Araya
Included in the large coastal area of the Caribbean, the Araya-Paria xeric scrub
ecoregion occupies the arid zones of Araya-Paria peninsula, with the exception of
the montane areas of the Paria side. The montane areas of Paria are included in the
Cordillera de la Costa ecoregion. Aria-Paria
also includes the island of Margarita (all except
the mangroves), and extends south on to the
mainland to Cumaná. The Araya-Paria xeric
scrub ecoregion is characterized by very dry
environments, and constitutes one of the last
refuges for a number of rare and restricted
range animal species.
Location and General Description
Oriented from east to west, the island of Margarita is located at 38 km north of Araya peninsula and has a total area of 934
km2. The island is made up of two regions joined by an isthmus. The eastern part is
the larger, where there is a massive mountain center with a high peak, the Cerro
Copey, at 910 m in altitude. The Cerro Copey is surrounded by mid-height peaks
separated by depressions and valleys. The western part of the island is the Peninsula
of Macanao, where there is a row of mountains oriented from east to west, and
reaching their highest altitude at the Cerro Macanao, 740 meters in altitude. Between
these regions is an extended coastal plain that forms several sandy beaches, dunes,
and salinas.
The northern coastline of the Araya-Paria peninsula, is a rectilinear and rocky littoral zone that
is 370 km long. The coastline breaks at the Morro de Chacopata, an ancient island now joined to
the mainland in the Araya peninsula. The western section of the Araya peninsula is
characterized by a long, sandy plain that is frequently inundated by sea water, forming the
extensive Araya salina. From this point, a series of low hills that increase in altitude from west to
east, reach their highest point midway along the peninsula, in Cerro San José (1,104 m). To the
east, these mountains are separate by low lands from the mountains of the Paria peninsula,
which belong to the Cordillera de la Costa montane forest ecoregion. To the south, the
Cariaco-Yaguaraparo isthmus joins the peninsula to the mainland. The mountains decrease in
altitude and continue irregularly towards Cumaná. The coastline from the tip of the Araya
peninsula to Cumaná encloses the Gulf of Cariaco.
The area occupied by the ecoregion is considered to be part of the Cordillera de la Costa, and to
have its origins in the Tertiary (Steyermark, 1979). Geologically, it consists mainly of schist and
gneisses underlain in some parts by granites (PDVSA, 1997). Soils are predominantly entisols
and ultisols (Hubber, 1997).
Climatic conditions along this ecoregion are very variable. In the coast, between Carúpano and
Cumaná, there are two times of peak rainfall during the year; one from June to August, and the
other at the end of the year. Rainfall ranges between 900–375 mm, decreasing from east to west.
In the Margarita island, there are the same two times of peak rainfall, but with annual average
rainfall ranging from 250 mm in the lowlands to 1,000 mm in the Cerro Copey. The Araya
peninsula area is very arid, with an annual average precipitation of 200–300 mm, and very
irregular rainfall that tends to accumulate at the end of the year. In Paria, annual rainfall ranges
from 900–2000 mm throughout the year. Along the coastline, rainfall tends to be lower. Average
temperatures range from 26–27°C, but can be higher in Araya and the dry lands of Margarita.
Lower temperatures prevail in Cerro Copey and the moist valleys and mountains around it.
According to Huber and Alarcón (1988), vegetation of the coastal range of Margarita and
Araya-Paria peninsula, including the coast of the isthmus and mainland, is characterized by
halophytic and psamophylic coastal herbs, and littoral xerophytic thorn scrubs. Halophytic
coastal herbs are low height, open communities that are found in depressions frequently
inundated by sea water. This kind of habitat is poor in plant species; the most common are
represented by Atriplex pentandra, Heterostachya ritteriana, Salicornia fruticosa, Batis
maritima, and Sesuvium portulacastrum. Psamophylic coastal herbs are also low height
communities, from open to dense, that cover sandy dunes of the beaches. Poor in plant species;
the most characteristics examples are: Scaevola plumieri, Portulaca pilosa, Cakile lanceolata,
Cyperus planifolius, Sporobolus virginicus, Ipomoea pes-capreae and Euphorbia buxifolia.
