Location
Alpines are usually located at Mountain Ranges such as: The Rocky Mountains, The Himalaya Mountain Range, and the Andes Mountains
Climate
The Alpine Biome is usually colder, compared to other biomes. The main form of precipitation is snow, with some rain. This is because the altitude is high above the sea level, and the air is thin, so not much heat can be held.
Biotic Factors
Native Species
Species Name: Lewisia pygmaea
Common Name: Pygmy Bitterroot
Description: "a low growing perennial with long, skinny, fat leaves that are about 4 inches long. They look sort of like the leaves of an Allium, or Ornamental Onion. The flower is small and is actually white with dark pink veins running through the petals. This makes it look pink. Its throat is green, and holds a cluster of yellow stamen on green anthers. It grows to be 4 - 6 inches tall and spreads about 8 inches wide." [1]
Common Name: Pygmy Bitterroot
Description: "a low growing perennial with long, skinny, fat leaves that are about 4 inches long. They look sort of like the leaves of an Allium, or Ornamental Onion. The flower is small and is actually white with dark pink veins running through the petals. This makes it look pink. Its throat is green, and holds a cluster of yellow stamen on green anthers. It grows to be 4 - 6 inches tall and spreads about 8 inches wide." [1]
Species Name: Pinus longaeva
Common Name: Bristlecone Pine
Description: The Bristlecone Pine is a slow growing tree. The tree's needles grow in bundles of five, and stay on the tree for up to 40 years. The wood is very dense, which gives it resistance to insects. This tree can survive for a long time, and even after it dies, it will not rot because of its durable wood. However, the Bristlecone Pine has a low rate of reproduction and regeneration, and may even be too low to sustain its population. This pine has green needles that give the twisted branches a bottle-brush appearance. These trees have a gnarled and twisted appearance, and have reddish-brown bark. These trees can also be some of the oldest living organisms in the world, being as old as 5000 years old.
Common Name: Bristlecone Pine
Description: The Bristlecone Pine is a slow growing tree. The tree's needles grow in bundles of five, and stay on the tree for up to 40 years. The wood is very dense, which gives it resistance to insects. This tree can survive for a long time, and even after it dies, it will not rot because of its durable wood. However, the Bristlecone Pine has a low rate of reproduction and regeneration, and may even be too low to sustain its population. This pine has green needles that give the twisted branches a bottle-brush appearance. These trees have a gnarled and twisted appearance, and have reddish-brown bark. These trees can also be some of the oldest living organisms in the world, being as old as 5000 years old.
Species Name: Vultur gryphus
Common Name: Andean Condor
Description: "The Andean Condor is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female." [2]
Common Name: Andean Condor
Description: "The Andean Condor is a large black vulture with a ruff of white feathers surrounding the base of the neck and, especially in the male, large white patches on the wings. The head and neck are nearly featherless, and are a dull red color, which may flush and therefore change color in response to the bird's emotional state. In the male, there is a wattle on the neck and a large, dark red comb or caruncle on the crown of the head. Unlike most birds of prey, the male is larger than the female." [2]
Species Name: Chinchilla brevicaudasa
Common Name: Chinchilla
Description: "The chinchilla has a silvery gray pelt, with black tipped hair which is very soft. There are usually 60 hairs growing from every follicle. Adult males weigh about 500 grams. The females are much larger, averaging between 600 and 800 grams. Chinchilla's have big round ears, andeyes. They have narrow hind feet that have four digits with stiff bristles around the weaker claws. Their tails have long gray and black hairs on the dorsal or back surface. The chinchilla stands about an inch from the ground when on its four feet, and it is about half the size of a rabbit."[3]
Common Name: Chinchilla
Description: "The chinchilla has a silvery gray pelt, with black tipped hair which is very soft. There are usually 60 hairs growing from every follicle. Adult males weigh about 500 grams. The females are much larger, averaging between 600 and 800 grams. Chinchilla's have big round ears, andeyes. They have narrow hind feet that have four digits with stiff bristles around the weaker claws. Their tails have long gray and black hairs on the dorsal or back surface. The chinchilla stands about an inch from the ground when on its four feet, and it is about half the size of a rabbit."[3]
Invasive Species
Species Name: Colubrina asiatica
Common Name: Asian Nakedwood
Description: "The Asian Nakedwood has a vine-like growth habit, sending out multiple stems that can reach 9 m (30 ft) in length. The branches have simple, alternate, glossy, ovate and accuminate leaves, 3.7–13.7 cm (1.5–5.4 in) long, with several prominent veins. Leaf margins are wavy or finely serrated (toothed). Flowers are small, greenish and bloom in clusters in leaf axils. Blooming can occur year-round. Fruit are 1.3 cm (0.51 in) berry-like capsules with small, gray seeds. Seeds float and are tolerant to salt water, which allows the species to spread across oceans. The plants grow in full to partial sun on upland sites." [4]
Common Name: Asian Nakedwood
Description: "The Asian Nakedwood has a vine-like growth habit, sending out multiple stems that can reach 9 m (30 ft) in length. The branches have simple, alternate, glossy, ovate and accuminate leaves, 3.7–13.7 cm (1.5–5.4 in) long, with several prominent veins. Leaf margins are wavy or finely serrated (toothed). Flowers are small, greenish and bloom in clusters in leaf axils. Blooming can occur year-round. Fruit are 1.3 cm (0.51 in) berry-like capsules with small, gray seeds. Seeds float and are tolerant to salt water, which allows the species to spread across oceans. The plants grow in full to partial sun on upland sites." [4]
Species Name: Corvus splendens
Common Name: House Crow
Description: "The House Crow, also known as the Colombo Crow is a common bird of the Crow family that is of Asian origin but now found in many parts of the world, where they arrived assisted by shipping. It is between the Jackdaw and the Carrion Crow in size (40 cm in length) but is relatively slimmer than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in color. The wings, tail and legs are black. There are regional variations in the thickness of the bill and the depth of color in areas of the plumage." [5]
Common Name: House Crow
Description: "The House Crow, also known as the Colombo Crow is a common bird of the Crow family that is of Asian origin but now found in many parts of the world, where they arrived assisted by shipping. It is between the Jackdaw and the Carrion Crow in size (40 cm in length) but is relatively slimmer than either. The forehead, crown, throat and upper breast are a richly glossed black, whilst the neck and breast are a lighter grey-brown in color. The wings, tail and legs are black. There are regional variations in the thickness of the bill and the depth of color in areas of the plumage." [5]
Abiotic Factors
Average Yearly Percipitation: 30 cm of mainly snow
Average Yearly Range of Temperature: 10 to 15° C
Soil Type: Alpine humus soils
Approximate latitudes: 55 o N to 70 o N
Approximate Altitude: 5000+ meters above sea level
Average Yearly Range of Temperature: 10 to 15° C
Soil Type: Alpine humus soils
Approximate latitudes: 55 o N to 70 o N
Approximate Altitude: 5000+ meters above sea level
Human Interactions
Humans do interact with this biome quite frequently. The fur of the various biomes that live in this biome are very attractive to humans so humans hunt these animals down and cut their fur in order to make industrial products for sale. This killing of animals has led to the decline in the populations of some of these animals which may have disturbed the balance of this biome.