The Biome Post
PRESENTS
Alpine Tundra
Written by Ayden Planker
Photographs by expert wildlife photographer Moose Henderson
Rocky, cold, windswept, and dry, the alpine tundra is a biome characterized by its altitude, and unlike many other biomes, it has borders that are apparent to the naked eye.
In any given region, the alpine tundra exists between the snowline and treeline, meaning it is identifiable as being the land in which trees and other large, woody plants can no longer grow. It is thus found on the mountains of almost every continent, the only exceptions being Antarctica and Australia, the former lacking the necessary warmth and the latter lacking the necessary height. Given the region’s reliance on plantlife to mark its edges, alpine tundras are influenced greatly by sunlight as well; the biome tends to be smaller on mountain faces angled toward the equator, where trees would more easily grow. The snowpack, temperature, and lack of moisture are the primary obstacles for this treelife. While summers in the alpine tundra average around 50° Fahrenheit, or 10° Celsius, spring still fluctuates into freezing temperatures enough to prevent their development.
Bighorn sheep graze on grasses and sedges on steep, rocky terrains in alpine tundra
Without trees the remaining plantlife is hardy and sparse. High wind and permafrost have evolved flora with strong and large-spanning root systems. These roots allow them to stay firmly grounded while also allowing the gathering of nutrients in summer months and the safe storage of them in winter months. The most common forms of plant life are grasses, sedges, and cushion plants, which are dense, flowering plants that form mats along solid surfaces. In some instances, windswept or melt-prone areas can develop alpine meadows or mires, or even lush grottos of greenery that can survive only thanks to the weathering of stone by wind or water, making the soft. These areas are fragile; just the footsteps of humans or animals can do centuries’ worth of damage to their plant life.
Mountain goats are year-round residents of alpine tundra, preferring elevations over 10,000 feet.
It is only due to this plant life that most fauna can survive. The majority of the biome’s residents across the globe are herbivorous or omnivorous, and most have evolved some way to maintain food supply in the winter months. Bison bulk for the season, mountain goats migrate to centuries-old lands, and the American pika digs tunnel-networks between food they store throughout the year. Because of how widespread the alpine tundra can be, there is no animal which exists in every region.
Yellow-bellied marmots have adapted well to the talus slopes and open meadows of alpine tundra.
The threats the alpine tundra faces aren’t unlike those of other biomes, but as a biome characterized almost exclusively by plant life, it is particularly at risk. According to the United States National Park Service, the Rocky Mountains, home to the majority of North America’s alpine tundra, have already shown signs of environmental damage from more than just wandering tourists. Researchers have found that unusual algae blooms have taken place in the lakes of the Rocky Mountain alpine tundra, the result of unexpected nitrogen buildup. If this level of nitrogen deposition continues, the plants of the region will die out at dangerous rates. Combined with the change in regional climate increasing the risk of wildfires, North America’s alpine tundras may very well be in peril.
Alpine Tundra
Photographs by Moose Henderson
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