29:
283:). This climate is characteristic of steppes, with hot summers and cool or mild winters, and minimal precipitation. The dry season (May to October) averages 20–27 °C (68–81 °F), and the wet season rising above 30 °C (86 °F). The rainy season is November to April. Rainfall differs in the two different sites of this ecoregion, averaging 1,400 mm (55 in) per year in the Zambian site, but less than 500 mm (20 in) per year in the Tanzanian site.
48:
392:
The thickets are being extensively cleared for firewood and for cultivation as the populations of the two countries grow, with 50% gone in
Tanzania (which is unprotected) and 70% in Zambia, which does have some protection in the
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The extremely dense, impenetrable Itigi deciduous thicket is a unique mixture of over 100 species of woody shrubs 3 to 5 metres (9.8 to 16.4 ft) high. Characteristics species are two species of
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365:, the area is vulnerable to poaching and rhinos have been eradicated from the area. The thickets are also home to three endemic reptiles – the Urungu beaked snake (
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of
Tanzania. The climate consists of a cool dry season from May to August, a hot dry season from August to November, and a rainy season from November to April.
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232:. The floral community of dense deciduous brush is unique, with many endemic species, and almost no transition zone between it and the surrounding dry
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A 2017 assessment found that 3,797 km (1,466 sq mi), or 35%, of the ecoregion is in protected areas. Protected areas include:
397:. The largest blocks of thicket remain on the northern shores of Lake Mweru Wantipa and in the eastern portion of the Zambian Itigi thicket.
625:
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woodlands. The distinctive nature of this small region is partly due to its setting on dry alluvial soil over a hard
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in Zambia (between 950 and 1,200 m (3,120 and 3,940 ft) above sea level), and near the town of
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474:"An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm"
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Kottek, M.; Grieser, J.; Beck, C.; Rudolf, B.; Rubel, F. (2006).
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Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
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tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
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601:"World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated"
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472:; Olson, David; Joshi, Anup; et al. (2017-04-05).
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consisting of two small areas of thick shrubland in
486:(6): 534–545, Supplemental material 2 table S1b.
99:Southern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets
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248:The thickets are found in the flatland between
52:Location of the Itigi-Sumbu thicket ecoregion
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202:3,797 km (1,466 sq mi) (35%)
626:"Dataset - Koppen climate classifications"
558:. Digital Observatory for Protected Areas
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378:), and Johnston's long-tailed lizard (
116:10,997 km (4,246 sq mi)
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94:Central Zambezian miombo woodlands
14:
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272:The climate of the ecoregion is
226:Democratic Republic of the Congo
138:Democratic Republic of the Congo
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27:
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1:
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278:Köppen climate classification
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606:. Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006
580:. The Encyclopedia of Earth
447:. World Wildlife Federation
417:Kaputa Game Management Area
405:Mweru Wantipa National Park
395:Mweru Wantipa National Park
357:Traditionally a habitat of
16:Ecoregion in eastern Africa
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536:. Resolve, using WWF data
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534:"Map of Ecoregions 2017"
388:Threats and preservation
371:), four-fingered skink (
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340:Pseudoprosopsis fischeri
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244:Location and description
654:Afrotropical ecoregions
346:Tapiphyllum floribundum
659:Ecoregions of Tanzania
368:Rhinotyphlops gracilis
324:Combretum celastroides
578:"Itigi-Sumbu thicket"
556:"Itigi-Sumbu thicket"
493:10.1093/biosci/bix014
445:"Itigi-Sumbu thicket"
664:Ecoregions of Zambia
411:Nsumbu National Park
381:Latastia johnstonii
210:Itigi-Sumbu thicket
194:Critical/endangered
190:Conservation status
164: /
22:Itigi-Sumbu thicket
312:Bussea massaiensis
306:Baphia massaiensis
250:Lake Mweru Wantipa
318:Burttia prunoides
224:and the adjacent
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674:Zambezian region
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33:Landscape near
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334:Grewia burttii
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262:Itigi District
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168:5.55°S 34.45°E
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630:. Retrieved
628:. World Bank
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582:. Retrieved
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376:tetradactyla
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184:Conservation
173:-5.55; 34.45
69:Afrotropical
363:black rhino
327:(a type of
230:East Africa
171: /
147:Coordinates
648:Categories
479:BioScience
424:References
419:in Zambia.
329:bushwillow
502:0006-3568
238:duricrust
214:ecoregion
199:Protected
121:Countries
108:Geography
584:June 20,
562:June 20,
540:June 20,
520:28608869
359:elephant
218:Tanzania
128:Tanzania
39:Tanzania
511:5451287
451:July 3,
374:Sepsina
268:Climate
260:in the
159:34°27′E
87:Borders
58:Ecology
518:
508:
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343:, and
294:Baphia
234:miombo
222:Zambia
212:is an
156:5°33′S
133:Zambia
604:(PDF)
413:, and
353:Fauna
287:Flora
281:(BSh)
258:Itigi
228:, in
76:Biome
64:Realm
35:Itigi
634:2019
612:2019
586:2021
564:2021
542:2021
516:PMID
498:ISSN
453:2021
361:and
303:and
252:and
208:The
113:Area
506:PMC
488:doi
384:).
331:),
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297:(
276:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.