1. Colorado Life Zones 5. 1. Alpine Prairie 2. Foothills 3. Montane 4.
Subalpine
This first slide introduces the Colorado life zones. Ask students to point out differences between the life zones: the prairie life zone does not have any trees or shrubs; the foothills life zone is partially forested; the montane life zone has a variety of vegetation; the subalpine life zone is completely forested with coniferous trees; and the alpine life zone has snow and only small plants. 6.
Riparian

2. Colorado Life Zones Alpine 11,500 +ft. Sub alpine 10,000 – 11,500 ft.
Montane
8,000 – 10,000 ft.
This slide gives the students an idea of where each life zone is located in relation to elevation. As elevation increases, temperature decreases. This is due to adiabatic processes, where temperature drops because of the decrease in atmospheric pressure at higher altitudes. When pressure drops, air expands and molecules of air are doing work as they expand. As energy is expended in expanding, heat is lost, and temperature decreases.
Foothills
5,500 – 8,000 ft.
Riparian
Plains
3,500 – 5,500 ft.

3. Influences on the Life Zones
Elevation
Climate
Soils (Dirt)
Threats
Animals
Plants
Food Web
These are the different categories of information that will be discussed throughout the presentation for each life zone. It is a chance to get the students familiarized with what you will be talking about. Reiterate how elevation affects temperature and climate which in turn affect soils, animals, plants, the food web and can alter threats.

4. Riparian Life Zone
Emphasize that riparian is an adjective used to describe lands bordering bodies of fresh water, usually the banks of rivers streams and ponds. They are found at all elevations and represent an area of transition between distinct ecosystems. They are strongly influenced by the presence of water and are generally cooler and wetter than the adjacent land forms. These areas have very high species diversity which can reach up to 3 to 4 times the surrounding ecosystems.
A worksheet question is based on this slide.
10. What is present in all riparian life zones?
water

5. Riparian Life Zone Riparian Alpine 11,500 +ft. Subalpine
Montane
8,000 – 10,000 ft.
Explain that riparian life zones can be found at a variety of elevations. Riparian areas are the key to maintaining stream health. Riparian areas have plants that help stabilize stream banks, provide breeding habitat for birds and animals, keep water cooler in summer to protect fish, and filter runoff that may contain sediments or pollutants.
Foothills
5,500 – 8,000 ft.
Riparian
Plains
3,500 – 5,500 ft.

6. What Is It Like In The Riparian?
Climate
Similar to the surrounding landscape.
Temperature
Usually cooler than the surrounding landscape.
Geography
Located around running waters, usually in low areas on the landscape.
General characteristics of the riparian life zone. The climate of riparian areas varies and is similar to the surrounding landscape although the temperature may be a little cooler. Riparian areas are always located around running waters and are usually in low areas of the landscape. Stream flows create cut banks and point bars. Cut banks are areas where the stream has caused soil erosion along a bank and has undercut the bank often several feet. Cut banks are great habitat for young fish. Point bars are areas of sand and gravel deposition. Riparian life zones support unique water loving plants and animals that may not be found in other areas of the landscape.
Soils
Mostly composed of sand and gravel that is created by tumbling rocks in the water. Near the banks, the soil is usually wet and will support plants that like wet soils.

7. What kinds of plants grow in the Riparian?
Ask the question to students.

8. Cattails
Sedges
Cattails and sedges are common plants of riparian life zones. Cattails are water-loving, tall, stiff plant bears a yellowish, club-like spike of tiny, male flowers extending directly above a brownish cylinder of female flowers. Cattails provide a favorable habitat for red-winged blackbirds, as well as other marsh birds, and muskrats. Sedges are also water-loving plants and are distinguished by three-sided, triangular stems.

9. Alder Willow Cottonwood
This slide has pictures of common shrubs and trees of riparian areas. Cottonwoods prefer moist soils and are often associated with willow and alders. Many species of willows are common in riparian areas. Willows are an important source of food for moose and other wildlife. Alders also prefer moist soils.
Cottonwood

10. What kinds of animals live in the Riparian?
Ask the question to students.

11. Moose
Moose are large animals common in riparian areas. Male moose have broad, flattened antlers that are used to thrash brush to mark territory and threaten other males. Moose feed on willows in the riparian life zone. Their summer diet is willows and aquatic vegetation, including the leaves of water lilies. In winter, moose browse on woody plants, including the twigs, buds, and bark of willow, balsam, aspen, dogwood, birch, cherry, and maple,.

12. River otter
Students usually enjoy the sounds of river otters that is heard during this slide. River otters are well adapted to their aquatic life, they have streamlined bodies, rudder-like tails, and ears and nostrils that are valved to keep out water. A river otter can remain submerged for several minutes and can dive to a depth of 55 feet (17 m), swimming as far as 1/4 mile (.4 km) underwater if necessary. On land, the river otter will lope along, then slide, and it also runs fairly well. River otters are among the most playful of animals. In family groups, otters take turns sliding and will frolic together in the water. River otters even play on snow slides! River otters feed mainly on fish, often caught in a quick broadside snap, but also eats small mammals such as mice, as well as terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates.

13. Blue heron
The Great Blue Heron is a very large bird, with a wingspan of almost six feet. The Great Blue Heron is an adaptable bird whose large size enables it to feed on a variety of prey-from large fish and frogs to mice, small birds, and insects. This bird has one of the widest ranges of any North American heron.

14. Dragonfly
Dragonflies are common insects of riparian areas. Dragonflies are considered odonates because they have an aquatic invertebrate life phase when they are young. Dragonflies undergo metamorphosis, a transformation into a different form, and become the insects that we see flying in the air. Contrary to popular belief, dragonflies do not sting or harm humans in any other way.

15. Wood frog
Another animal of the riparian life zone. The wood frog is characterized by its prominent black "mask" extending from the tip of its snout through the eye. Wood frogs hibernate during the winter and are able to withstand very low temperatures by creating its own “antifreeze”.

16. Beaver – the “ecosystem engineer”
It lives in lodges in streams and ponds with its mate for life and 3-4 kits.
It is the largest rodent in North America.
It can use its big tail as a rudder while swimming.
It has really long, dark orange front teeth that help gnaw down trees.
When Europeans first settled they killed beavers for their fur.
Beavers store their food (willow, aspen and cottonwood bark) in underwater caches where it is available for use year round, since they don’t hibernate. These engineers build dams, lodges and bank burrows and canals to create their underwater, underground habitat. They have very sharp teeth and jaws and can cut through a four inch diameter willow in 3 minutes! They mate for life and live in family groups of up to eight related individuals called colonies.

17. Riparian Food Web Bats Insects lizards river otter Insects fish Dead
This food web is a bit more complicated so you can take more time to discuss it. It is important though that the students do understand the interaction between all the different elements. Important theme: overlap of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Bats are involved in both aquatic and terrestrial food webs. In the aquatic food web river otters eat fish who eat aquatic insects and bats eat insects who eat aquatic insects. In the terrestrial food web bats eat lizards who eat insects who eat dead leaves.
Insects
fish
Dead
Leaves
aquatic
insects