Biodiversity of Colombia

Colombia is one of seventeen megadiverse countries in the world
The country hosts two biodiversity hotspots:
1 - Tropical Andes
5 - Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena
Jaguar in Jaime Duque Zoo, Tocancipá

Colombia is the country with the second-highest biodiversity in the world, behind Brazil.[1] As of 2016, 56,343 species are registered in Colombia, of which 9,153 are endemic. The country occupies the first position worldwide in number of orchids and birds, second position in plants, amphibians, butterflies and fresh water fish, third place in species of palm trees and reptiles and globally holds the fourth position in biodiversity of mammals.

The country hosts 59 nationally designated protected areas. At the establishment of the as of 2017 most recent addition, Bahía Portete – Kaurrele National Natural Park, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos said "The biodiversity is to Colombia, what oil is for the Arabs".[2][3]

According to a report by the WWF, half of Colombia’s ecosystems are in a critical state of deterioration or in a state of danger. The organization said that environmental degradation is due to oil extraction, mineral and metal extraction and deforestation. Deteriorating ecosystems are threatening the existence of more than a third of Colombia’s plants and 50 percent of its animals.[4]

Description

From left to right:
• 1000 pesos - Caretta caretta
• 500 pesos - Anura
• 200 pesos - Ara macao
• 100 pesos - Espeletia grandiflora
• 50 pesos - Tremarctos ornatus

Colombia is one of seventeen megadiverse countries in the world.[5] The country in northwestern South America contains 311 types of coastal and continental ecosystems.[1] As of 2016, a total of between 56,343 and 56,724 species are registered in the country,[6][7] with 9153 endemic species.[8] Colombia is the country with the most páramos in the world; more than 60% of the Andean ecosystem is found within Colombian territories.[9] Boyacá is the department where 18.3% of the national total area is located.[10] Since December 20, 2014, Colombia hosts 59 protected areas.[11] The biodiversity is highest in the Andean natural region, followed by the Amazon natural region.[12] Since 1998, the Humboldt Institute for Biological Resources in the country has been collecting samples of biodiversity. As of 2014, 16,469 samples, representing around 2530 species from 1289 genera, and 323 families of the Colombian biodiversity have been stored in their archives.[13]

The biodiversity of Colombia is at risk, mainly because of habitat loss, urbanisation, deforestation and overfishing.[14] According to a study of 2001, 260,000 hectares (640,000 acres) of forested area is lost every year.[15] Around 1200 species are critically endangered,[16] and 922 species are introduced in Colombia, 22 of which are classified as invasive species in Colombia.[17] Various plans to address the environmental issues are proposed.[18] The National System of Protected Areas (SINAP) is the administrator of protected areas.

Biodiversity in numbers

Class Group Species
Vertebrates Mammals (list, primates)
492
Birds (list, endemic)
1921
Reptiles (list, lizards, snakes)
537
Amphibians
803
Marine fish
2000
Freshwater fish (Magdalena River)
1435
Invertebrates
(arthropods)		 Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)
3274
Ants
900
Marine molluscs
1250
Marine sponges
1250
Corals
139
Marine decapods
560
Echinoderms
296
Terrestrial molluscs
650
Beetles
7000
Arachnids
1089
Bees
398
Diptera
3153
Flora (endemic) Flowering plants
22,840
Flowerless plants
45
Orchids (endemic)
4270
Ferns and relatives
1643
Palm trees
289
Mosses and relatives
1649
Algae Land algae
1030
Marine algae
565
Fungi Lichen
1674
Macrofungi
1239
Rusts
327
Smuts
71

To commemorate the biodiversity of Colombia, the new coins of the Colombian peso feature a species each.[19]

Natural regions

Colombia is divided into six natural regions.

Caribbean natural region

 Surface area132,288 km2 (51,077 sq mi)
Departments
National parks
Biodiversityaquatic birds165
amphibians39
reptiles129
plants3151
fish109
References

Andean natural region

 Surface area282,540 km2 (109,090 sq mi)
Departments
National parks
Biodiversityaquatic birds14
amphibians485
reptiles220
plants11,500
fish197
References

Orinoquía natural region

 Surface area285,437 km2 (110,208 sq mi)
Departments
National parksLa Macarena
Los Picachos
Tinigua
El Tuparro
Biodiversityaquatic birds92
amphibians57
reptiles119
plants2692
fish619
References

Amazon natural region

 Surface area483,911 km2 (186,839 sq mi)
Departments
National parks
Alto Fragua
Indi-Wasi
Amacayacu
Cahuinarí
Chiribiquete
Nukak
La Paya
Puinawai
Río Puré
Churumbelos
Tinigua
Biodiversityaquatic birds74
amphibians158
reptiles195
plants5300
fish675
References

