Ecosystems at risk

Question 1

Define alpine

Answer 1

areas above the climatic limit of the tress, the treeline, but still have vegetation before the zone of permanent snow and ice (>1850m for true alpine)

Question 2

What is unique to alpine areas?

Answer 2

Specialised habitats for a scattering of unique flora and fauna –> cold climate specialists

Question 3

Introduction to Kosciuszko National Park

Answer 3

• 35-37 S, 145-149 E end of the Great Dividing Range in the Australian Alps
• covers a continuous area of 6,980km2 –> contains undulating plateaus of true alpine, subalpine and montane ecosystems

Question 4

Alpine ecosystems

Answer 4

• biomass of 600mg/m2/year (rainforests and coral reefs = 2000, 1800 for kelp forests)
• Andes, Alpes, Pyrenees, Himalayas, Rocky Mountains

Question 5

Contemporary and traditional management strategies

Answer 5

• aim to return these ecosystems to a healthy and fully functioning climax community where dynamic equilibrium exists
• these strategies achieve such through a targeted and multifactorial approach whilst balancing often competing social, economic and environmental needs of local, regional and global populations