Download 3-Tigris-Euphrates alluvial salt marsh

Ecoregion:
An ecoregion is an ecologically and geographically defined area
that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than
an ecozone. All three of these are either less or greater than
an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or
water,
and
contain
characteristic,
geographically
distinct
assemblages of natural communities and species.
The biodiversity of flora, fauna and ecosystems that characterise an
ecoregion tends to be distinct from that of other ecoregions. In
theory, biodiversity or conservation ecoregions are relatively large
areas of land or water where the probability of encountering
different species and communities at any given point remain
relatively constant, within an acceptable range of variation (largely
undefined at this point).
An ecoregion is a "recurring pattern of ecosystems associated with
characteristic combinations of soil and landform that characterise
that region"[1] Omernik (2004), elaborates on this by defining
ecoregions as: “areas within which there is spatial coincidence in
characteristics
differences
of geographical phenomena
in
the
quality,
health,
associated
and
with
integrity
of ecosystems”[2] “Characteristics of geographical phenomena”
may
include geology, physiography,
vegetation,
climate, hydrology, terrestrial and aquatic fauna, and soils, and
may or may not include the impacts of human activity (e.g. land
use patterns, vegetation changes). There is significant, but not
absolute, spatial correlation among these characteristics, making
the delineation of ecoregions an imperfect science. Another
complication is that environmental conditions across an ecoregion
boundary may change very gradually, e.g. the prairie-forest
transition in the midwestern United States, making it difficult to
identify an exact dividing boundary. Such transition zones are
called ecotones.
There are nine ecoregion in Iraq which can summarize the most
important region as follows:
1-Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub
The Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub is one of only five
shrublands of its kind, which together support 20 percent of the plant
species on Earth. An incredible variety of plants grow in this ecoregion
that covers coastal, plains, and highland regions. More than 25,000
species of plants occur here, and more than half are endemic.
Many areas in this ecoregion share common plants known collectively as
"maquis" - characterized by short evergreen shrubs and oak trees. These
species have similar ways of surviving in such conditions by using thick,
leathery leaves to retain water when it's hot, or special veins to transport
moisture when it rains.
2-Mesopotamian Delta and Marshes
At the northern end of the Persian Gulf is the vast deltaic plain of the
Euphrates,TigrisandKarunrivers.
A complex of shallow freshwater lakes, swamps, marshes, and seasonally
inundated plains between the Tigris and Euphrates make up the largest
river delta in the Middle East, the Mesopotamian Delta and Marshes
ecoregion.
The general climate is subtropical, hot and arid. The aquatic vegetation
includes reeds, rushes, and papyrus, which support numerous species.
The marshy land is home to water birds, some of which stop off on
migratory journeys, whilst others spend the winter in these marshes living
off the lizards, snakes, frogs, and fish.
3-Tigris-Euphrates alluvial salt marsh
Part of a former cradle of civilization (Mesopotamia), the ecoregion is
surrounded by a vast region of desert and xeric shrubland. This complex
of shallow freshwater lakes, swamps, marshes, and seasonally inundated
plains is among the most important wintering areas for migratory birds in
Eurasia.
The vast deltaic plain of the Euphrates, Tigris and Karun rivers is located
at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, in extreme eastern Iraq and
southwestern Iran. This alluvial basin drains a large area of Turkey, Syria,
Iraq, and the western Zagros Mountains of Iran, and the basin is covered
in recent (Pleistocene and Holocene) alluvial sediments.
The ecoregion is a complex of shallow freshwater lakes, swamps,
marshes, and seasonally inundated plains between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers. It includes huge permanent lakes of Haur al Hammar,
the Central Marshes, and Haur al Hawizeh as well as more seasonal
‘ahrash’ forest of Populus and Tamarix on islands and banks of the great
rivers. The vegetation of the ecoregion is dominated by aquatic plants –
Phragmites (reeds), Typha (rushes), and Cyperus (papyrus).