With a truly original vegetation and relief, accompanied by very varied environments, and also considered one of the most complete ecosystems at a natural level, do you know what we are talking about? of the moor, in this post, you will know the moorland animals, its characteristics, climate, flora and much more, continue with us and you will learn about this incredible topic.
What is the moor?
With a variety of mountains, an extensive relief, lush vegetation, and a large number of benefits, the moor is defined through these characteristics. For the most part, those spaces in which this large-scale plant structure can be found usually contain exclusive and original characteristics that manage to contribute to the environment on a large scale.
Taking into account that this type of vegetable spaces have a really varied type of ecosystem, housing within it both animals of different species, as well as unusual plants. In addition to this, we must also note that the presence of rivers, and other water reservoirs, give a certain exclusivity to the ecosystem of the páramo, since they run through said territory, and contribute to the maintenance of plant life found in said regions. .
Characteristics of the moor
This type of ecosystem is very common to find in the American continent, specifically in South America, that is, in countries like Venezuela and Colombia. This is due to the position in which these countries find themselves, and coupled with the presence of the Tropical climate that characterizes them, climatic effect that plays a fundamental role in the development and maintenance of the paramo ecosystem. among its characteristics we will first define its location
Location
For its part, the paramo that can be found in the countries already mentioned, has a large number of species, not only plants but also animals, for this reason, the moorland animals they are really endemic. Some original from the territories in which they commonly inhabit. This is because both Venezuela and Colombia are part of the list of megadiverse countries worldwide.
Thanks to the emblematic nature of the vegetable spaces and the beauties or natural riches that it currently has, both countries have various characteristics that position them as representative countries in terms of natural riches.
Extension
It is important to mention the extension that contains the páramo in its different versions, taking into account that these in the different countries have some similar characteristics, but that, however, they tend to be somewhat different, thanks to the extension of the territory, that they possess.
For its part, Colombia has the largest extension or portion of land, in which the paramo ecosystems in complete comfort. Thanks to this, the largest wasteland in the world is located in this prodigious country. Coming to meet in different spaces such as in the Sierra Nevada said natural ecosystem. It is also worth mentioning that another of the countries with large territorial portions with the presence of paramos is Ecuador.
While in other countries some spaces are found, but not large as is the case of the aforementioned countries. Among those countries that have few spaces with the presence of moors, is Peru. These have the abundance of some tree species such as the well-known grasses.
Typology
When we talk about typologies, we are referring to some very marked and notorious characteristics, with which the moor is identified, below we will describe some of its most predominant characteristics, although later we will be outlining and defining with great emphasis its components and other important details. .
As we have mentioned before, the páramo is really diverse in terms of its structure and nature. For the most part, these have the presence of a great leafiness in terms of plant species, like a jungle, this is one of the characteristics that define the paramo ecosystemAs expected, certain climatic changes occur in it, which in turn manifest very varied temperatures, which on some occasions produces cold temperatures that humidify the plants and help their development.
Most of the plants that shelter this territory, have a type of adaptation to the environment, which allows them to survive in the face of temperature changes, which are not usually so extreme, since they are found in tropical soil. For the most part, the plants that are most abundant in the different natural fields, whether from the Colombian country, or Venezuelan, the plants that abound in themselves, are those that are found under the genus "espeletia".
This genus of plants greatly abounds in this type of ecosystem, managing to be found in all its extensions, these have a truly dominant and impressive morphology, for which the aspect of the moor is very attractive. In another order of ideas, we usually find different types of moors, which do not have a different morphology, but rather, with completely different types of climates, which directly affects the moors. Thanks to this, there is the existence of dry moors, and in turn wet.
Ecuador is one of the countries that has a truly characteristic type or style of paramo, since it has a vegetal territory, which contains a large vegetal extension, in which the type of soil is characteristic, being rocky, therefore, the plants that make life in these spaces have quite remarkable adaptive levels.
For its part, the formation of this type of ecosystem is completely natural. The countries mentioned above are proof of the impressive nature that surrounds them, as they contain special landscapes, with great impetus and originality in their plant spaces.
eco regions
We have already defined the great extension of the different paramos that are located in the south of America, next we will delimit the different regions that were declared portions of land where these vegetal extensions are located.
Paramos of the Mérida mountain range, located in Venezuela.
Paramos of the central mountain range, located in Ecuador
Páramo des de Santa Marta located in Colombia
North Ardino moors, located in Colombia.
Climate
The climate of this type of vegetal regions is usually quite characteristic. Next, we will be talking about the type of climate present in the páramo, taking into account the characteristics that define it. In general, in the páramo, there are certain changes in atmospheric temperature on a regular basis, however, it has lower temperatures than high ones, for which the cold predominates in these areas. In the times when summer approaches, the seasons change tends to take place, so studies have shown that the heat in these times is quite intense.
For their part, some moorland animals, they tend to hibernate, thanks to the high cold seasons that last in the paramo regions. Among these animals we managed to find some smaller birds, as is the case of the hummingbird.
Biome
As for the type of biome that constitutes the páramo, it has a great diversity of flora and fauna, as for the fauna, later we will be explaining the different moorland animals, so that you can obtain much more knowledge about the various animals that make life in these areas.
For their part, both plants and animals have an extraordinary adaptation to the climate that occurs in these regions, taking into account that climate change is often somewhat extreme. One of the disadvantages that usually occur in the moorland regions is the presence of water that in many cases the same conditions fail to favor the plants.
