altitudinal vegetation zones

views updated Jun 27 2018

altitudinal vegetation zones With increased altitude conditions usually become cooler and damper, so that the vegetation of mountains of considerable elevation shows a corresponding zonation. In the tropics the zonation may extend from rain forest on the lower slopes to alpine communities at heights above about 3500 m. On the other hand, in progressively higher latitudes the elevation of the baumgrenze gradually descends, eventually to sea level.

altitudinal vegetation zones

views updated May 23 2018

altitudinal vegetation zones With increased altitude conditions usually become cooler and damper, so that the vegetation of mountains of considerable elevation shows a corresponding zonation. In the tropics the zonation may extend from rain forest on the lower slopes, to alpine communities at heights above about 3500 m. On the other hand, in progressively higher latitudes the elevation of the tree-line gradually descends, eventually to sea level.