A mountainous ecosystem It is the set of biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (climate, soil, water) factors that develop in a mountain relief. In a mountainous area, the altitude factor is decisive by generating a gradient of environmental conditions, especially temperature..
When ascending in the high mountains the temperature drops and this affects the vegetation and the fauna that is present. Thus, there is a height limit beyond which trees are no longer established, which in turn varies with latitude..
On the other hand, mountains are natural obstacles that cause the rising winds and the condensation of humidity, causing rains. Similarly, the orientation of the slopes affects the incidence of solar radiation.
All these elements influence the series of ecosystems that are established in the mountains, ranging from forests or jungles to the alpine tundra. In the high mountains, the sequence of ecosystems is a function of altitude, being similar to those that occur due to latitudinal variation.
In the tropics, on an altitudinal gradient, the most common mountain ecosystems are seasonal forests in the foothills, followed by cloud forests at higher altitudes. Subsequently, cold shrubs and grasslands appear beyond the limit of trees, cold deserts and finally perpetual snow.
In both temperate and cold zones, the altitudinal sequence ranges from mountainous ecosystems of temperate deciduous forest, subalpine coniferous forest, alpine tundra and perpetual snow..
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The mountain as the physical sustenance of mountain ecosystems determines a series of elements that affect their characteristics and their distribution.
As you ascend a high mountain, the ambient temperature decreases, which is called the vertical thermal gradient. In temperate zone mountains the temperature decreases 1 ° C for every 155 m of altitude and in the tropical zone, with higher solar radiation, 1 ° C for every 180 m of altitude.
These differences in the thermal gradient are also influenced by the fact that the atmosphere is thicker in the tropics than in temperate and cold latitudes. This has a decisive impact on the distribution of mountain ecosystems in the altitudinal gradient..
The climatic conditions produced by the altitude determine that there are forests in the lower and middle levels of the mountain and sparse, herbaceous or shrubby vegetation in the highest parts..
The decrease in temperature and water availability determines the altitude limit from which trees do not develop in the mountains. Therefore, from there, the ecosystems present will be shrubs or grasslands..
This limit is lower as latitude increases, that is, further north or south. In tropical areas this limit is reached between 3,500 and 4,000 meters above sea level..
A mountain of a certain height represents a physical obstacle for the circulation of air currents, which when colliding with it, rise. These surface currents are warm and loaded with moisture, especially if they move over oceanic masses..
As they collide with mountains and ascend, air masses cool and moisture condenses into clouds and precipitation..
In mountain ecosystems, the slope effect is present, that is, the role played by the orientation of the slopes with respect to the Sun. In this way, the faces of the mountain receive solar radiation at different times of the day, which affects the type of vegetation that occurs.
Similarly, there are differences in humidity between two slopes in a mountain range parallel to the marine coast. This is due to the fact that the humidity from the sea that is carried by the winds stays on the windward slope (facing the wind).
While the leeward slope (the opposite side) receives the winds that have overcome the mountain and lost much of the humidity.
In the high mountains the atmosphere is less dense, which allows a greater incidence of solar radiation, especially ultraviolet rays. This radiation causes negative effects on living tissues, so plants and animals require strategies to prevent it.
Many high mountain plants have small, hard leaves, abundant pubescence or special pigments..
An effect of the mountains is the gravity factor, since the vegetation must compensate for the gravitational force on the steep slopes. Similarly, gravity influences the runoff of rainwater, infiltration and the availability of water, which conditions the type of vegetation present..
In a high mountain there is a variation of ecosystems from the base to the top, mainly depending on the temperature and humidity. Something similar to what happens between the Earth's equator and the Earth's poles, where a latitudinal variation of the vegetation is generated.
In the mountains of temperate and cold zones, deciduous temperate forests are found in the lower parts, similar to those found in temperate latitudes. Higher altitudes are followed by subalpine coniferous forest similar to the boreal taiga in subpolar latitudes..
Finally, at the higher elevations, the alpine tundra similar to the arctic tundra appears and then the zone of perpetual snow.
In the case of the tropical mountain, the sequence of mountain ecosystems includes a series of types of tropical forests in the lower parts. Later, at a higher altitude, grasslands similar to the alpine tundra and finally the zone of perpetual snow.
The mountains of the Mexican Sierra Madre are a good example of concordance between the sequence of mountainous and latitudinal ecosystems. This is because they are transition regions between the temperate and tropical zones..
