Characteristics Of An Alpine Biome

Characteristics of an Alpine Biome: The Alpine biome is summed up as ice, snow, high winds, basic things that come with winter. Alpine biomes can be found all over the world in a variety of mountain regions. Usually they are at an altitude of 10,000 feet or more, and lies just below an snowline of a mountain. In the Rocky Mountains of North America you would first begin in a desert biome, Then as you proceed to climb through a brief forest biome, steppe biome, taiga biome, and grassland biome before you would actually reach the Alpine biome. During the summertime, temperatures in Alpine biomes reach around 40 to 60° F or 10 to 15° C, however, during winter, temperatures will well below go freezing, then if the altitude rises it can get even colder and can last from October to May. Because of the severe climates of the Alpine, animals and also plants have developed some adaptation to some of those conditions. As you move up a mountain, one indication of entering an Alpine biome is the occurrence of coniferous trees. These are able to shed snow easily, retain needs, and start photosynthesizing quickly even in freezing temperatures, conifers such as firs and pines are ideally adapted for cool environments. As you pass a mountains’ tree line climatic conditions are too harsh for trees to grow, and a tundra-like plants begin to develop. Plants here include various wildflowers, mosses, succulents and other low-growing plants. There are only about 200