Mountain Ecosystem Facts For Kids: Here's All You Need To Know!

Do you know what a mountain ecosystem is? In simple terms, mountain ecosystems are unique and complex habitats that are found in mountainous areas all over the world.

Mountain ecosystems refer to a terrestrial ecosystem at a high altitude where the biotic and abiotic factors interact with each other. The mountain ecosystems are home to many different plant and animal species and support a variety of ecological processes.

The mountain ecosystem is found specifically in the mountains. Let's first find out how these mountain areas were formed, which experience a different ecosystem from flat land.

Mountains are formed when tectonic plates clash, raising the Earth's crust. As the elevation level at these mountain ranges increases, the living organisms and the weather change as well. As the elevation increases, the tree species change and eventually disappear at the top level.

At the same time, the temperature is inversely related to the higher altitudes. An increase in altitude results in lower temperatures and thus a lesser form of life. These mountain ranges cover around 25% of the world's area and are an integral part of global biodiversity.

Research has concluded that the mountain ecosystem is home to a wide variety of people, depicting massive cultural diversity. Interestingly, the mountain ecosystem affects the lives of the people living on these steep slopes and influences the lives of the people at the lower altitude levels.

What is the mountain ecosystem?

Mountain ecosystems are found at high altitudes and have unique characteristics that make them different from other biomes. Mountain ecosystems are often divided into two categories: alpine and sub-alpine zones.

The alpine zone is the highest part of a mountain range where plants cannot grow due to cold temperatures and lack of water. In contrast, the sub-alpine zone is lower down on slopes with more oxygen available for plant growth but still not enough warmth or rainfall for vegetation to thrive.

The mountain ranges also experience less rainfall because there's not as much air pressure up there! This means plants will grow slower than they would in other biomes, making it harder for animals to find food.

At the same time, mountain ecosystems support a wide variety of plants and animals that have adapted to their harsh conditions. On the contrary, mountain ecosystems are threatened by climate change, causing the glaciers to melt and the snowpack to shrink. This also makes the survival of plants and animals in mountain climates much more difficult.

Characteristics Of The Mountain Ecosystem

The high-altitude mountain regions, whether rocky mountains or snow-capped, experience a unique mountain ecosystem. The characteristics of the mountain ecosystem differ with a change in altitude as the ecosystem at high elevations is different from the ones at the lower slopes.

An area is regarded as a mountainous region above 5,000 ft (1,524 m) sea level and has a steep climb. However, some geographers consider anything over 1,000 ft (305 m) above sea level as a mountain.

These mountain regions cover around 20% of the Earth's surface. They are home to a large variety of plants and animals and origin to several rivers all across the world. Quite a lot of the world's freshwater is originated from mountains.

At the same time, these mountains play a pivotal role in influencing freshwater rainstorms that create freshwater. Interestingly, one of the most unique features of the mountain ecosystem is the quick weather change as it can be rainy one moment, and after a couple of minutes, it might seem like a sunny day.

Some mountains are also known to receive more rainfall than other regions. It is not unknown that mountains are natural habitats for various plants and animals.

The vegetation and animal species found on mountains change rapidly with a change in altitude levels. Some animals are endemic to these mountain ranges due to their particular climate requirements. In recent years, climate change and global warming have wreaked havoc on such animals.

These mountains are pretty vulnerable to quick weather changes and are one of the most sensitive ecosystems in the world. It is one of the primary reasons behind mountains suffering more natural disasters than the plains, such as avalanches, earthquakes, and lava flows.

Some of the most common landforms are plains, hills, mountains, and plateaus, and metamorphic rocks are shaped by immense pressure and heat.

Wildlife In The Mountain Ecosystem

Mountain ecosystems are home to various wildlife, including both birds and animals. Most of the animals found in the mountains have adapted to the harsh climate and can be seen with bodily adaptations, making it easier for them to survive.

You will also notice that the animals living in the mountains usually have a large body size to retain body heat for long durations, as animals with small body sizes lose body heat easier than the larger ones.

Some of the animals found in the mountains include the likes of mountain goat, black bear, mule deer, bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, and many others. Did you know that the yak, one of the most common animal species found in the mountains, has larger hearts and lungs than other animals to combat the lack of oxygen at higher altitudes?

Similarly, the golden eagles, commonly spotted on mountains, have adapted to the climate of the mountains and prefer these ranges for feeding and breeding activities.

Vegetation In The Mountain Ecosystem

Mountain ecosystems support hundreds of different types of plants adapted to their harsh conditions. Mountainous regions usually experience less rainfall than other biomes, making it harder for plants to grow. Studies have concluded that the mountain ranges' flora varies depending on the altitude levels.

The lower altitude levels usually have forests with majorly conifer trees, whereas the higher altitude flora is dominated by alpine vegetation. At the same time, some mountain ranges are also home to deciduous trees depending upon their climate. You may also come across some small plants on the base of larger trees in these mountain ranges.

The type of mountain region present plays a key role in deciding the flora of the area. For instance, mountains in the temperate zone support daisies and lupins, whereas tropical mountains are covered with evergreen trees. At the same time, the mountain regions of North Carolina have forests that are dominated by oak trees.

Interestingly, many people believe mountain ecosystems to be an 'island of biodiversity' as these mountains are in one way surrounded by landscapes of comparatively lower elevation levels which have been altered to some extent by human influence.