are landscape units of South Australia. Kwongan is a vegetation type similar to the
maquis in Europe or the chaparral in California. The mallee is an open shrub
vegetation, consisting mostly of Eucalyptus species growing on oligotrophic soil
(Holland 1969; Specht 1979a, b). Many endemic species occur in both habitats. The
mallee ecosystem has a diverse reptile fauna. Examples of endemic species are the
mallee dragon Ctenophorus fordi and the southern Mallee ctenotus Ctenotus atlas
(Menkhorst and Bennett 1989). The mallee is also the habitat of more than 100 species of birds. The red-lored whistler Pachycephala rufogularis and black-eared
miner Manorina melanotis, for example, are among the birds which are restricted
to this ecosystem (Schodde 1981; Keith et al. 2014).
Heathlands can be found in New Zealand. In the north of New Zealand, most
heathlands are the result of deforestation (Enright 1989). Both the North and the
South Island are covered partially by different types of heathland. Some are the result
of anthropogenic influence and others are the result of specific environmental
conditions (Burrows et al. 1979).
2.6 Asia
Asia harbours a great diversity of shrub ecosystems which all differ from those in
Europe. The different habitats often merge directly into one another, with savannas
and shrublands often forming a transitional stage between grassland and forest. In
many cases, the savannas of Asia are not considered distinct ecosystems and are
classified as degraded forest (Ratnam et al. 2016). Deciduous broadleaf savanna,
fine-leafed spiny savanna and pine savanna are all found in continental regions of SE
Asia (Ratnam et al. 2016). Like the savannas in Africa they provide habitat for
endemic ruminant mammals, among them many rare species, such as the critically
endangered kouprey Bos sauveli. A couple of years ago there have been only
50 individuals of this species left and the probability that this animal is already
extinct is high (Timmins et al. 2016).
In Malesia, natural heathlands can be found on nutrient-poor sandy soil or above
the timberline. At lower elevations, forests and heathland are not clearly delineated.
In some cases, heathland species and trees coexist and form heath-forest (Specht and
Womersley 1979).
The Thar Desert is a thorny shrubland in Rajasthan India (Bhandari 2005). Many
endemic and rare species live in this ecosystem (Khan 1997) making it a regionally
important and highly biodiverse habitat.
A high diversity of plant species is also found in the alpine shrub vegetation of the
Himalaya Mountains (Chawla et al. 2008).
The arid climatic conditions of Afghanistan favour the growth of shrubland. A
great variety of shrub vegetation, such as juniperus shrubland, subtropical dry scrub,
and the Rhododendron-Krummholz of the higher-altitude mountain areas, is to be
found in the various regions of the country (Breckle 2007).
Heathland, Scrub and Savanna: Overview, Recent Trends and Outlook
369
maquis in Europe or the chaparral in California. The mallee is an open shrub
vegetation, consisting mostly of Eucalyptus species growing on oligotrophic soil
(Holland 1969; Specht 1979a, b). Many endemic species occur in both habitats. The
mallee ecosystem has a diverse reptile fauna. Examples of endemic species are the
mallee dragon Ctenophorus fordi and the southern Mallee ctenotus Ctenotus atlas
(Menkhorst and Bennett 1989). The mallee is also the habitat of more than 100 species of birds. The red-lored whistler Pachycephala rufogularis and black-eared
miner Manorina melanotis, for example, are among the birds which are restricted
to this ecosystem (Schodde 1981; Keith et al. 2014).
Heathlands can be found in New Zealand. In the north of New Zealand, most
heathlands are the result of deforestation (Enright 1989). Both the North and the
South Island are covered partially by different types of heathland. Some are the result
of anthropogenic influence and others are the result of specific environmental
conditions (Burrows et al. 1979).
2.6 Asia
Asia harbours a great diversity of shrub ecosystems which all differ from those in
Europe. The different habitats often merge directly into one another, with savannas
and shrublands often forming a transitional stage between grassland and forest. In
many cases, the savannas of Asia are not considered distinct ecosystems and are
classified as degraded forest (Ratnam et al. 2016). Deciduous broadleaf savanna,
fine-leafed spiny savanna and pine savanna are all found in continental regions of SE
Asia (Ratnam et al. 2016). Like the savannas in Africa they provide habitat for
endemic ruminant mammals, among them many rare species, such as the critically
endangered kouprey Bos sauveli. A couple of years ago there have been only
50 individuals of this species left and the probability that this animal is already
extinct is high (Timmins et al. 2016).
In Malesia, natural heathlands can be found on nutrient-poor sandy soil or above
the timberline. At lower elevations, forests and heathland are not clearly delineated.
In some cases, heathland species and trees coexist and form heath-forest (Specht and
Womersley 1979).
The Thar Desert is a thorny shrubland in Rajasthan India (Bhandari 2005). Many
endemic and rare species live in this ecosystem (Khan 1997) making it a regionally
important and highly biodiverse habitat.
A high diversity of plant species is also found in the alpine shrub vegetation of the
Himalaya Mountains (Chawla et al. 2008).
The arid climatic conditions of Afghanistan favour the growth of shrubland. A
great variety of shrub vegetation, such as juniperus shrubland, subtropical dry scrub,
and the Rhododendron-Krummholz of the higher-altitude mountain areas, is to be
found in the various regions of the country (Breckle 2007).
Heathland, Scrub and Savanna: Overview, Recent Trends and Outlook
369