Littoral xerophytic thorn scrubs are low to mid-height communities (0,5–5m) of variable density.
The communities are characterized from open, to very closed. There are strongly armed
columnar cacti and spiny shrubs. These communities develop above rocks and sandy
subtracts, adjacent to the beaches, between 50–100 m in altitude. The most characteristic flora is
represented by Prosopis sp., Cercidium sp., Bourreria cumanensis, Ritterocereus griseus, R.
deficiens and Opuntia caribaea.
The low height deciduous forests of mainland and Paria peninsula, are middle density forests
with relatively well developed understoreys. Around Turimiquire massif, some frequent species
are: Taebuia billbergii, Bourreria cumanensis, Bauhinia aculeata, Pereskia guamacho and
Bursera simaruba. In Paria, Diospyros inconstans, Capparis coccolobifolia, Maytenus
sieberiana and Jacquina revoluta are dominant.
Flora of the Cerro Copey and adjacent mountains is very similar to that of the Cordillera de la
Costa montane forest (Huber 1999). As in other montane ranges, the distribution of vegetation
follows an altitudinal zonification. Between 200–500/600, relatively dense semi-deciduous low to
mid forest (10–25 m) is present, and Tabebuia billbergii, Aspidosperma vargasii, Bursera
simaruba, Croton xanthochloros, Clusia major, Maytenus karstenii, Coccoloba coronata,
Machaerium roboniifolium, Ximena americana, Neea anisophylla are common species.
Submontane evergreen forest, betweens 500–750/800 m, are of low to mid (10–20m) density with
1–2 layers; they have a well developed understorey and abundant epiphytes and palms.
Frequent species are: Taebuia chrysantha, Myrcianthes compressa, Margaritaria nobilis,
Guapira ofersiana, Nectandra coriacea, Dendropanax arboreus, Inga macrantha, Eutherpe
karsteniana and Bactris setulosa. The montane evergreen shrub is made up of low
shrubby-herbaceous vegetation from 1–3 m height, present above 750 m. Common examples are:
Clusia flavia, Blakea monticola, Clidemia hirta, Macleania nitida, Rapanea guayanensis,
and Glomeropitcairnia erectiflora.
Although, the montane forests of Cerro Copey are similar to the Cordillera de la Costa montane
forests, they show a low degree of endemism. Until now, only 6 endemic species, Mikania
johnstonii, Argythamnia erubescens, Croton margaritensis, Clerodendrum margaritense,
Blakea monticola and Inga macrantha, have been described (Huber, 1988).
Biodiversity Features
Excluding the Cerro Copey montane forest, the species composition of these
ecoregions is common to other xerophytic regions of the Caribbean. Here, neither
great species diversity nor endemism are found. Nevertheless, this ecoregion is
considered very important in terms of conservation, because it constitute a refuge for
a number of restricted range species that exploit very specific habitats along them.
The peninsula of Macanao and the tip of the Araya peninsula are considered by Wede and
Long (1995), as key areas for threatened birds in the Neotropics, especially due the presence of
the very endangered Yellow-shouldered Amazon (Amazona barbadensis). Found in few
localities of the arid zones of Venezuela and the islands of La Blanquilla, Margarita and Bonaire
(Rodriguez and Rojas-Suárez, 1997), and already extinct in Aruba and possibly in Curazao
(Forshaw 1978), this species is seriously threatened by pet trade and habitat destruction. Silvius
(1989), estimated that the population in Macanao peninsula was only about 700–800
individuals. A Margaritan subspecies of parrot, the Margarita s blue-crowned Parakeed,
(Aratinga acuticaudata neoxena), occurs in the arid zones around the mangroves of La
Restinga lagoon, and is also severely threatened by pet trade (Rojas-Suarez, 1994).
