Mountain Ecology

With their steep changes in elevation, mountains display dramatic differences in habitat over short distances. At the base of most mountains in the northeast are northern hardwoods forests.  As you go up in elevation the forests change to spruce-fir/boreal at around 2500' elevation.  On some of the higher more exposed mountains in the northeast there are alpine areas where environmental conditions make it impossible for trees to sustain growth.  The vegetation in these areas are often specialized to survive in extreme conditions.

Learn more about Alpine Ecology:

1. Alpine Plant Adaptations
2. The Role of Climate
3. Alpine Plant Communities
4. Alpine Stewardship