Alpine
Name at least four animals you would find in the alpine ecosystem.
Possibilities: pika, bighorn sheep, marmots, deer, ptarmigan
Name at least four animals you would find in the subalpine ecosystem.
Snowshoe hare, lynx, bobcat, martens (weasels), deer, squirrels, more.
Name at least four animals you would find in the montane forest ecosystem.
Black bears, badgers, bobcats, hummingbirds, coyotes, elk, deer, and many more!
Name at least four animals you would find in Colorado's riparian ecosystems.
Name at least four animals you would find in a prairie ecosystem in Colorado.
Antelope, tortoises, prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets, rattle snakes, many more.
What types of food do pikas eat?
Grasses, flowers, leaves
What is the elevation for subapline ecosystems in CO?
10,000 to 11,200 feet
What is the elevation for the montane forest ecosystem?
5,600 to 9,000 feet
What types of plants would you find in riparian ecosystems?
This depends on the elevation of the riparian area. Trees, bushes, and grasses grow in these wet locations.
What types of plants do you find in the prairie ecosystem?
Grasses, cactus, flowers, no trees.
Name at least two major differences between pikas and marmots.
Marmots have tails. Pikas do not hibernate.
What types of trees are most plentiful in the subalpine?
Evergreen trees: pine, spruce, fir
Where in CO do you find the montane forests?
Much of Colorado is covered in montane forests. The foothills near Fort Collins are good examples of this.
Why are riparian ecosystems important?
Many animals depend upon these areas for food and water. Rivers and streams take water from the snow melt in the mountains down to lower elevations where people and animals can use it.
What do people mostly use the prairie for?
Agriculture: farming (growing crops) and ranching
What special adaptation do weasels and snowshoe hares have in common?
Both turn white in the winter to blend in with the snow.
What are the major difference between the alpine and subalpine?
Subalpine has lower elevation, more plants and animals, trees grow here.
What threats do Colorado's montane forests face?
Wildfires, logging, development
Name at least three rivers in Colorado.
Poudre, Colorado, Rio Grande, Thompson, Arkansas, Platte...
Where in CO do you find the shortgrass prairie?
Much of eastern Colorado is covered in the prairie. Almost 2/5 of the state is this ecosystem!
What is special about the plants you find in the alpine tundra?
No trees, flowers and grasses are tiny and grow low to the ground.
Which rare subalpine animal recently lost more than 70% of its habitat to the forest fires?
Canada lynx
How are the plants in montane forests different from those in the subalpine ecosystem?
More variety of trees, grasses, and flowers. Aspen trees, pinon, juniper, and other trees are found in this ecosystem.
What threats do riparian ecosystems in CO face?
Invasive species, development
Who were some of the people groups in Colorado who lived on the prairies?
Arapaho, Cheyenne, Apache, Comanche