Cayman Islands xeric scrub
Limestone formations, Hell, Grand Cayman
Ecoregion territory (in blue dashed box)
Ecology
RealmNeotropic
BiomeDeserts and xeric shrublands
Geography
Area130 km2 (50 sq mi)
CountryUnited Kingdom
Coordinates19°20′56″N 81°06′47″W / 19.349°N 81.113°W / 19.349; -81.113

The Cayman Islands xeric scrub ecoregion (WWF ID: NT1305) covers a portion of the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The dry ('xeric') parts of the island are surrounded by mangroves, dry forest, or developed areas. Grand Cayman Island has been heavily cleared or degraded for human development; while the less populated islands have more intact shrub and wooded habitat.[1][2] [3]

Location and description

The three main islands of the Caymans are Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. The islands are low and flat on a limestone base. The islands, 250 kilometers south of Cuba, are at the western end of the Greater Antilles.[2]

Climate

The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical savanna climate - dry winter (Köppen climate classification (Aw)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, and is drier than the average month.[4][5] The wet months are May through November.[1]

Flora and fauna

While much of the islands are mangroves or developed areas, there are evergreen thickets on the eastern side of Grand Cayman, the north of Little Cayman, and the relatively higher elevations on Cayman Brac. Common species of trees and bushes are turpentine tree (Bursera simaruba), the near-threatened West-Indian mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni), (Picrodendron baccatum), white bully (Sideroxylon salicifolium), spicewood (Calyptranthes pallens), and fringetree (Chionanthus caymanensis). Also common are palms such as Cayman thatch palm Coccothrinax proctorii and Florida thatch palm Thrinax radiata; also climbing (epiphytic) cacti such as Moonlight cactus (Selenicereus).[3]

The strong trade winds may help disperse plants over water: of the 601 vascular plant species on the islands, only 21 are endemic. A significant threat to the thickets is the introduction of the campeche logwood (Haematoxylum campechianum) for commercial purposes.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Cayman Islands xeric scrub". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Cayman Islands xeric scrub". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006. "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ "Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
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