Transcript High Mountains - Montgomery.k12.ky.us

High Mountains?
Luke Barnes and Drew Osburn
The High Mountains
CLIMATE…
 The climate of The Andes is divided into two major
regions: the Northern and Southern climates.
 The Northern climate is characterized by hotter, rainier
weather, as it is closer to the equator.
 This humid climate is also exemplified by the rainforests
found in the Northern region of The Andes.
 The Southern region is much colder because of its
distance from the equator.
 Luke did this slide, he can elaborate.
Soil Conditions for the Andes
Mountains
 Soil conditions in the Andes tends to be rick in nutrients
due to high volcanic activity in the area.
 Luke did this slide so he can go into more detail
Producers!
Producer Facts!
 Plants have to survive
extreme temperatures, little
rainfall, heavy snowfall, and
strong winds.
 They tend to be small in size
to conserve energy.
 The leaves of producers high
in the Andes tend to be stiff
and strong to protect them
from the frost and extremely
cold weather.
 There are 15 species of
Polylepis trees in the Andes.
 Polylepis forests contain most
of the trees in the Andes.
The Wild Potato
 Wild potatoes in the Andes are found where
temperatures range fro 60-70 degrees F.
 They are only found in 16 countries.
 They grow close at the lower elevations
 Being in an arid climate, there are small hairs on the
leaves of the potato that collect water from the clouds.
 These same hairs help to insulate the potatoes during
frosts
 The tubers (the part of the potato that we eat) stores
water, sugar, and starches below the ground, safe from
frost.
 The wild potato is an endangered species.
Puya Rainmondii
 These are the largest herbs in the world. They grow up
to
 They can grow at elevations up to 13,000 feet and can
live for 100 years.
 In order to allow moisture to run to the roots of the
plant, the leaves all grow from one stem and the
moisture runs down them to the base. This allows the
plant to survive during drought.
Aspen Trees
 Aspen trees are “cloned trees” meaning they reproduce
exact copies of themselves using the same roots.
 While aspen trees need lots of sunlight and water, they
grow fairly easily almost anywhere. In the high
mountains, they tend to get their moisture from snow.
 Aspen trees also provide shelter for the smaller
creatures that inhabit the mountains.
 They also allow enough sunlight in through their
branches that other plants can grow around them as
well.
Consumers!
Consumers!
There are very few consumers that can survive the harsh
conditions in the High Mountains.
Animals must have thick fur and tend to be small in size to
conserve heat.
Many of the animals found here hibernate to survive cold
winters.
Llamas
 Llamas are found in the High Mountains as both wild and
tame.
 The llama has really thick fur to help it survive extreme
temperatures.
 It also has a long neck to help it see predators.
Snow Leopard
 Snow leopards are more commonly found in the
Himalayan mountains, and they are an endangered
species.
 Their fur is thick and helps it to blend in with its
surroundings and keep warm.
 Snow leopards are smaller than most wild cats and their
ears are small and round, this helps to prevent heat
loss.
 It also has very large nasal cavities that help it to
breathe the thin air.
Andean Condor
 Fun fact! Condors mate for life.
 This is the largest bird in South America.
 While their heads are bald, they have soft, downy
feathers around their neck to help them keep warm.
 They “roost” on cliff edges and they use the thermal
updraft produced in the morning to take off.
Natural Capital
 The Andes mountains are inhabited near the base of the
mountains, the people who live cut down the few trees
that can grow there.
 There are also mines for gold, silver, and copper in the
Andes mountains.
Unique Qualities
 There are more than 30 volcanoes located in the Andes
Mountains.
 There are only about 200 species of plants that can
survive in this harsh biome.
Human Effects
 Due to the popularity of mountain climbing, some
mountains are becoming polluted.
 Through acid rain (which is being caused by the increase
of gases in the air (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides)
the natural lakes in the mountains are being sterilized.
 Also through deforestation and civilizations in the
mountains.
Bibliography
 www.blueplanetbiomes.org
 www.admwebstudios.co.uk/Biodiversity7.htm
 umdrive.memphis.edu/g-sig/www/animalsliveinmountains.htm
 www.marietta.edu/abiol/biomes/alpine.htm
 hassam.hubpages.com/hub/Alpine-Biome
 www.tree-facts.com/aspen-tree/aspen-tree.html