East Arabian fog shrublands and sand desert
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| East Arabian fog shrublands and sand desert | |
|---|---|
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Biome | Deserts and xeric shrublands |
| Borders | |
| Geography | |
| Area | 1,769 km2 (683 sq mi) |
| Country | Oman |
The East Arabian fog shrublands and sand desert is a deserts and xeric shrubland ecoregion in Oman. It encompasses two areas of coastal desert in the eastern Arabian Peninsula, the Wahiba Sands in eastern Oman, and the Huqf region to the southwest. The ecoregion has a total area of 1,769 km2.[1]
The northern section encompasses the Wahiba Sands, a dune field that extends inland from the Arabian Sea coast. The southern section, known as the Huqf region, is bounded on the east by the Arabian Sea and on the west by the Huqf escarpment and Jiddat al-Harasis plateau. The Huqf region's landscape is more varied, with gravel deserts, salt flats or ‘sabkha’, rugged hills and outcrops, and coastal white sugar dunes near Al Khaluf.[1]
The region has a desert climate, with less than 50 mm of rainfall annually. Temperatures are warm throughout the year, reaching up to 40 °C in the warmer summer months and averaging 25 °C in the winter months. The region has a strong marine influence, with moisture-bearing winds from the Arabian Sea in winter and the southwest monsoon in summer that form fogs which provide moisture to plants from condensation.[1]
Flora
The vegetation consists mostly of sparse shrubs and ephemeral grasses, with areas of open woodland.[2][1] Calligonum spp. shrubs and sedges grow on mobile dune tops, and the subshrub Heliotropium bacciferum subsp. tuberculosum on grows on stabilized sands. The subshrubs sea-lavender (Limonium spp.) and Zygophyllum qatarense grow on the seashore in the northern part of the ecoregion, while the shrub Halopeplis perfoliata and the grasses Urochondra setulosa and sand couch (Sporobolus virginicus) predominate along the southern coast.[1]
Ghaf trees (Prosopis cineraria) form open woodlands, which provide habitat for many of the region's native birds and mammals.[1]
Fauna
Native mammals include the Cape hare (Lepus capensis), Arabian gazelle (Gazella arabica), sand cat (Felis margarita), Rüppell's fox (Vulpes rueppellii), and Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs). Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) and Blanford's fox (Vulpes cana) dwell along the Huqf escarpment.[1]
Resident and migratory birds live in the woodlands and dune scrub, and the coastal dunes are important stopovers for migratory birds.[1]