Araucaria moist forests

The Araucaria moist forests, officially classified as mixed ombrophilous forest (Portuguese: "Floresta Ombrófila Mista") in Brazil, are a coniferous forest ecoregion of the Atlantic Forest Biome. The forest ecosystem is located in southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. The ecorregion also includes select areas of open field called "campos de cima da serra" or "coxilhas" (highland fields).
Setting.
The moist forests cover an area of , encompassing a region of mountains and plateaus in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul, and extending into Misiones Province of Argentina.
The ecoregion lies above , rising to elevation on the high slopes of the Serra da Mantiqueira.
The ecoregion is bounded by the Alto Paraná Atlantic forests to the north, west, and south, the Cerrado savannas and shrublands to the northeast, The Serra do Mar coastal forests to the east, and the Uruguayan savanna to the southwest.
Climate.
The Araucaria moist forests have an oceanic temperate climate ("Cfb"), with frequent frosts during the winter months and considerable snowfalls (generally light) in the highest areas. Annual precipitation is high, ranging from , without a dry season.
Flora.
The ecoregion mostly consists of evergreen subtropical moist forests, with a canopy made up of "Ocotea pretiosa" and "O. catharinense" (Lauraceae), "Campomanesia xanthocarpa" (Myrtaceae), and "Mimosa scabrella" and "Parapiptadenia rigida" (both Leguminosae). Brazilian araucaria ("Araucaria angustifolia") forms an emergent layer, growing up to in height. The forests are significant from an evolutionary perspective, as a relict of mixed coniferous and broad-leafed forests that were once much more widespread, and are home to many taxa characteristic of the Antarctic flora.
Fauna.
The ecoregion is home to several threatened species endemic to the Atlantic forests, including the brown howler monkey ("Alouatta guariba") and the red-spectacled parrot ("Amazona pretrei"). The Araucaria moist forests is recognized as an important endemic bird area.
Conservation and threats.
The Araucaria moist forests are within the Atlantic Forest Biome ("Mata Atlântica"), which is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot by Conservation International, and as a Global 200 ecoregion by the World Wildlife Fund.