Since 1972 The Mountain Institute has partnered with remote mountain communities in the highest, longest and oldest mountains of the world. The snow and ice that accumulates at the top of mountain ranges will melt and feed into rivers and lakes at the base of these mountain ranges. The Páramo, an alpine wetlands/grasslands ecosystem extending from Peru to Venezuela, harbors tremendous biodiversity and is a critically important water source for Peru’s mountain communities and heavily populated western lowlands. First you will see food chains in a mountain ecosystem. Generally, mountainous regions are defined as any rugged gradient rising above 5,000 feet. Some of the most famous mountain ranges in the world include:Additionally, 80 percent of the world's fresh water originates in the mountains. Using an innovative approach called Ecosystem-based Adaptation, The Mountain Institute is helping communities in the Nor Yauyos-Cochas Landscape Reserve above Lima, Peru adapt to anticipated climate change impacts such as water scarcity. Lily Holcomb
While plateaus are also found at 5,000 feet or more above sea level, they do not share the steep incline of a mountainous landform. These traditional methods were used to increase water infiltration in alpine hills, replenishing groundwater stores. They are vulnerable to a wide range of natural disasters that are not nearly as dangerous in the lowlands. Lastly, you will see an energy pyramid in the mountain ecosystem. Mountain ranges are sometimes subject to more precipitation than other ecosystems.Mountain ranges are home to some of the greatest regions of biodiversity on the planet. Through these watershed user groups: Part of this biodiversity is a result of rapid changes in climate based on altitude, which results in habitations for many types of organisms.Due to the fragile nature of mountain ecosystems, large numbers of native plants and animals are considered at risk or endangered by organizations worldwide. When healthy, these landscapes are highly valuable as buffers against flooding and extended dry periods, serving as natural filters for fresh drinking water, and havens for a rich and specialized array of plants and animals. We are grateful to the United States Forest Service for funding this project. The fragile nature of mountainous ecosystems is a cause for great concern, due to the critical role they play in the life cycle both in the mountains and in the lands below.Jock Bergeron began writing professionally in 2005. The characteristics of mountain climate and ecosystems vary depending on specific altitude, the landforms, biomes, bodies of water surrounding the mountain, and proximity to the equator. Mountain ecosystems are especially vulnerable to climate change due to (1) the very specific adaptations and narrow niches of species, which mean that even small environmental changes can cause a re-assemblage of species communities and (2) the limited and small extent of mountain ecosystems and the tendency towards fragmentation, coupled with physical barriers … The availability of drinking water has also increased for both local and downstream communities. Mountain ranges also influence storms and freshwater rain creation, which also creates fresh water.While the specific weather experienced in a given mountainous region may vary depending on location and altitude, some characteristics of mountain climate are shared between regions. While plateaus are also found at 5,000 feet or more above sea level, they do not share the steep incline of a mountainous landform.Mountains cover approximately one fifth of the world's surface. In the Piura region of northern Peru, we have brought together five municipalities into a commonwealth to protect the Páramo and promote the sustainable development of the communities living below this alpine ecosystem. Mountain regions provide diverse goods and services to human society. By working together, we managed to restore abandoned, water management techniques and infrastructure that dated back to the time of the Incas. By working closely with park authorities and local communities, TMI is promoting science-based decision making to secure healthy wetlands and protect livelihoods for the communities that rely upon them. The Sierra Nevada mountain range alone is estimated to house from 10,000 to 15,000 separate species of plants and animals. These include:Because some of the habitation belts in mountainous regions are very small and easily destroyed, the species housed there can be easily reduced in number.
At higher altitudes harsh environmental conditions generally prevail, and a treeless alpine vegetation, upon which the present account is focused, is supported. However, mountainous regions share a variety of characteristics despite differences in climate, weather, and specific indigenous life.