Colorado Subalpine Forest

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Colorado Subalpine Forest

• By Andrea Jeffrey

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Abiotic Features

• The mean temperature in the subalpine forest is
  from the sub zero's to the mid 70s.
• The annual precipitation is around 22 in/year.
  This is almost double of what the plains receive.

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Biotic features primary plants

• Subalpine fir, Limber pine, Engelmann spruce,
  Blueberry, Elder, Cinquefoil, Woods Rose, Wax
  Current, Arnica, Needle grass, Fairy Slipper,
  Colorado Blue Columbine, Gentian, Sneeze Weed,
  Lousewort, Twinflower, Pipsissewa, Sedge, Senecio

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Biotic Features primary Animals

• Animals-Pine Marten, Black Bear, Bobcat,
  Chipmunk, Nuttalls Cottontail, Coyote, Mule
  Deer, Elk, Chickaree, Mountain Lion, Yellow
  Bellied Marmot, Deer Mouse, Porcupine, Snowshoe
  Hare, Shrew, Golden Mantle Ground Squirrel, Long
  Tailed Weasel, Meadow Vale, Bushy Tailed Wood
  Rat.
• Birds- Red Crossbill, Yellow-Rump Warbler, Raven
• Insects-Bark Beetle, Silver-Bordered Fritillary,
  larvae

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Disturbances

• Giant Avalanches
• Snow blindness (people and animals)
• Forest fires
• Roads

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Yellow-rump Warbler

• Order Passeriformes
• Family Parulidae

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Physical description of Yellow-rump warbler

• Yellow-rump warblers are impressive in their
  sheer numbers with which they flood the continent
  each fall. They appear to be streaky brown and
  yellow. They are fairly large, full-bodied
  warblers with a large head, sturdy bill, and a
  long narrow tail. Both sexes in summer are a gray
  with places of white in their wings, yellow on
  the face, sides and rump. Males are shaded while
  females are more dull with some brown. In winter,
  they are a pale brown, with a bright yellow rump,
  and usually some yellow on the sides.

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Habitats of the yellow-rump warbler

• In summer, they are birds of open coniferous
  forests and edges, and lesser extent, deciduous
  forests. In fall and winter, they move to open
  woods and shrubby habitats, including coastal
  vegetation, parks, and residential areas.

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Behaviors of the yellow-rump warbler

• Yellow-rump Warblers typically forage in the
  outer tree canopies at middle heights. They are
  active, usually out to catch insects, or are on
  long flights. In winter they spend their time
  mostly eating berries from shrubs, and often
  travel in large flocks.

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Diet of Yellow-rump Warbler

• Yellow-rump Warblers mostly eat insects and
  berries that they encounter while they are on
  their long journeys.

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Mountain Lion

• Order Carnivora
• Family Felidae

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Physical Description of Mountain Lions

• Females weigh, on average, 100 Pounds, and males
  150 pounds. They range from 6.5 ft. for females,
  and up to 8 ft. for males, not including the
  tail, which is 21-36 in. Their body is tawny, or
  golden brown with dark stripes around the muzzle.
  The back of the ears and the tip of tail are a
  blackish-brown. The belly is a buff color. The
  chest and throat are white. Kittens are spotted
  with dark rings until they are six months old.
  They are very good climbers and can leap 12 ft.
  in the air and jump safely from a height of 60
  ft. They can outrun a deer, but only for short
  distances. They swim only when it is necessary.

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Habitats of the mountain lion

• Mountain lions are generally found in mountainous
  areas, but can range from open woodlands to dense
  forests. They are solitary animals that pair for
  only 2 weeks during breeding season. They use
  scrapes to mark their territory, which consists
  of mounds of dirt, leaves, and other debris piled
  into a heap and soaked with urine and sometimes
  scat.

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Behaviors of the Mountain Lion

• Mountain lions are expert hunters and are capable
  of taking down an adult male elk.

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Diet of the mountain lion

• Their diet varies according to season,
  availability, appetite, and hunting skill. They
  feed primarily on large mammals such as deer, but
  also eat rabbits, rodents, porcupines, beavers,
  preccaries, and birds.

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Colorado columbine

• Order Ranuncales
• Family Ranunculacae

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Physical Description of The Colorado Columbine

• The Rocky Mountain Columbine is the state flower
  of Colorado. Its color varies through a wonderful
  range of whites, blues, and purples, and its
  flowers thrive from June through August. The five
  petals have unusual and showy spurs, which are
  larger than the petals.

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Habitats of the Colorado Columbine

• The Colorado Columbine can be found in moist
  areas in clearings, the edge of pine forests, in
  aspen groves, and mountain drainages.

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Special Adaptations of the Colorado Columbine

• The Colorado columbine occurs throughout the
  Rocky Mountains and is found in Sagebrush,
  Pinyon-juniper, mountain brush, aspen,
  Douglas-fir, aspen tall forb, spruce-fir, and
  alpine-tundra communities. It tolerates a wide
  range of soils except the heavy, poorly drained
  ones. It prefers rich, moist soils with light to
  moderate shade.

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Links to Websites (references)

• directorsimon.wordpress.com/.../
• www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto...
• www.birdguy.net/reports/paas_winter08.2.html
• www.myrvparks.com/favpics/favpics.php
• www.edupic.net/birds2.htm
• www.vancouverislandbirds.com/Journal165.html
• depts.washington.edu/.../facts/gray_jay_712.html
• www.stevegarufi.com/oldfall.htm
• www.enjoyfrance.com/content/view/1430/36/
• www.clevermag.com/essays2/bcfire.htm
• www.freefoto.com/preview/01-47-44

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References(cont.)

• www.kevinkarlsonphotography.com/gallery/main....
• gallery.pictopia.com/natgeo/photo/283505/
• flickr.com/photos/scottandamy/2738335939/
• picasaweb.google.com/.../wIftbltGrn64RED1YEqNlQ
• http//www.nps.gov/room/naturescience/subalpine.ph
  p
• http//www.coloradobirdingtrail.com/basics/subalpi
  ne
• http//www.shelledy.mesa.k12.co.us/staff/computerl
  ab/coloradolifezones_subalpine.htm
• http//www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/species/ab
  la.htm
• http//www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/yellow-rumped_w
  arbler/id
• http//southwestwildlife.org/pdf/MountainLionGlanc
  e.pdf
• http//www.nsrl.ttu.edu/TMOT/Feliconc.htm
• http//www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Blue20Purple
  20Enlarged20Photo20Pages/aquilegia.htm
• http//extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/htm/colorado-
  columbine/