| Temperate forests are often interrupted by mountain ranges, and at high elevations, the climate becomes too severe for forests to grow. At the same latitude as a warm temperate broad-leaved forest, but several thousand feet higher, is an alpine tundra of small shrubs and wild flowers. The tree-line on mountain slopes is easy to spot -- above this elevation, no trees can grow. At these heights, trees are replaced by shrubs, or in some cases, stunted shrub-like forms of trees such as willows. Moving just a few hundred feet up a mountain slope reveals such a change in vegetation types that in some areas is comparable to moving over a hundred miles north. |
A mixed broad-leaved and coniferous forest on a riverbank. Photo by Maya Walters. |
| To a far lesser extent than mountains, riverbanks and floodplains also alter habitat and growing conditions, and are home to different species than in drier areas. However, trees from surrounding forests often invade the floodplain forest, and often there appears to be little difference between the two. Since the water level of many larger rivers is now controlled, flooding does not occur so often, and this has changed many floodplain habitats. |
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temperate forests -- page 4 of 6
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sub-topics
[broadleaf forests] [coniferous forests] [temperate rain forests]
related topics
[climate] [plants] [riparian zones]
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