Mountain and Alpine Mountain and Alpine TundraTundra

Rob Gregory Rob Gregory

Kelsey BurgessKelsey Burgess

Mountain and Alpine Tundra

By: Rob G and

Kelsey B

Map of Mountain/Alpine Tundra Map of Mountain/Alpine Tundra BiomesBiomes

What is the Mountain and Alpine What is the Mountain and Alpine Tundra Biome?Tundra Biome?

► Mountains make up 20% Mountains make up 20% of the earth of the earth

► They are places where They are places where dramatic changes in dramatic changes in altitude, climate, soil and altitude, climate, soil and vegetation take place vegetation take place over a short distanceover a short distance

► Alpine tundra is the area Alpine tundra is the area above the coniferous above the coniferous tree life but under the tree life but under the snow caps of the snow caps of the mountains mountains

(Wikipedia)

Average Temperature and Average Temperature and PrecipPrecip

► The Mountain/alpine The Mountain/alpine biome is one of the biome is one of the coldest biomes in the coldest biomes in the worldworld

►Temperature Temperature Range: -18 °C to Range: -18 °C to 10 °C (-2 °F to 10 °C (-2 °F to 50°F) 50°F)

►Average Annual Average Annual Precipitation: 23 Precipitation: 23 cm (9 in.) cm (9 in.)

(Miller)

(Alpine)

Limiting Factors Controlling Limiting Factors Controlling ClimateClimate

► Cold TemperatureCold Temperature► Lack of SunlightLack of Sunlight► High WindsHigh Winds► Long Winters, Short Long Winters, Short

Summers Summers

(Alpine)

Flora (plants)•Alpine Phacelia

•Bear Grass

•Bristlecone Pine

•Moss Campion

•Polylepis Forest

•Pygmy Bitterroot

•Wild Potato

•Grasses

•Mosses

•Dwarf woody shrubs (Alpine)

Why these plants?•Adapted to:

-lack of sunlight and water

-freezing temperatures

-constant high winds

•Most of the annual growth occurs in the 6-8 weeks of summer when there is the most sunlight

•For a few weeks, the land blazes with color (wildflowers)

(Alpine)

Special Adaptations• Grow close to the ground to retain water and survive the winter cold

•Some have leathery evergreen leaves coated by waxes that reduce heat loss

•Others survive underground (roots, stems, bulbs, tubers)

(Alpine)

•Alpaca

•Andean Condor

•Chinchilla

•Llama

•Mountain Goat

•Snow Leopard

•Vicuña

•Yak

Fauna (animals)• Elk

•Sheep

•Golden Eagles

•Marmots

•Ground Squirrels

(Alpine)

Why these animals/special adaptations

•They have thick coats of fur (Alpaca, Chinchilla, Snow leopard, Vicuña, Yak etc.)

•Some have feathers to keep warm (condor)

•Some animals have more red blood cells to adapt to the poor oxygen in higher altitudes (Llama)

•Hooves adapted to slopes + help flexibility (Goat)

•Fur blends in + nasal cavities help breathe (snow leopard)

•Yak’s digestive track helps keep them warm

(Alpine)

Biomass Pyramid

All plants …grasses, mosses, shrubs

Herbivores such as … Alpaca, Llama, goat, sheep

Carnivores such as …Snow leopard, Condor, Golden

Eagles

Bio Diversity Index= 2.9

ReferencesReferences

►Elisabeth M. Benders-Hyde (2000). Elisabeth M. Benders-Hyde (2000). Alpine. Retrieved October 18, from Blue Alpine. Retrieved October 18, from Blue Planet BiomesPlanet BiomesWebSite:http://WebSite:http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine.htm www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine.htm

Miller, G. Tyler. Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Living in the EnvironmentEnvironment. 12th ed. Belmont: . 12th ed. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2001. Brooks/Cole, 2001.

www.wikipedia.orgwww.wikipedia.org