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Alpine Ecosystem Facts & Worksheets

Any habitat found inside or on top of a mountain range is called an alpine ecosystem, commonly seen near glacial lakes or tundra areas above the treeline. The geological features are referred to as alpine because of the cliffs and rocks present in the ecosystem.

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Any habitat found inside or on top of a mountain range is called an alpine ecosystem, commonly seen near glacial lakes or tundra areas above the treeline. The geological features are referred to as alpine because of the cliffs and rocks present in the ecosystem. Due to a lack of trees and their elevation, the ecosystem experiences strong winds and harsh weather. Plants such as conifers and spruces are part of an alpine ecosystem.

See the fact file below for more information on Alpine Ecosystem, or you can download our 31-page Alpine Ecosystem worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DEFINITION

  • An alpine ecosystem is any natural environment on top of a high mountain range that includes glacial lakes, tundra regions, and a lack of trees. 
  • Alpine environments are valued for their spectacular beauty that attracts hikers and skiers. They are also important for the water that melts off the glaciers and flows down the mountains, providing a major freshwater source for many populations.
  • The word “alpine” relates to high mountains. The threshold height for alpine tundra decreases until it reaches sea level as the latitude of a region is closer to the poles, at which point it combines with polar tundra.

GEOGRAPHY

  • An alpine ecosystem can be found anywhere worldwide as long as the mountains’ elevation is high enough. It is present in some montane grassland and shrublands ecoregions throughout the world. 
  • Several mountains have significant areas of alpine ecosystems in the world. Some of these are the Alps and Pyrenees of Europe, the northern Appalachian Mountains, the South Island of New Zealand, the Himalayas and Karakoram of Asia, the North American Cordillera, and the Andes of South America. 
  • On mountains, we call the line or altitude where no trees grow a timberline. Above the timberline of a hill, the summits, slopes, and ridges are covered in alpine tundra. Alpine ecosystems are only found on top of high mountains, while most of the terrain is rocky, covered in cliffs, fractured talus slopes, and snow-capped summits. However, some terrains have pockets of virtually flat topography.

CLIMATE

  • According to the lapse rate of air, that tends to get colder as the air rises because it expands, and the environment gets colder at high elevations. The typical weather of the alpine ecosystem or tundra is known as the alpine climate.
  • A mountain with an alpine ecosystem has a dry adiabatic lapse rate of 10°C per kilometer or about 5.5°F per 1,000 feet of elevation. Accordingly, moving 100 meters up the mountain would equate to moving 80 kilometers toward the pole. As the altitude increases, so do the snow and the winds. However, the weather may vary. 
  • This formula of relationship in the climate of an alpine ecosystem is only an approximation because some local factors, such as proximity to the ocean, may change the temperature. Thus, the exact climate of each alpine ecosystem varies. 
  • An alpine ecosystem is treeless because trees cannot survive in an alpine ecosystem because of environmental factors. Its ecological factors consist of heavy snowpack and extremely cold temperatures resulting in a lack of moisture in the environment.
  • Typically, high-elevation growing seasons last 45 to 90 days, with summer temperatures hovering around 10°C (50°F). During the growth season, temperatures frequently drop below freezing, and frost occurs in many places.
  • Snow makes up the majority of precipitation, although the amount of water in the soil varies greatly depending on the time of year, the area, and the topography. Some alpine habitats may be up to 70% snow free in winter.
  • In alpine habitats, strong winds are frequent. These gusts can significantly erode soil and harm plants physically and physiologically. Additionally, extraordinarily high rates of evaporation and transpiration can be facilitated by the wind in conjunction with solar radiation.
  • Due to the harsh climate brought on by the high elevation, tree growth is not supported. Below the tree line, the alpine tundra changes into subalpine woods; these stunted forests are called krummholz. As the elevation rises, it reaches the snow line, where snow and ice linger into the summer.

