I Speak For The Trees

Coastal Desert Biome, photo taken near the point of the cove of Ayangue, Santa Elena Province.  Coastal Desert occurs over about a third of Ecuador’s coastline, primarily in the southern provinces of Santa Elena, Guayas, and El Oro.  This is a very harsh biome and only the most resistant plants survive in it - plants here must be heat, wind, and salt tolerant.  The area receives very little rainfall, perhaps 20 or 30 cm of rain in a year, as ocean winds push the clouds further inland.  Dry thunderstorms are frequent.

Much of what grows is low and scrubby; acacia is present as the typical tree, but is rare.  The “tree” shown in the photo is actually a large Cylindropuntia cactus.  Along with this, most of the other Opuntias and Trichocereus cacti thrive in this environment; succulents like Aloes and Agave are also common.  Low growing Euphorbs are also present, primarily the highly drought-resistant pseudocactus forms.  Leafy vegetation is limited to salt-tolerant Convolvulus, Evolvulus, and Ipomoea, scrubby Oxalis, Sagebrush and other very hardy Lamiales, wild, thorny nightshade vines (Solanaceae), and sand peas (Fabaceae).  Spiny, very narrow-bladed grasses also grow here.  The lush, bright greens and colourful flowers found in areas with more moisture are completely absent in favour of sage and dusty greens, pale washed out blue, and parched golds and browns.  This cere environment is populated by insects of all kinds, small rock lizards, and a wide variety of both coastal and inland birds. 

Portions of the biome, especially towards the city of Santa Elena in Santa Elena Province and the city of Salinas in Guayas Province, have been given over to salt production; 99% of the country’s salt is produced in the massive evaporating pans just inland from the beaches of San Rafael.  Other portions, towards the northern limit of the biome, have been converted to shrimp farms.