In the previous sections we have explained that the moors have a diversity of mountains, which due to their altitude tend to have extremely low temperatures, for this reason, most of the species that do not have sufficient capacity to adapt, do not manage to survive in this type of weather.
However, there are some species that manage to adapt perfectly to the climates that are represented in these ecosystems, above all, mammals and some amphibians usually have an extreme sense of survival. However, thanks to climate changes, many of these animals or specimens die due to heating.
Flora
As for the plants, just like the animals, they have the adaptive capacity to survive the extreme climate that the moor usually has, in many cases, most of the species tend to have a morphology with great fur, which gives them great protection against low temperatures, this facilitates their survival.
Other mechanisms that occur is the protection from both cold and heat, which occurs in most cases in one or another kind of Tree which are generally high altitude. Many of these mechanisms are completely natural, since the strategies are often similar to the adaptation that plants have in those forests with extreme climates.
In the páramo, a large number of plants in different families are usually found, among which the following can be mentioned:
- Orchids
- Grasses
- Asteraceae
- poaceae
It should be noted that one of the most common present in most of the territory of the moor, are the grasses. However, there is a large number of plant species, very well distributed throughout the páramo, which remain in a perfect state of survival, including this type of plant, the fact that survive in another type of natural ecosystem.
On many occasions, trees are somewhat absent in this type of ecosystem, however, we can find in some regions certain Types of trees which are really characteristic in terms of their size, some reaching up to 3 meters in height. It should be noted that in America, it is possible to find at least approximately four thousand species of plants. These plants position the different moors as one of the most endemic ecosystems worldwide, thanks to the exotic nature of their landscapes.
moorland animals
We have reached the most interesting section of our post, in which you will find some species of animals that make life in this ecosystem, being today classified as animals of the moor. Continue reading, and do not miss this wonderful tour.
As for the animals of the páramo, we must emphasize that they have great adaptation mechanisms, which allow them to live fully in the midst of atmospheric climates and extreme temperatures. Taking into account that these are types of animals that, in general, have been morphologically designed to live in said areas or ecosystems.
The various mechanisms that they carry out are very extraordinary, taking into account from their natural forms, such as the type of fur they have, to protect themselves from the cold, as well as hibernation mechanisms, which allow certain animals that hibernate, withstand certain cold seasons. Among the great diversity of species that make life in the moors we can find the following:
- Bears
- Birds
- Amphibians
- Venados
- Beavers
- Squirrels
- guinea pigs
Birds
In the moor, a multitude of birds are usually found, as expected. Since these, commonly, are located throughout the planet, managing to adapt to different types of climates, this thanks to the ability to migrate to other territories. Among the most common birds that make life in the moor we usually find:
The hummingbird
Bird, of smaller size that usually remains in the moor, since this type of ecosystem allows it to carry out its reproduction continuously, in addition to possessing the necessary conditions of an environment completely adaptable to the conditions that this kind of bird must possess.
Amphibians
Among the most common paramo animals within the class of amphibians, we can find many species of frogs, this due to the large amounts of water that are present in the paramos as large glaciers. Fact that greatly favors this type of animal.
Venados
Others of the moorland animals Without a doubt, they are the deer, these have a great capacity for adaptation in these areas, in which they usually take shelter, thanks to the presence of water, they also have certain benefits that allow them to survive. Their fur commonly protects them from extreme cold snaps.
Rodents
Among the rodents that live in the moors, we can find squirrels, mice, and beavers, they are the type of animals of the moor that are usually found very easily in the vicinity of the territory. It should be noted that beavers, thanks to their fur, also manage to survive the extreme temperatures present in the ecosystem.
Bears
Bears count as one of the most common paramo animals among the fauna of the paramo ecosystem, taking into account that it manages to survive thanks to its different natural mechanisms, among which is hibernation.
Mostly this type of bears, has a type of quite leafy fur, among the most common species that live in said natural ecosystem, are the spectacled bears, which counts as one of the endemic species located in the mountain range of The Andes.
Accompanied by great landscapes, such as waterfalls, glaciers, immense trees, and high-altitude mountains, the bear usually immerses itself in this ecosystem, even having the ability to cross the borders of the moor, traveling at least approximately 14 kilometers of road. .
Among the countries in which this animal lives, are Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador, properly the tropical countries, that is, those that have the presence of paramos in their megadiversity. As for their morphology, these are of great weight and size, their fur is quite lush and soft, with a type of brown coloration and sometimes black, accompanied by a snout that in turn has some white colorations, this is striking attention thanks to its morphology and impetuous presence.
This animal has a fundamental role in regard to the ecology of the environment, this due to the feeding that it regularly carries out, which is based on a diversity of foods, among them its specialty is fruits. Thanks to this, it is possible to carry out the germination of seeds in different spaces, so that the production of fruits and plants increases.
However, over time, this bear has had to face great changes, including climatic changes that are generally very common in these tropical areas, in addition to also being subjected to various activities carried out by men. , an effect that results in some disadvantages in certain areas where the moors are located, for which the ecosystem tends to be greatly affected.
The man in his eagerness and attempt to extend and take land that have certain benefits in the soil, tend to break into the habitat of certain animals, for reasons of planting or expropriation of land, without taking into account the consequences of the facts or the actions that take place, this represents one of the reasons for the threat to the spectacled bear.