Pacific/Chocó natural region

 Surface area83,170 km2 (32,110 sq mi)
Departments Cauca
 Chocó
 Nariño
 Valle del Cauca
National parksLos Katíos
Sanquianga
Uramba Bahía Málaga
Utría
Biodiversityaquatic birds142
amphibians154
reptiles177
plants4525
fish164
References

Insular natural region

 Surface area300 km2 (120 sq mi)
Departments Bolívar
 Cauca
 San Andrés y Providencia
 Valle del Cauca
National parksCorales del Rosario
Malpelo
Old Providence
Gorgona
BiodiversityCorales del Rosario y San Bernardo
fish170
corals52
sponges25
molluscs & crustaceans100s
Gorgona Island
fishPseudobatos prahli
Trichomycterus gorgona
Malpelo Island
fishAcanthemblemaria stephensi
Halichoeres malpelo
Old Providence Lagoon
birds74
References

Biodiversity hotspots

Biodiversity hotspots of Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena (left) and Tropical Andes (right)

Colombia hosts two biodiversity hotspots; the Tropical Andes and Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena. The country is part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves with five biosphere reserves:[26]

Name Since First
review		 Second
review		 Image Notes
Cinturón Andino
1979
2001
2011
El Tuparro
1979
2001
2011
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
1979
2001
2011
Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
2000
2011
Seaflower
2000
2011
Collage of the Tropical Andes flora

Species

The Amazon river dolphin inhabits the southeastern Amazon region of Colombia

Selected fauna

Name Species Image
Caquetá titi Callicebus caquetensis
cotton-top tamarin Saguinus oedipus
mountain tapir Tapirus pinchaque
ornate titi Callicebus ornatus
spectacled bear Tremarctos ornatus
white-footed tamarin Saguinus leucopus
Santamartamys
American flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Andean condor Vultur gryphus
blue-billed curassow Crax alberti
Colombian chachalaca Ortalis columbiana
crested caracara Caracara cheriway
great egret Ardea alba
green-bearded helmetcrest Oxypogon guerinii
indigo-capped hummingbird Amazilia cyanifrons
little blue heron Egretta caerulea
multicoloured tanager Chlorochrysa nitidissima
snowy egret Egretta thula
white-tailed starfrontlet Coeligena phalerata
blue anole Anolis gorgonae
Magdalena River turtle Podocnemis lewyana
rainbow whiptail Cnemidophorus lemniscatus
spectacled caiman Caiman crocodilus
Norops mariarum
Andean poison frog Andinobates opisthomelas
Boettger's Colombian treefrog Dendropsophus columbianus
golden poison frog Phyllobates terribilis
Guajira stubfoot toad Atelopus carrikeri
harlequin poison frog Oophaga histrionica
Lehmann's poison frog Oophaga lehmanni
Pristimantis tayrona
green discus Symphysodon tarzoo
redhump eartheater Geophagus steindachneri
spotted moray Gymnothorax moringa
Malpelo barnacle blenny Acanthemblemaria stephensi
Malpelo wrasse Halichoeres malpelo
Centrochir crocodili
Hoplosternum magdalenae
Labrisomus dendriticus
Sturisoma aureum
Clysonymus longwing Heliconius clysonymus
Dirce beauty Colobura dirce
brown peacock Anartia amathea
eleone white Leptophobia eleone
short-lined kite swallowtail Protographium agesilaus
Rhetus arcius
Mastigoproctus colombianus
Psammodesmus bryophorus
giant ramshorn snail Marisa cornuarietis
Portuguese man o' war Physalia physalis
sea slug

Selected endemic flora

Name Species Image
Cattleya trianae (national flower)
wax palm Ceroxylon quindiuense (national tree)
borojó Alibertia patinoi
Ancipitia anthrax
Comparettia macroplectron
Dracula bella
Dracula diabola
Dracula lotax
Erythroxylum novogranatense
frailejón Espeletia killipii
Heliconia bourgaeana
Hypericum myricariifolium
Ipomoea pes-caprae
Lepanthes ophelma
Lupinus alopecuroides
Masdevallia mejiana
Miconia salicifolia
Monnina salicifolia
Odontoglossum crispum
Opuntia wentiana
Paphinia rugosa
Paphinia seegeri
Passiflora loefgrenii
Pentacalia vernicosa
Phragmipedium schlimii
color-changing Restrepia Restrepia chameleon
copper-coloured Restrepia Restrepia cuprea
Restrepia nittiorhyncha
Restrepia pandurata
Senecio formosoides
lulo Solanum quitoense
Stanhopea platyceras
Stanhopea pozoi
Stanhopea shuttleworthii
Stanhopea stevensonii

