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Geography Year 12 > Alpine Area > Flashcards

Alpine Area Flashcards

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1
Q

altitude

A

alpine refers to areas above the tree line (climatic limit of tree growth - where the mean temperature of the warmest month is less than 11 degrees C) and below the snow line (zone of permanent snow cover)

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2
Q

latitude + altitude

A

the tree line decreases approximately 110 m in altitude for each additional 1 degree of latitude from the equator

New Guinea highlands (6 degrees S) has a treeline of 3700m VS
NSW (36 degrees S) has a tree line at 1850m

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3
Q

size

A

the largest and highest area of mountain lands occur in the himalaya-tibet region (reaching 8848m in altitude and covering an area of 600 000km2) the alpine zone extends from 3200m - 4200m

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4
Q

continuity

A

the largest contiguous area of alpine extends along the Andes (7200km long) from Peru (treeline = 4300m) to Chile (treeline = 1600m)

term = islands in the sky which makes them vulnerable

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5
Q

significant areas of alpine to namedrop

A 
Europe: The Alps, Pyrenees 
Asia: Caucasus, Urals
Highlands of New Guinea 
Southern Alps of NZ 
East Africa Highlands
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6
Q

spatial patterns and dimensions of Australia

A

size: sub alpine and alpine areas occupy 11 200km2 of Aus. True alpine areas occupy only 250km2 (0.003% of Aus)

latitude/altitude: Australian alps 36 degrees S, 1850m

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7
Q

spatial patterns and dimensions of Kosciusko National Park

A

Location: southern end of Great Dividing range in the Aus Alps, 350km SW of Sydney.

Latitude: 35-37S, 145-149E
Size: covers 100km2 (40% of Aus alpine ecosystem)

Continuity: it is the largest continuous zone of alpine vegetation in Australia

Has Australia’s highest mountain, Mt Kosciusko (2228m tall)

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8
Q

Atmosphere

A
  • temperature decreases by 6.5C per km increase in altitude
  • alpine area has a continuous snow cover for >4 months of the year (June - September)
  • 10 frost free days per year on Mt K
  • the treeline has risen 40m
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9
Q

Hydrosphere

A
  • orographic rainfall: produced when moist air is lifted as it moves over a mountain range –> resulting in a dense and moist Western fall and sparse dry East Planes
  • weak glaciation has produced features (Blue Lake) with long periods of erosion leaving exposed granite boulder fields
  • peri glacial processes of freezing and thawing results in weathered rock and porous, skeletal soil which can be easily eroded (nutrients loss)
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10
Q

Lithosphere

A
  • soil development is slow
  • dominant soil type = alpine humus soils (shallow skeletal soil) which are low in nutrients due to slow rates of decomposition
  • nutrients transported out of the soil profile by water (leaching) increasing acidity
  • low temperatures, leaching, frosts, strong winds and slow regrowth makes soil vulnerable
  • exposed soil open to agents of erosion due to slow plant growth
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11
Q

Process to form plateau

A
  • uplift over 40 years
  • glaciation
  • plateau is dissected due oto erosion, forming islands in the sky, small, fragmented ecosystems
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12
Q

Wetlands

A
  • bogs and fens allow for slow release of snow melt to streams and rivers during summer
  • maintain water during winter with sphagnum moss, storing 20x their weight in water
  • permanently wet, providing unique habitats for threatened terrestrial and semi-aquatic species such as the southern corroboree frog
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13
Q

Plant community and adapting

A
  • growing season is too short to sustain trees
  • short life cycle of rapid growth
  • flowering and seed production (surviving winter as a seed)
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14
Q

Types

A

Tall alpine herbfield: covers 65% of alpine area. Found on well drained slopes, most resilient
Other species: snow grass, silver snow daisy, mountain celery, billy buttons
Windswept feldmark: grows in the most severe conditions on ridges with little soil
Rock heath: warmth and wind shelter of boulders. WOody shrubs with a slow growth rate.
Bog: sphagnum moss and candle heath

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15
Q

Ecological succession

A
  • 204 species of native flowering plants (21 endemic)
  • low energy
  • nutrient limitations of soil = slow growth = high vulnerability
  • increasing frequency of natural stresses (bushfires)
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16
Q

Animals

A
  • digging mammals improve soil heath by turnover and mixing organic matter
  • MPP is endemic to alpine and subalpine regions of SE australia
  • estimated 685 in KNP. 2 of the best habitat sites occur within the leased ski resort areas of mt blue cow (perisher) and charlotte pass ski resort (40% of population occurs here)
17
Q

Adaptations

A
  • growing on boulders (warmth)
  • dorman seeds
  • to battle intense sunshine, leaves may be reflective, have small surface area
  • pineapple grass is fire retardant
  • sphagnum moss (20x weight in water)
  • protection in subnivean space
  • torpor / aestivation (bogong moths MPP)
18
Q

Natural stresses

A

Frost, wind, drought, weather extremes, fire

19
Q

Drought - el nino

A

Reduced depth and longevity of snow pack

  • lack of habitat and spring runoff from bogs and fens
  • lack of available subnivean space for alpine fauna
  • earlier invasion of subalpine and montane predator species
20
Q

Bushfire

A

2003

  • alpine vegetation was burnt as high to very high severity
  • most serious impact = sphagnum moss (growth rate = 3.5cm per 100 years)
  • fire burnt through 20% of MPP habitat in southern end and >80% of habitat in Northern KNP

2020 (black summer)

  • 1/3 of KNP was burnt
  • horses congregate on unbrunt patches of vegetation, increasing erosion
  • reduced frog population from 700 000 to 20 000 since the 80s)
  • destroyed vital food sources for MPP including Mountain Plum Pine
21
Q

Rate of change: Natural

A

Bushfire (2003 + 2020) - 58% of vegetation burnt - catastrophic cos it happened twice in a period shorter than 20 years.