The large complex of lagoons around Cumaná, the large salina of the Golf of Cariaco and the
lagoons along the Araya peninsula, (sometimes adjacent to populated areas), are refuges to
many bird species (Lentino and Bruni, 1994). The Laguna of Chacopata, one of the best studied
in terms of aquatic organisms and associated avifauna, gives refuge to the largest Pelican
colony in Venezuela (Lentino and Bruni, 1994). Also, for several years, great groups of
Flamingos have been seen arriving. (Lentino, com. Pers).
Many sandy beaches along the eastern portion of Margarita and Macanao Peninsula, are
permanent or occasional reproduction sites for the loggerhead (Curette caretta), and Green
turtles (Chelonia midas). In Venezuela, the Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) has its
principle nesting zone along the northern coast of Paria peninsula, where densities of 2.8
nests/km2 have been recorded. (Vernet and Guada 1990 in Rodriguez and Rojas-Suárez 1997).
Finally, the humid region of Cerro Copey contains many ancient introduced species that are
considered subspecies of those found in Margarita. Some examples of Margaritan subspecies
are: the Margarita s Cotton-tail rabbit, Sylvilagus floridanus margaritae, and the Margaritan
monkey Cebus apela margaritae (Linares 1998).
Current Status
Protected areas have been created in Margarita Island around the most notable
ecosystems: Cerro Copey National Park (7,130 ha), Cerro Matasiete, and
Guayamurí Natural Monument. They cover the major area of forest found in the
island. La Restinga National Park (18,862 ha) covers mangroves, some arid areas
around it, and portions of the northern Macanao peninsular coasts. Laguna de Las
Marites Natural Monument protects other portions of mangroves and it surrounds
Las Tetas de María Guevara Monument, (which also covers a small portion of dry
lands around it). Nevertheless, effective protection of these areas has still not been
reached according to the governmental institution of National Parks (INPARQUES).
The major area of the Macanao peninsula still remains unprotected. Although many efforts
have been directed to create a Fauna Refuge, the proposal has not yet been approved by the
governmental environmental agency (Ministerio del Ambiente). In the non-protected areas, all
land is property of private individuals and companies, most of which exploit the sand and gravel
found around the stational streams (the typical habitat of the Yellow-shouldered Amazon). The
Araya peninsula and lagoons remain unprotected.
Types and Severity of Threats
All xerophytic vegetation in both Araya and Macanao is under strong pressure from
overgrazing by goats (Stattersfield et al, 1998). Lowlands areas of Macanao,
especially those around stational streams, have been intensively deforested and
destroyed for sand exploitation. A new type of adventure tourist package includes
long trecks in vehicles across the areas of La Restinga National Park, in trails that are
banned to use. Many of these cars are driven along the beaches and destroy turtle
nests.
The exploitation of salt in the tip of the Araya peninsula constitutes a focus of urbanization and
a permanent threat to xeric ecosystem. Lagoons around Cumaná are severely threatened by
pollution, introduction of exotic species, and urbanization (Lenition and Bruin, 1994).
Despite efforts made to reduce massive catch and trade of Yellow-shouldered Amazon and
Margarita s blue-crowned Parakeet during their reproductive season, it is still part the way of
life of many residents of Macanao peninsula. These species may be threatened with extinction
within a few years. Hunting of rabbits and iguana, is also common among local people.
The most important conservation actions are those directed to create protected areas in the
Araya and Macanao peninsulas. More restrictions in the exploitation of salt and sand should be
imposed. Supervision efforts by authorities must be taken extremely seriously. Protection in
National Parks needs to be improved.
Exploitation and trade of wildlife is a more complex problem that needs a holistic solution. This
must include not only effective protection of nest areas and punishment of the traders, but also
social and anthropological studies focused to create alternative economic sources for the
population, sustained by a program of environmental education.
Justification of Ecoregion Delineation
The xeric habitats of the Araya and Paria Peninsula represent a region of isolation
and subsequent species endemism. Our linework was derived from Huber and
Alarcon (1988), and includes the island of Margarita. From the aforementioned
classification, we lumped the following vegetation types into this ecoregion from the
Araya and Paria Peninsula and vacinity: "halophyllic and psamophyllic littoral
grasslands", "littoral xeric shrublands", and "low evergreen xeric forests".