mountain ecosystems
High-elevation living systems
Mountain ecosystems are the interconnected communities of living organisms and their physical environments found in mountainous terrain.
These systems are characterized by distinct elevation zones, each with its own climate, vegetation, and wildlife: Alpine meadows give way to bare rock above the treeline.
Mountain ecosystems are particularly sensitive to climate change, as species adapted to specific temperature bands have limited room to migrate upward.
- snow-capped mountainsHigh elevations with frozen summits
- marmotsLarge burrowing squirrel relatives
- rocky terrainLand covered with stones
- conifersCone-producing trees
- alpine plantsVegetation of high elevations
alpine meadows · pikas · altitude · steep slopes · glaciers · treeline · altitudinal zonation · deforestation · freshwater streams · wildlife corridors · chamois · snow leopards · endangered species · overgrazing · climate change effects · lichens · cloud forests · meadows
mountain ecosystemsmarine ecosystems
Saltwater biological communities
ocean ecosystems · coral reef ecosystems · aquatic ecosystems · open ocean · freshwater ecosystems