A couple of months ago I posted a request for examples of rare and unusual
ecosystems, and I received quite a few interesting suggestions. I’d like to
post a brief compilation of the replies here, in order to share some
fascinating and often endangered habitats which not everyone might have heard
about.
In approximate order of response, and with brief comments from the
colleagues who suggested them, here’s a cross-section of rare and intriguing
ecosystems, ranging from isolated sites to large-scale biomes:
Renosterveld (rhino-bush) - critically endangered habitat type in the Cape
Floristic Region; biodiversity hotspot for the Iridaceae
Serpentine barrens (USA)
North American Great Plains - one of the world’s least-protected temperate
grasslands
Gomantong Cave, Borneo - rich and biodiverse tropical cave fauna
Movile Cave, Romania - “poison cave” with high concentrations of CO2/H2S
and dozens of endemic invertebrates
South African Fynbos - exceptional plant biodiversity, including many
endangered endemics
Pine Rocklands of South Florida - severely degraded, home to many
endangered endemics
Subterranean karst ecosystems
Extremophile habitats, including hot springs and saline ponds
Deep-sea habitats: hydrothermal vents (Riftia communities) and cold methane
seeps
Campos de Altitude - alpine habitat in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest
Cal Madow cloudforest, Somalia - montane wet forest on limestone escarpment
surrounded by xeric ecosystems, biodiverse and virtually unexplored
Lake Qarun in Egypt - historically a biodiverse freshwater lake, now a
heavily impacted saltwater lake (a tragic cautionary tale)
This was for a seminar I taught last fall, and I’m hoping to teach it
again—so if anyone has suggestions for other unusual ecosystems or habitat
types, I’d be very glad to hear about them.
Thanks to all,
J. A.
