| Rio Sao Francisco mangroves | |
| Map: | Ecoregion_NT1433.png |
| Map Size: | 300 |
| Ecozone: | Neotropic |
| Biome: | Mangroves |
| Area: | 2590 |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Coordinates: | -12.77°N -38.82°W |
The Rio Sao Francisco mangroves ecoregion (WWF ID: NT1433) covers series of mangrove forests along the Atlantic Ocean coast of eastern Brazil, from the outskirts of Maceió southwards to just south of Salvador, Bahia. This ecoregion has high biodiversity, as it lies in different sub-climate zones, with a dry season in the north but not in the south.[1] [2] [3]
The ecoregion exists in patches of mangrove forests, mostly around river estuaries, along 500 km of the coast of eastern Brazil. This length of coast covers much of the states of Alagoas, Sergipe, and Bahia.The ecoregion's mangroves are most significant in three areas:
The climate of the ecoregion is Tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification (Am)). This climate is characterized by relatively even temperatures throughout the year (all months being greater than 18C average temperature), and a pronounced dry season. The driest month has less than 60 mm of precipitation, but more than (100-(average/25) mm. This climate is mid-way between a tropical rainforest and a tropical savannah. The dry month usually at or right after the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.[4] [5] Precipitation averages 1,250 to 1,500 mm/year. The dry season in the north lasts 4–5 months.
The mangroves of the area are surrounded by beaches on the coast, and forest and coastal retsingas on the inland side. The characteristic mangrove trees species are red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Aviccenia shaueriana), and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa).
The region is important resting and feeding stop for long-distance migratory birds such as the ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres), spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia), and whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus).
Officially protected areas in the ecoregion include: