Location and Description of the Region
This rainforest is located in Chile, South America. It is an essential continental island which is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert, the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests harbors richly endemic flora and fauna.
This rainforest is located in Chile, South America. It is an essential continental island which is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert, the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests harbors richly endemic flora and fauna.
Past, Current, and Future State of Biodiversity
Habitat degradation and forest clearing began in the 16th century with the arrival of Spanish colonists. In subsequent years, huge areas of deciduous and evergreen forests were burned in the south. Forest cutting for timber and fuel wood continued well into the 20th century. Since the 1970s, the establishment of large-scale pine and eucalyptus plantations have spurred the clearing of 20,000 km² of native vegetation in the southern portion of the hotspot including the diverse forests of the Coast Range. These man-made forests are valuable for soil stabilization and halting erosion, but they fragment remaining stands of native vegetation. This splintering slows gene flow among plant species and acts as a barrier to many habitat-specialist animals.
In total, about 30 percent of the hotspot's original vegetation remains in pristine condition, much of it in the winter-rainfall deserts subunit.
Habitat degradation and forest clearing began in the 16th century with the arrival of Spanish colonists. In subsequent years, huge areas of deciduous and evergreen forests were burned in the south. Forest cutting for timber and fuel wood continued well into the 20th century. Since the 1970s, the establishment of large-scale pine and eucalyptus plantations have spurred the clearing of 20,000 km² of native vegetation in the southern portion of the hotspot including the diverse forests of the Coast Range. These man-made forests are valuable for soil stabilization and halting erosion, but they fragment remaining stands of native vegetation. This splintering slows gene flow among plant species and acts as a barrier to many habitat-specialist animals.
In total, about 30 percent of the hotspot's original vegetation remains in pristine condition, much of it in the winter-rainfall deserts subunit.
Types of Species Which are Threatened
Plants
Of the nearly 4,000 vascular plants found in this hotspot, about half are endemic. These numbers represent about three-quarters of all Chilean plant species and endemics in only 40 percent of the land area. Plant diversity in the winter-rainfall area is around 3,539 species of which 1,769 (50 percent) are endemic to that subunit. The Juan Fernández Islands have a flora comprised of 200 native species, as well as over 200 introduced species, many of which are natives of continental Chile.
Birds
Characteristically, birds are not very well represented in this hotspot. The region's bird diversity includes just over 225 species. There are a dozen endemic bird species here, including three breeding species of petrel, and the region is considered a priority Endemic Bird Area by Birdlife International. The hotspot also has two monotypic endemic bird genera: Sephanoides, which is represented by the Juan Fernández firecrown, confined to the Juan Fernández Islands, and the green-backed firecrown, and Sylviorthorhynchus, which is represented by the Des Murs' wiretail, resticted to the temperate forest in south-central Chile.
Mammals
Mammal endemism is relatively low, with almost 70 species and only 15 endemics. There are, however, five endemic genera. The rodent genus Octodon comprises three species of degus, while the remaining four genera are all represented by single species: the Chilean climbing mouse, the Chilean shrew opossum, thecoruro, and the monito del monte. The last-named species is not just the only genus in an endemic family, the Microbiotheriidae, but the only known representative of an entire order, the Microbiotheria (this is the only hotspot to host an endemic mammalian order).
Reptiles
Endemism levels for both reptiles and amphibians are high. About two-thirds of the hotspot's more than 40 reptile species are endemic. A large number of these species are lizards, found at mid-to-high elevations. The lizard genus Liolaemus accounts for three-quarters of the reptile species in the hotspot and, of these, two-thirds are endemic. Interestingly, there are only two representatives of the world's largest snake family, Colubridae, namely Chilean green racer, which is endemic, and Chilean slender snake; there are no terrestrial or freshwater turtles found here.
Amphibians
Around three-quarters of the more than 40 amphibian species in the hotspot are endemic. Additionally, one family and five genera are endemic to the hotspot:Telmatobufo, with three species, all threatened; Rhinoderma, with two species; andInsuetophrynus, Caudiverbera, and Hylorina, each with a single species. Furthermore, this is one of the few hotspots with an endemic amphibian family, with Darwin’s frog and the Chile Darwin's frog among the most important flagship species for this region.
Freshwater Fish
Although the hotspot has a relatively small fish fauna, with only just over 40 native species, it has a remarkable two endemic families: the mountain catfishes and the perch-like fishes of the genus Percilia. Nearly 20 percent of the region’s fish species are relicts of Gondwanan groups and are also found in southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Plants
Of the nearly 4,000 vascular plants found in this hotspot, about half are endemic. These numbers represent about three-quarters of all Chilean plant species and endemics in only 40 percent of the land area. Plant diversity in the winter-rainfall area is around 3,539 species of which 1,769 (50 percent) are endemic to that subunit. The Juan Fernández Islands have a flora comprised of 200 native species, as well as over 200 introduced species, many of which are natives of continental Chile.
