Meseta de Somuncura Provicial Natural Protected Area (19411)
Argentina, South America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1e, B1
Year of last assessment: 2021
National site name: Area Natural Protegida Provincial Meseta de Somuncurá
Central coordinates: Latitude: -41.5538, Longitude: -66.7990
Area of KBA (km2): 22029.80121
Protected area coverage (%): 72.88
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: It is a basaltic plateau that extends into the provinces of Río Negro and Chubut, where three different environments can be distinguished according to the shapes of the relief: a) the plateau, with the largest extension, made up of a lava plain, interior endorheic basins and the canyons and the drainage network; b) the elevated volcanic mountains on said plain, formed in some cases after the effusion of basalts from the plain and c) the perimeter of the plateau with its various geoforms, such as: the basalt steps, the microvalleys that dissolve in mallines, the cañadones and the mesillas and the witness hills, the latter suffered a complete erosion of their basaltic cover. This unit stands out notably in the northern sector of Patagonia, as a large discontinuous plateau in which small hills outcrop as a consequence of the intense volcanic activity in the area. The highland environment is a clear advance towards the north of the Patagonian biogeographic and phytogeographic province of Cabrera and Willink (1980) and Cabrera (1976), with high Andean elements in the named hills. At the bottom of the depressions appear temporary lagoons with submerged vegetation and on the edges are born some intermittent watercourses such as the La Ventana, Los Berros and El Verde streams, all three located on the eastern slope, standing out for their permanent nature. the Valcheta stream that has its sources in thermal springs on the north edge. This stream is permanent but infiltrates completely before reaching the Negro River in the Gran Bajo del Gualicho. The rim of the plateau has deep inlets, often coinciding with the headwaters of the streams and known locally by the name of rincones. Throughout its history, the plateau went through periods of ancient isolation that gave it the character of a center of speciation with numerous endemic species or allowing the advance of Patagonian species to the north and high Andean species to the east. The Somuncurá plateau constitutes a well-defined landscape and biogeographical unit in the profile of northern Patagonia. Geologically, it is an excellent sample of volcanic activity, with numerous traces, such as outcrops in the form of hills (eg, Cerro Corona) or the edges of internal and external fences. More obvious signs of this activity would remain, such as fumaroles, whose exact location is unknown but which are referred to by some of its few inhabitants. It contains microenvironments of particular interest, such as temporary lagoons and the headwaters of streams in the corners.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site contains the entire known population of the critically endangered amphibian Pleurodema somuncurense and a significant proportion of the population of vulnerable amphibian Atelognathus reverberii. Alliance for Zero Extinction (2022): site confirmed as an AZE site during the AZE project (2018-2022). Taxonomy, nomenclature and Red List category follow the IUCN 2021 Red List.
Other site values: A significant portion of this site is covered by Meseta de Somuncura Provicial Natural Protected Area (WDPAID: 16883)
Delineation rationale: The site was originally validated as a IBA/KBA in 2009 by BirdLife International. A delineation rationale is not available.
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (domestic use) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Unknown | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Unknown |