Alpine forest

it is essential presentation representing accurate information about alpine forests.

1. Alpine Forest Marina Bibi : 2016-KIU-1066 Zakia Ashraf : 2016-KIU-1067 BS VI

2. Introduction Forests are main source of paper, fuel, wood, latex, lumber, medicine, food and resins etc Also provides ecotourism and wildlife conservation Forests cover 4.8% land of Pakistan

3. Cont… Arctic and alpine covers 16% of the earth. Alpine derives from Latin word ‘’Alp’’ meaning high mountain. I t has well defined vegetation and characterized by absence of trees or dwarf trees.

4. Ecology of Alpine Forests of alpine zone occurs near mountain tops In Pakistan found in the mountainous regions of Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindukush. alpine biome lies between an altitude of 10,000 feet (3000m) above sea level and place where snowline begins

5. Western alpine shrub Karakoram western alpine

6. Alpine Climate Climate is very cold, icy, snowy and windy. Average precipitation is 30cm per year Due to extreme low temperature trees can’t grow Growing season for plants is about 180days

7. Cont… During summer temperature reaches around -12 C ⁰ Summer last from june to september During winter temperature below freezing point and with higher altitude get much colder. Winter last from october to may

8. Alpine Plants Plants that grow in an alpine climat e which occurs at high elevation and above the tree line . Alpine plants are not a single taxon Rather, many different plant species live in the alpine environment . These include:   perennial grasses , sedges, forbs, cushion plants, mosses, and lichens.

9. Examples of Alpine plants hgh Glory of the snow lichen Xanthoria elegans

10. Cont.. Many plants are used economically, in Himalayas many species traded for medicinal and aromatic use. Annual trade of these plants amount to million US dollar. Many household in Nepal and India rely on medicinal plants as a source of income.

11. Cont… Some of the plant species in Nepal include: Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora , Discorea deltoidea , Rheum austrade Indian species include: Aconitum heterophyllum , Dichoriza kurrooa

12. Discorea deltoidea Neopicrorhiza scrophulariflora ,

13. Alpine animals Alpine animals face 2 problems Cold temperature Ultraviolet wavelengths (UV) There are only warm blooded animals and some insects adapted by shorter limbs ( legs, ears and tails) help to reduce heat loss and larger lung capacities, more blood cells and hemoglobin.

14. These animals hibernate and migrate to warmer areas of the mountain Some insulate their bodies with extra fats and fur. There are about 30,000 animal species in alpine zone

15. Chikara in North America Chinchilla in South America Ibex in North Africa, East Africa, Eurasia including northern areas of Pakistan Markhor in Asia Snow leopard in central Asia

16. Rodents include: marmot, Norwegia lemming, snow vole. Invertebrates include: moths, butterflies, beetles, spiders, grasshopper, flies, cockroaches, flatworms and giant snail

17. Threats to alpine forests Alpine forests are subject to many threats and suffer many damages, main causes include Urbanization: continual expansion of cities, town, villages Transportation: noise and air pollution, excess NO ₂ results in acid rain.

18. Tourism: major driver of urbanization and traffic, leisure activities by tourists as winter ski tourism, adventure sports harm landscape. Hydroelectricity supply: most cities rely on alpine water for drinking and electricity supply, human pressure and global warming put alpine water at risk.

19. Agriculture : massive use of fertilizers, grading and drainage. Climate change: global warming diminish glaciers, glacier recession led to upward migration of alpine plants and extinction of lowland plants Cause Exotic species and pathogen inavsion

20. Importance of Alpine forests 22% of the world people on mountain directly benefit from alpine forests and lowland people also dependant on Alps for many goods as Water supply Energy Timber and wood Biodiversity maintenance Recreation and spiritual renewal