Birds
Characteristically, birds are not very well represented in this hotspot. The region's bird diversity includes just over 225 species. There are a dozen endemic bird species here, including three breeding species of petrel, and the region is considered a priority Endemic Bird Area by Birdlife International. The hotspot also has two monotypic endemic bird genera: Sephanoides, which is represented by the Juan Fernández firecrown, confined to the Juan Fernández Islands, and the green-backed firecrown, and Sylviorthorhynchus, which is represented by the Des Murs' wiretail, resticted to the temperate forest in south-central Chile.
Mammals
Mammal endemism is relatively low, with almost 70 species and only 15 endemics. There are, however, five endemic genera. The rodent genus Octodon comprises three species of degus, while the remaining four genera are all represented by single species: the Chilean climbing mouse, the Chilean shrew opossum, thecoruro, and the monito del monte. The last-named species is not just the only genus in an endemic family, the Microbiotheriidae, but the only known representative of an entire order, the Microbiotheria (this is the only hotspot to host an endemic mammalian order).
Reptiles
Endemism levels for both reptiles and amphibians are high. About two-thirds of the hotspot's more than 40 reptile species are endemic. A large number of these species are lizards, found at mid-to-high elevations. The lizard genus Liolaemus accounts for three-quarters of the reptile species in the hotspot and, of these, two-thirds are endemic. Interestingly, there are only two representatives of the world's largest snake family, Colubridae, namely Chilean green racer, which is endemic, and Chilean slender snake; there are no terrestrial or freshwater turtles found here.
Amphibians
Around three-quarters of the more than 40 amphibian species in the hotspot are endemic. Additionally, one family and five genera are endemic to the hotspot:Telmatobufo, with three species, all threatened; Rhinoderma, with two species; andInsuetophrynus, Caudiverbera, and Hylorina, each with a single species. Furthermore, this is one of the few hotspots with an endemic amphibian family, with Darwin’s frog and the Chile Darwin's frog among the most important flagship species for this region.
Freshwater Fish
Although the hotspot has a relatively small fish fauna, with only just over 40 native species, it has a remarkable two endemic families: the mountain catfishes and the perch-like fishes of the genus Percilia. Nearly 20 percent of the region’s fish species are relicts of Gondwanan groups and are also found in southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Causes For Biodiversity
Major hydroelectric dams and the development of coastal areas to increase tourism are two specific problems facing the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests. Overgrazing, invasive species, and urbanization have all contributed to the destruction of the original habitat.
The ecosystems of the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests face severe pressure from human activities and development. Chile has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and is still strongly dependent on natural resources. Most of the major threats are concentrated in the Mediterranean subunit in the southern part of the hotspot, where a high percentage of the Chilean population lives today.
Other major threats to the integrity of Chilean ecosystems include accidental and intentional forest fires. Unlike the other Mediterranean-type climate zones, fires are not a major natural part of the ecosystem in the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests, and plant and animal species are not adapted to its effects. Between the 1970s and 1990s, an estimated 360-600 km² were burned each year in this region. The Monterey pine is a non-native, fire-adapted species that is often planted on Chilean tree plantations; fires here can easily spread to vulnerable native forests.
Major hydroelectric dams and the development of coastal areas to increase tourism are two specific problems facing the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests. Overgrazing, invasive species, and urbanization have all contributed to the destruction of the original habitat.
The ecosystems of the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests face severe pressure from human activities and development. Chile has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America and is still strongly dependent on natural resources. Most of the major threats are concentrated in the Mediterranean subunit in the southern part of the hotspot, where a high percentage of the Chilean population lives today.
Other major threats to the integrity of Chilean ecosystems include accidental and intentional forest fires. Unlike the other Mediterranean-type climate zones, fires are not a major natural part of the ecosystem in the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests, and plant and animal species are not adapted to its effects. Between the 1970s and 1990s, an estimated 360-600 km² were burned each year in this region. The Monterey pine is a non-native, fire-adapted species that is often planted on Chilean tree plantations; fires here can easily spread to vulnerable native forests.
Solutions for this Biodiversity
Around 50,000 km², or 12.8 percent, of the original land area of the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests is under official protection, and fortunately most of it is in protected areas in IUCN categories I to IV. Protected areas include national parks, national reserves, national monuments, and nature sanctuaries. All Araucaria trees are also protected as national monuments, an unusual and creative conservation mechanism. The total area under protection, much of it in many small reserves, however, is inadequate to conserve biodiversity in the long run. Particularly in the northern part of the rainforest zone, protected areas tend to be at mid-elevations and concentrated in the Andean Cordillera, leaving the richest rainforest areas along the coast practically unprotected.
Around 50,000 km², or 12.8 percent, of the original land area of the Chilean Winter Rainfall-Valdivian Forests is under official protection, and fortunately most of it is in protected areas in IUCN categories I to IV. Protected areas include national parks, national reserves, national monuments, and nature sanctuaries. All Araucaria trees are also protected as national monuments, an unusual and creative conservation mechanism. The total area under protection, much of it in many small reserves, however, is inadequate to conserve biodiversity in the long run. Particularly in the northern part of the rainforest zone, protected areas tend to be at mid-elevations and concentrated in the Andean Cordillera, leaving the richest rainforest areas along the coast practically unprotected.