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THE SELVA MAYA
The Maya Biosphere Reserve
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A scant layer of soil covers the
ubiquitous limestone platform
of the Yucatan Peninsula.
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Topography, Climate, and Vegetation
A unique aspect of the Selva Maya is the
conjunction of large areas of forested wild lands, an abundance
of ancient maya archeological sites, and fascinating modern-day
culture and social trends. These factors give the area unique
value as an ecotourism destination.
The Yucatán Peninsula is a low, undulating, limestone
platform that is still gradually emerging from the sea. While
the portions around Tikal have been above sea level for perhaps
10 million years, the northern tip of the peninsula, around Mérida,
Yucatán, was under the sea until perhaps a million years ago.
At 17° to 21°
north latitude, the peninsula sits within the "outer
tropics"--an area where rainfall is generally substantially
less, and more seasonal, than in the truly wet equatorial rain
belt. Rainfall at Tikal is only about 1,350 mm per year--about 53
inches--comparable to the wetter portions of the eastern U.S.,
for example much of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee,
and portions of Georgia. In comparison, in some portions of the
tropics, especially nearer the equator, many areas have annual
rainfall of twice this magnitude or more, with annual rainfall
up to 4 meters (150 inches) and more at some wet tropical sites.
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Corn is a dietary staple
throughout the Maya
cultural
region; skill at torilla-making
comes early.
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With this modest, highly seasonal rainfall,
vegetation of most of the Yucatán Peninsula is dryish tropical,
broadleaf forest, rather than wet, evergreen rainforest.
Rainfall is highest at the base of the peninsula and northward
along the eastern shore, diminishing greatly to the north and
west. Hence, from 3 meters of rain yearly in some portions of
Guatemala and Belize, rainfall drops to less than 1 meter in the
dry northwest corner of the peninsula near Merida, Yucatán. The
forest varies in concert, being tall, complex, and only partly
deciduous in the wetter areas, and reducing in stature to a low,
deciduous, thorn-forest in the peninsula's dry northwestern
regions.
As is generally true in the tropics, rainfall
in the Maya Forest follows the march of the sun, lagging behind
somewhat, as it passes overhead twice yearly. There is a
dramatic wet season/dry season cycle, with rains beginning in
May or June, peaking in September, and waning thereafter. A
severe dry season holds sway from February through April.
In our main study site, Tikal, the forest is moderately tall,
tropical broad-leaved forest with a modest proportion of tree
species that lose their leaves during the dry season. Forest
here has been called many things, including tropical or
subtropical dry forest, but we prefer tropical moist,
semi-deciduous forest. Forests here are famous for their high
densities of chicozapote or chicle trees (Manilkara zapota)
and mahogany trees (Swietenia macrophylla), both of which
support important extractive industries.
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