Alpine / Montane Ecosystems

Mountains are masses of rock that have been pushed upward, high above the surrounding land. Most mountains form at the boundaries of the Earth's tectonic plates, where land masses either converge, diverge, or shift side-by-side. These movements cause uplifting, splitting, and folding of the earth's crust that sculpt mountain ranges of varying sizes and elevations. Once formed, mountains are further shaped by erosion, earthquakes, and continued movement of tectonic plates.

Mountains are found throughout the world and the habitats they support are home to an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. The flora and fauna that characterize a mountain habitat reflect the local climate conditions, which can vary greatly based on the orientation of the mountain (with respect to the sun and continental weather patterns) as well as elevation. A sequence of changes can be observed as you follow the profile of the mountain upward. These changes are referred to as altitudinal vegetation zones and they influence the animal species that can be found at different locations within a mountain range.

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