one of 6 major biomes of Brazil . It covers 912,529 km², nearly 10% of Brazil's territory. It is home to 26 million people and over 2000 species of plants, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The Caatinga

1911-469: The native biome. Estimates on the amount of Caatinga transformed affected by economic development range 25-50%, making Caatinga the most degraded ecosystem in Brazil, following the Atlantic Forest, which has lost over 80% of its original cover. The local population lives in extreme poverty, and many rely on extraction of natural resources for a livelihood. There are few drinkable water sources, and harvesting

1960-418: The past 6 or 7 months start to fill up and streams begin to flow again. Caatinga harbors a unique biota, with thousands of endemic species. Caatinga contains over 1,000 vascular plant species in addition to 187 bees, 240 fish species, 167 reptiles and amphibians, 516 birds, and 148 mammal species, with endemism levels varying from 9 percent in birds to 57 percent in fishes. The Caatinga does not correspond to

2009-475: The peak periods of drought the Caatinga's soil can reach temperatures of up to 60 °C. The drought usually ends in December or January, when the rainy season starts. Immediately after the first rains, the grey, desert-like landscape starts to transform and becomes completely green within a few days. Small plants start growing in the now moist soil and trees grow back their leaves. Rivers that are mostly dry during

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2058-410: The potential to greatly alter the distribution of Earth's biomes. Meaning, biomes around the world could change so much that they would be at risk of becoming new biomes entirely. More specifically, between 54% and 22% of global land area will experience climates that correspond to other biomes. 3.6% of land area will experience climates that are completely new or unusual. An example of a biome shift

2107-713: The region. Conversely, fossil evidence suggests that the Caatinga may historically have been part of a much larger dry belt. The Caatinga is poorly represented in the Brazilian Conservation Area network, with only 1% in Integral Protection Conservation Areas and 6% in Sustainable Use Conservation Areas. Protected areas include Chapada Diamantina National Park , Serra da Capivara National Park , and Serra das Confusões National Park . Economic developed has fragmented

2156-418: The seasonality of temperature and precipitation. The system, also assessing precipitation and temperature, finds nine major biome types, with the important climate traits and vegetation types . The boundaries of each biome correlate to the conditions of moisture and cold stress that are strong determinants of plant form, and therefore the vegetation that defines the region. Extreme conditions, such as flooding in

2205-489: The study were that precipitation and water use led to above-ground primary production, while solar irradiation and temperature lead to below-ground primary production (roots), and temperature and water lead to cool and warm season growth habit. These findings help explain the categories used in Holdridge's bioclassification scheme (see below), which were then later simplified by Whittaker. The number of classification schemes and

2254-405: The system to include the rest of North America in 1981, and the world in 1989. The Bailey system, based on climate, is divided into four domains (polar, humid temperate, dry, and humid tropical), with further divisions based on other climate characteristics (subarctic, warm temperate, hot temperate, and subtropical; marine and continental; lowland and mountain). A team of biologists convened by

2303-485: The types of vegetation found in a habitat. Holdridge uses the four axes to define 30 so-called "humidity provinces", which are clearly visible in his diagram. While this scheme largely ignores soil and sun exposure, Holdridge acknowledged that these were important. The principal biome-types by Allee (1949): The principal biomes of the world by Kendeigh (1961): Whittaker classified biomes using two abiotic factors: precipitation and temperature. His scheme can be seen as

2352-475: The variety of determinants used in those schemes, however, should be taken as strong indicators that biomes do not fit perfectly into the classification schemes created. In 1947, the American botanist and climatologist Leslie Holdridge classified climates based on the biological effects of temperature and rainfall on vegetation under the assumption that these two abiotic factors are the largest determinants of

2401-446: The west. The park is in the western edge of Ceará peripheral depression and the Ibiapaba plateau. Average annual rainfall is 1,440 millimetres (57 in). Temperatures range from 16 to 28 °C (61 to 82 °F) with an average of 22 °C (72 °F). Altitudes range from 720 to 840 metres (2,360 to 2,760 ft) above sea level. The flora include remnants of the original forest as well as secondary growth and exotics. The park

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