Ryukyu Islands

The Ryukyu Islands or Nansei Islands (???? Nansei-shot?, which translates literally as "southwest islands"), are an island chain stretching southwestward from the island of Kyushu in Japan. The portion south of Yoron belongs to Okinawa Prefecture, and the portion north of Yoron belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture. The archipelago is home to the Ryukyuan languages.

Ecology

Nansei Islands subtropical evergreen forests

The Ryukyu Islands are recognized by ecologists as a distinct subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion. The flora and fauna of the islands have much in common with Taiwan, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia, and are part of the Indomalaya ecozone.

Related Topics:
Subtropical moist broadleaf forest - Ecoregion - Taiwan - Philippines - Southeast Asia - Indomalaya - Ecozone

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Coral reefs

The coral reefs of the Ryukyus are one of the World Wildlife Fund's Global 200 ecoregions. The reefs are endangered by sedimentation and eutrophication, mostly a result of agriculture, as well as damage from fishing.

Related Topics:
Coral reef - World Wildlife Fund - Global 200 - Sedimentation - Eutrophication - Agriculture - Fishing

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