ALPINE VEGETATION

  • Perennial plant. A plant that lives for more than two years is called a perennial plant or simply a perennial. The term is frequently used to distinguish a plant from annuals and biennials, which have shorter lifespans. 
  • The phrase is also frequently used to distinguish perennial plants from trees and shrubs, which are technically perennials but have little to no woody growth.
  • Cyperaceae. Sedges, also known as Cyperaceae, belong to the family of graminoid monocotyledonous flowering plants. These species are common where tundra soil is well-developed and predominate in the alpine landscape. 
  • Although sedges can thrive in practically every environment, many are connected to wetlands or poor soils. Sedgelands and sedge meadows are terms used to describe ecological communities where sedges predominate.
  • Forb. An herbaceous blooming plant, not a graminoid, is referred to as a forb or phorb (grass, sedge, or rush). In biology and vegetation ecology, the name refers particularly to grasslands and understory. These are often dicots with non-woody stems, for example, sunflower and milkweed.
  • Cushion plant. Typically, the term “cushion” refers to woody plants that spread into mats. 
  • They have relatively deep and large tap roots, develop as expanding mats, have limited height well above ground, and have life histories adapted to slow growth in nutrient-poor environments with delayed reproductivity and reproductive cycle adaptations.

ALPINE WILDLIFE

  • Polar Bear. The polar bear is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range is primarily within the Arctic Circle, including the most northern parts of North America and Eurasia, the Arctic Ocean, its neighboring waters, and surrounding land masses. 
  • It is the largest extant terrestrial carnivore and the largest and most prominent bear species. A sow, an adult female, is almost half the size of a boar, an adult male who weighs between 350 and 700 kg.
  • Falcons. There are roughly 40 species of falcons in the Falco family, a group of raptors. Adult falcons can fly quickly and change directions thanks to their narrow, tapering wings. In their first year of flight, fledgling falcons have longer flight feathers, giving them a shape more akin to a general-purpose bird with a broad branch.
  • Salmon. Salmon are primarily anadromous, meaning they migrate to the ocean as adults and live like sea fish before returning to freshwater to spawn. They hatch in the gravel beds of shallow freshwater streams. 

MOUNTAIN RANGES

  • The Himalayas. The Himalayas is a mountainous region that divides the Tibetan Plateau from the lowlands of the Indian subcontinent. It is home to some of the highest mountains in the world and has a wealth of unique flora and fauna.
  • The Alps. The Alps span 1,200 km over seven Alpine nations. These nations are France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia. 
  • These are the tallest and most prominent mountain range systems in Europe. As the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided over millions of years, the Alps mountains were created.
  • The Andes. The Andes, also known as the Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range, is the world’s longest continental mountain range. It constitutes a continuous highland along South America’s western border. 
  • The range has a length of 8,900 km, a width of 200 to 700 km, and an average height of around 4,000m. From north to south, the Andes pass through seven countries of South America: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

Alpine Ecosystem Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Alpine Ecosystem across 31 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Alpine Ecosystem. Any habitat found inside or on top of a mountain range is called an alpine ecosystem, commonly seen near glacial lakes or tundra areas above the treeline.

Alpine Ecosystem Worksheets
Alpine Ecosystem Worksheets
Alpine Ecosystem Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Alpine Ecosystem Facts
  2. Truths and Lies
  3. Order Up!
  4. Growing Against Climate
  5. Visualizing the Ecosystem
  6. The Ecosystem in Me
  7. Living on Top
  8. Elevated Imagination
  9. What’s the Truth?
  10. Describing Me
  11. Climb-mate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an alpine ecosystem?

An alpine ecosystem is a high-altitude ecosystem found in mountain regions around the world. It is characterized by a harsh environment of low temperatures, high winds, and low levels of precipitation. The vegetation in alpine ecosystems is adapted to these conditions and is often made up of small, hardy plants.

Where are alpine ecosystems found?

Alpine ecosystems are found in mountain regions around the world, including the Rocky Mountains in North America, the Alps in Europe, and the Himalayas in Asia. They typically occur above the tree line, which is the elevation at which trees are no longer able to grow due to the harsh environment.

What types of plants and animals are found in alpine ecosystems?

The plants in alpine ecosystems are adapted to the harsh conditions and often have small, thick leaves to conserve moisture. Common alpine plants include grasses, sedges, mosses, and lichens. Animals found in alpine ecosystems include mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pikas, marmots, and birds such as ptarmigans and eagles.

What are some of the threats to alpine ecosystems?

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to alpine ecosystems. As temperatures rise, the tree line may shift upwards, and the delicate balance of the ecosystem may be disrupted. Human activities, such as mining, tourism, and development, can also have a significant impact on alpine ecosystems.

Why are alpine ecosystems important?

Alpine ecosystems are important for biodiversity, as they are home to many unique and rare species. They also provide important ecosystem services, such as regulating the flow of water into rivers and streams. Additionally, alpine regions are important for recreation and tourism, and the ecosystems provide valuable resources for local communities, such as grazing land for livestock.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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