1. Mountain and Alpine Tundra Rob Gregory Kelsey Burgess Mountain and Alpine Tundra By: Rob G and Kelsey B

2. Map of Mountain/Alpine Tundra Biomes

3. What is the Mountain and Alpine Tundra Biome? ► Mountains make up 20% of the earth ► They are places where dramatic changes in altitude, climate, soil and vegetation take place over a short distance ► Alpine tundra is the area above the coniferous tree life but under the snow caps of the mountains (Wikipedia)

4. Average Temperature and Precip ► The Mountain/alpine biome is one of the coldest biomes in the world ► Temperature Range: -18 °C to 10 °C (-2 °F to 50°F) ► Average Annual Precipitation: 23 cm (9 in.) (Miller) (Alpine)

5. Limiting Factors Controlling Climate ► Cold Temperature ► Lack of Sunlight ► High Winds ► Long Winters, Short Summers (Alpine)

6. Flora (plants) Alpine Phacelia Bear Grass Bristlecone Pine Moss Campion Polylepis Forest Pygmy Bitterroot Wild Potato Grasses Mosses Dwarf woody shrubs (Alpine)

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. Alpaca Andean Condor Chinchilla Llama Mountain Goat Snow Leopard Vicuña Yak Fauna (animals) Elk Sheep Golden Eagles Marmots Ground Squirrels (Alpine)

10. 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)

11. 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

12. References ► Elisabeth M. Benders-Hyde (2000). Alpine. Retrieved October 18, from Blue Planet Biomes WebSite:http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/ alpine.htm  Miller, G. Tyler. Living in the Environment. 12th ed. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, 2001.  www.wikipedia.org www.wikipedia.org