Montane Coniferous Forest
Located in the Sub Alpine Zone of the Appalachian Mountains
Climate:
same as the Boreal Coniferous Forest
Soil:
Same as the Boreal Coniferous Forest
Topography:
Same as the Boreal Coniferous Forest
Fire Distribution:
Crown Fires
Plant Communities:
Early Successional Species; Birch, Aspen, Jack Pine
Red Spruce
Frazier fir
Adaptations:
Same as the Boreal Coniferous Forest
Animals:
Deer
Black Bear
Human Impacts:
Fire Suppression
Livestock grazing
Mining
Located in the Rockies Mountains (comprised of the Sub alpine, Upper Montane and Lower Matting zones)
Climate:
Sub Alpine: Colder Temperatures
Upper Montane: Longer growing season
Lower Montane: Increased precipitation
Soil:
High rock content
Topography:
Higher moisture (cold air drainage in valleys leads to lower evaporation)
High occurrence of avalanches (leads to extremely unstable soil)
Fire Disturbance:
Sub Alpine: Crown Fires
Upper Montane: Crown Fires
Lower Montane: Surface Fire
Plant Communities:
Sup Alpine: Englemann Spruce, Fir, Bristle Cone Pine
Upper Montane: Quaking Aspen, Lodge Pole Pine
Lower Montane: Mountain Hemlock, Red Fir, Lodge Pole Pine, Ponderosa Pine
Adaptations:
Thick fire resistant bark
Also adaptation common in the Boreal will show up here!
Animals:
Same as the Boreal
Human Impact:
Logging
Pollution
Recreational use
Also adaptations common in the Boreal
location Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Cascade Mountains (Upper and Lower Montane Zones)
Climate:
Summer Dry Winter wet
Soil:
High rock content
Topography:
Mountain avalanches
Cold air drainage
Fire Distribution:
Upper Montane: Surface Fires
Lower Montane: Surface Fires
Plant Communities:
Upper Montane: Douglas Fir, White Fir, Giant Sequoia
Lower Montane: Ponderosa Pine
Adaptations:
Same as Boreal, Montane Coniferous forests
Assexual reproduction
Root sprouting
Animals:
Same as Boreal and Montane Coniferous Forests
Human Impacts:
Same as Boreal and Montane Coniferous Forests