Drought (2002 El Nino) - 990mm vs 1400mm average

Severe weather - 149 lightning strikes ignited a fire that burnt for 60 days

22
Q

Rate of change: human

A

introduced species (brumbies) - 6150 wild horses in KNP (2014) –> now there are 20 000

tourism: KNP - 3 million annual visitors

Climate change (snow cover) - 30% decline in snow cover since 1954, highest annual snow depth decrease of 35.8cm since 1954.

23
Q

Human impacts

A 
Introduced species (orange hawkweed and wild horses) 
Tourism (ski industry and summer tourism) 
Climate change (reduced snow cover, vertical succession)
24
Q

Grazing

A
  • grazing affects the soil and changes the composition of plant species
  • grazing started in the alpine regions of NSW and VIC in 1820
  • grazing for > 100 years, 800 000 ha of soil lost
  • only 60cm of topsoil remained when grazing was banned in 1958
  • 60% of the alpine area was damaged by trampling of hard hoofed cattle and horses
25
Q

Introduced species: brumbies

A
  • causes significant damage to riverbeds, streams, natural bogs, wetlands and soil structure
  • can spread weeds as they carry seeds in their tails, manes and dung- these weeds outgrowing native vegetation
  • horses disturb delicate soil structure
  • foul waterways, posing a biosecurity risk
  • 20 000 feral horses in KNP growing at an annual rate of 23%
26
Q

Introduced species: orange hawkweed

A
  • introduced as an ornamental plant
  • can outcompete native plants (up to 3800 plants per m2) creating a dense mat of foliage
  • up to 40 000 seeds can be released durin gsummer
  • should the weed reach its potential, losses to the Aus grazing industry could be $48 million / year
27
Q

Tourism

A
  • 4 main alpine resort areas in KNP (Perisher Blue, Thredbo, Selwyn and Charlotte’s Pass)
  • collective footprint of 40km2
  • semi permanent year round population of people = 1000, swelling to 30 000 during winter
  • clearing of vegetation, pollution from sewage, waste water
  • Charlottes Pass (over night visitors) produce 5x the amount of rubbish and use 7x the amount of water
  • Perisher constructed a carpark over 10 000m2 of bogs and fens
  • 40% of the MPP population occur within ski resort lease areas - habit decrease by 80% ,estimating 500 adults left
28
Q

Climate change

A
  • snowline retreated from 1300 to 1500m over last 50 years
  • due to increased temperatures, resorts could lose 1/4 of their snow and half by 2050
  • MPP relies on subnivean space
  • greater rain rather than snow and greater temperature fluctuations with shallower snow cover causes more frequent qakening, greater loss of stored body fat and higher winter mortality
29
Q

Heritage Value

A

Cultural: evidence of cattle grazing era

  • first commercial ski development at thredbo built in 1957
  • from 1990, 3 million visitors annually
  • includes Australia’s highest mountain
  • brumbies as a part of Australian history
30
Q

Utility value

A
  • Cattle grazing
  • Water catchment (contributes around 30% of flow into murray darling basin system - could be worth 4-8 million dollars)
  • Research facilities, including the International Tundra Experiment and the Global research initiative in alpine environments
31
Q

Genetic diverstity

A

Isoalted isslands make it difficult for animals and plants adapted to alpine to recolonise damaged area

Endemic species

32
Q

Intrinsic

A

commodification of natural beauty

33
Q

Traditional management 1 - stewardship

A
  • seasonal migration to the alpine area, sustainable consumption of bogong moths and moving from food source to food source
  • evidence of stone scatters (as a result of tool making, use and discard activities)
  • evidence of ancient campfires, stone tools dating back 17000 years
34
Q

Traditional management 2 - agreement

A
  • Australian Alps national parks sponsoring a gathering of aboriginal traditional owners
  • An agreement was made to work together under the condition that the Aboriginal elders had access to the resources and identification of stewardship to the land
35
Q

Grazing management

A
  • Short growing season = no chance of recovery, leaving soil exposed to erosion
  • An attempt was made to manage the grazing with the introduction of leases in 1889
  • 1944: Kosciusko state park was established and grazing of alpine area was phased out
  • Banned in the alpine area of KNP in 1958 and then the whole park by 1969
36
Q

National Park and Zoning (management)

A
  • declared a national park in 1967
  • Management zones: Wilderness, Black Country, Minor Road corridors, Major road corridors, Visitor service, Alpine resort zone
  • Some zones include sacred places and have higher restrictions
  • Approximately 50% of KNP (350 000 ha) is protected as Wilderness Zone (preservation)
  • 49% is Back Country Zone (conservation zone)
  • Wilderness areas: large well connected areas protecting biodiversity, have cultural significance as they often contain Aboriginal sites
37
Q

Orange Hawkweed Managment

A

Unmanned drones (UAV) and satellite imagery are being used as a weed detection device. Weed detection dogs are also being used to cull this species.

38
Q

Management- sustainable tourism

A
  • Raised steel walkway
  • Blue Cow is a day only resort
  • Ski TUbe can carry 225 passengers, reducing impact of cars and carparks
39
Q

Management: Frog

A

SOuthern frog program in 4 institutions: Taronga Zoo, Melbourne Zoo, Amphibian research centres, healesville sanctuary

  • housed in specialised, climate-controlled facilities that replicate their natural habitats with strict quarnatine
  • > 2000 frogs released to KNP and 2000 to brindabella

Geography Year 12 (13 decks)

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