Selected endemic fungi

Name Species Image
Cookeina tricholoma
Favolus brasiliensis
Oudemansiella platensis

Panoramas

See also

References

  1. 1 2 (in Spanish) Qué es la biodiversidad - Humboldt Institute
  2. ↑ (in Spanish) Nuevo Parque Nacional Natural de Colombia Bahía Portete - Ministerio de Ambiente, Colombia
  3. ↑ (in Spanish) Bahía Portete, regalo de Navidad - El Espectador
  4. ↑ Colombia Viva:Informe 2017 - WWF-Colombia
  5. ↑ Biodiversity A-Z
  6. ↑ (in Spanish) Biodiversidad en Colombia
  7. ↑ SiB, 2016, p.1
  8. ↑ SiB, 2016, p.3
  9. ↑ Five unmissable Colombian páramos begging to be explored
  10. ↑ Nieto Escalante et al., 2010, p.75
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (in Spanish) Parques Nacionales de Colombia
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (in Spanish) Estadísticas Biodiversidad Colombia
  13. ↑ Arbeláez Cortés et al., 2015, p.163
  14. ↑ UNDP, 2014, p.18
  15. ↑ Rodríguez Becerra, 2001, p.10
  16. ↑ SiB, 2016, p.6
  17. ↑ SiB, 2016, p.8
  18. ↑ (in Spanish) Plan de acción de biodiversidad Colombia 2016-2030
  19. ↑ (in Spanish) Biodiversidad nuestra conexión vital - Banco de la República
  20. ↑ Woods, 2008, p.49
  21. ↑ Kyne, P.M. (2016). "Pseudobatos prahli". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T63158A104002851. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T63158A104002851.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  22. ↑ Villa-Navarro, F., Mesa-Salazar, L., Sanchez-Duarte, P. & Lasso, C. (2016). "Trichomycterus gorgona". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T64792679A64890625. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T64792679A64890625.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  23. ↑ Bessudo, S., Dominici-Arosemena, A., Espinosa, H. & Hastings, P. (2010). "Acanthemblemaria stephensi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T183968A8208246. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183968A8208246.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  24. ↑ Allen, G., Edgar, G., Rocha, L. & Min, L. (2010). "Halichoeres malpelo". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2010: e.T183519A8127170. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183519A8127170.en. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  25. ↑ Villegas, Benjamin, and Laura Sesana. 2007. Colombia Natural Parks. Villegas Asociados. Accessed 2017-01-30.
  26. ↑ World Biosphere Reserves - Latin America & The Caribbean
  27. ↑ Cinturón Andino - World Biosphere Reserve
  28. ↑ El Tuparro - World Biosphere Reserve
  29. ↑ Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta - World Biosphere Reserve
  30. ↑ Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta - World Biosphere Reserve
  31. ↑ Sea Flower - World Biosphere Reserve

Bibliography

  • Arbeláez Cortés, Enrique; María Fernanda Torres; Diana López Álvarez; Juan Diego Palacio Mejía; Ángela María Mendoza, and Claudia Alejandra Medina. 2015. Colombian frozen biodiversity - 16 years of the tissue collection of the Humboldt Institute - La biodiversidad congelada de Colombia: 16 años de la colección de tejidos del Instituto Humboldt. Acta Biológica Colombiana - Universidad Nacional de Colombia 20. 163-173.
  • Nieto Escalante, Juan Antonio; Claudia Inés Sepulveda Fajardo; Luis Fernando Sandoval Sáenz; Ricardo Fabian Siachoque Bernal; Jair Olando Fajardo Fajardo; William Alberto Martínez Díaz; Orlando Bustamante Méndez, and Diana Rocio Oviedo Calderón. 2010. Geografía de Colombia - Geography of Colombia, 1-367. Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi.
  • Rodríguez Becerra, Manuel. 2001. La biodiversidad en Colombia, 1-32. Accessed 2017-01-30.
  • SiB, .. 2016. Biodiversidad en cifras, 1-9. Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia. Accessed 2017-01-30.
  • UNDP, .. 2014. V Informe nacional de biodiversidad de Colombia - ante el convenio de diversidad biológica, 1-156. United Nations Development Program. Accessed 2017-01-30.
  • Woods, Sarah. 2008. Colombia. Bradt Travel Guides. Accessed 2017-01-30.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.