What is the Caatinga biome?
The Caatinga of Northeast Brazil is South America’s largest seasonally dry tropical forest. In Brazil it is considered a distinct biome or phytogeographic domain, one of six in the country (others being the Amazon Forest, the Atlantic Forest, the Cerrado, the Pantanal, and the Pampa).
Why does the Caatinga look like a desert?
With all the foliage and undergrowth dead during the drought periods and all the trees having no leaves the Caatinga has a yellow-grey, desert -like look. During the peak periods of drought the Caatinga’s soil can reach temperatures of up to 60 °C. Common rock formations in the caatinga, during the rainy season.
Where is caatinga located in Brazil?
Caatinga falls entirely within earth’s tropical zone and is one of 6 major ecoregions of Brazil. It covers 850,000 km², nearly 10% of Brazil’s territory. It is home to 26 million people and over 2000 species of plants, fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
What is the desert biome?
The desert biome covers about one-fifth of Earth’s surface. This biome has a layer of soil that can either be sandy, gravelly, or stony, depending on the type of desert. Deserts usually get at most 50 centimeters (20 inches) of rainfall a year, and the organisms that live in deserts are adapted to this extremely dry climate.
The Caatinga biome is restricted to northeastern Brazil. Caatinga is one of the most highly distinctive natural regions in South America.
What type of caatinga is the Borborema?
In the east, just above the Borborema escarpment, is an agreste -type caatinga with trees up to 35 ft tall. Orographic precipitation generated on isolated high elevations ( brejos) supports an evergreen tropical rainforest with plants related to those of the Amazon rainforest.
What are the characteristics of caatinga?
The Caatinga is a xeric shrubland and thorn forest, which consists primarily of small, thorny trees that shed their leaves seasonally. Cacti, thick-stemmed plants, thorny brush, and arid-adapted grasses make up the ground layer.