In these, there are mountainous tropical forest ecosystems in the lower parts and later mixed forests of temperate and tropical angiosperms together with conifers. Higher up are coniferous forests, then alpine tundra and finally perpetual snow.
The flora in mountain ecosystems is highly variable, depending on the height at which they develop.
Deciduous or semi-deciduous forests are found in the mountains of the tropical Andes in the foothills and lower slopes. Then, when ascending, humid forests and even cloudy forests develop and at higher altitudes the páramo or cold grasslands.
In these tropical mountains there are mountainous jungle ecosystems with diverse strata and abundant epiphytes and climbers. Mimosaceae legumes abound, species of the genus Ficus, lauraceae, palms, orchids, araceae and bromeliads.
In the humid montane forests there are trees of more than 40 m in height such as the chickadee (Albizia carbonaria) and the child or spoon (Gyranthera caribensis). While in the moors there are abundant herbs and shrubs of compost, ericaceae and legumes.
In temperate mountains there is a gradient from temperate deciduous forest to coniferous forest and then to alpine tundra. Here are temperate angiosperms such as oak (Quercus robur), the beech (Fagus sylvatica) and birch (Betula spp.).
As well as conifers like pine (Pinus spp.) and larch (Larix decidua). While the alpine tundra abound with rosaceae, grasses, as well as mosses and lichens.
Coniferous forests and mixed forests between conifers and angiosperms develop on the lower slopes. While in the high areas the alpine tundra develops with scarce herbaceous and shrub vegetation.
The fauna also varies with height, mainly due to the temperature and the type of vegetation that is established. In the jungles or forests of the lower and middle parts, greater diversity tends to occur than in mountainous ecosystems at higher altitudes..
In the tropical mountains there is a great biological diversity, with numerous species of birds and insects, as well as reptiles and small mammals. Likewise, felines inhabit among which the genus stands out Panthera with the jaguarPanthera onca) in America, the leopard (Panthera pardus) in Africa and Asia, and the tiger (Panthera tigris) in Asia.
In the mountain forests of central Africa there is a species of mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei). For its part, in the Andean mountains, in South America, the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus).
The mountainous ecosystems of these areas are inhabited by the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the black bear (Ursus americanus) and the wild boar (Sus scrofa). Like the fox (Vulpes vulpes), the wolf (Canis lupus) and different species of deer.
Likewise, there are various species of birds such as the grouse (Tetraus urogallus) in the Picos de Europa and the bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Pyrenees. In the mixed forests of northern China, the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), an emblematic species of conservation.
This cloudy tropical forest is located in the Costa mountain range in the north-central region of Venezuela, between 800 and 2,500 meters above sea level. It is characterized by presenting a dense undergrowth of large grasses and shrubs, as well as two arboreal strata.
The first layer is made up of small trees and palm trees, followed by another of trees up to 40 m high. Then, these trees abound with climbing araceae and bignoniaceae, as well as epiphytic orchids and bromeliads..
The name of cloud forest is given because the ecosystem is covered in mist almost all year round, a product of the condensation of masses of humid air. This causes a regular rainfall in the interior of the jungle that ranges from 1,800 to 2,200 mm, with high relative humidity and cool temperatures (19 ºC average).
Species such as the jaguar can be found (Panthera onca), the collared peccary (Tayassu pecari), the araguato monkey (Allouata seniculum) and poisonous snakes (Bothrop atrox, B. venezuelensis).
In the area it is considered one of the most diverse in the world in terms of birds, highlighting the turpial (Icterus icterus), the conoto (Psarocolius decumanus) and the sorocuá (Trogon collaris). This high diversity is due to the presence of a natural pass through which the migrations of birds from the north to the south of America pass, known as Paso Portachuelo..
It is a vegetal formation of the high tropical Andean mountains of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela above 3,500 meters above sea level up to the limit of perpetual snow. It is made up of roseate and cushioned grasses with plush leaves, as well as low bushes with hard leaves..
The most characteristic plant family is the compound (Asteraceae), with numerous endemic genera, such as Espeletia (frailejones).
It is a cold climate of high tropical mountains, with low temperatures and night frosts and high solar radiation during the day. Rainfall in the páramo is abundant, but water is not always available because it is frozen to the ground and evapotranspiration rates are high..
Various species of insects, reptiles and birds are presented, the Andean condor being characteristic (Vultur gryphus). Likewise, it is possible to get the frontin or spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the Andean matacán deer (Mazama bricenii).
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