Rocky Mountains subalpine zone
The Rocky Mountains subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line in the Rocky Mountains of North America. In northern New Mexico, the subalpine zone occupies elevations approximately from 9,000 to 12,000 feet (2,700 to 3,700 m);[1] while in northern Alberta, the subalpine zone extends from 1,350 to 2,300 metres (4,400 to 7,500 ft).[2]
Climate
The climate of the Rocky Mountains subalpine zone is never warm, with summer highs reaching 75 °F (24 °C) on only the warmest days near the
Flora and fauna
In the North American
On exposed, dry slopes at high elevations, subalpine white pine forests replace spruce-fir forests. Common species of the white pine forests include
The whitebark pine is a
Due to harsh winters and a relative dearth of food sources, the subalpine harbors limited native animal species. While bears and the cougar visit the subalpine, lynx, the snowshoe hare, the American marten and various squirrels are among the few important native mammals. A few birds, such as the mountain chickadee and Steller's jay are commonly seen and heard in Rocky Mountain subalpine regions, with others such as owls, nuthatches and certain finches less obvious.
See also
References
- ^ U.S. National Park Service. Feb 22, 2007.
- ^ "The Subalpine Subregion". Alberta Online Encyclopedia.
- ^ Snook, J.S.; Meyers, M.P.; Poulos, G.S.; Wesley, D.A. "Routt Divide Blowdown". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
- ^ This article incorporates public domain material from T.J. Stohlgren. Rocky Mountains. United States Geological Survey. (verbatim source).
- ^ Keane, Robert E. (1999). "The importance of wilderness to whitebark pine research and management". In McCool, Stephen F.; Cole, David N.; Borrie, William T.; O'Loughlin, Jennifer (eds.). Wilderness as a place for scientific inquiry. Wilderness science in a time of change conference. Vol. 3. Missoula, Montana: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. pp. 84–92. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-3.
- ^ Petit, Charles (January 30, 2007). "Science Section". New York Times.
- Benedict, Audrey D. (1991). A Sierra Club Naturalist's Guide: The Southern Rockies (1st ed.). San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. ISBN 0-87156-647-8.