Alpine Tundra Where mountaintops rise like islands above a sea of trees lies the world of the alpine tundra. John Muir called it "a land of desolation covered with beautiful light." Yet this light shines on a tapestry of living detail. Tundra lands, too cold for trees, support over 300 kinds of plants, as well as animals from bighorn to butterflies. Alpine Tundra Arctic tundra occurs around the north Reserve because of the beauty and . a world by itself pole. Alpine tundra crowns mountain research value of its alpine wild lands. in the sky. areas above treeline. Alpine tundra is a sensitive indicator of such climatic changes as global warming Enos Mills Rocky Mountain National Park is and acid rain. Over one-third of the recognized worldwide as a Biosphere park is tundra. A Fragile World After Trail Ridge Road opened in 1932, Some areas along Trail Ridge Road are the tundra was not fully protected. signed as Tundra Protection Areas. No People walking on the tundra caused walking off trail is allowed in these areas. much damage. Park scientists initiated In other areas walking on the tundra is an impact study in 1959, fencing off permitted. Walk with care! Step lightly, certain areas. Some areas show little or do not scuff the surface. Step on rocks no sign of recovery, even today, and may whenever possible. Spread out instead take centuries to heal. High winds and of walking in a single line. long winters slow new growth. Snow in July Summer on the tundra is brief, about 40 Average annual precipitation at the frost-free days per year. Temperatures Contintental Divide is 40 inches, of stay below freezing for over five months. which 65% falls as snow. In summer Winter winds exceed 150 mph. Summer frequent brief afternoon thunderstorms days seldom reach 70 F. Snow might fall with lightning, hail, and high winds any day of the year. occur. Watch the clouds; storms can develop within minutes. Alpine Adaptations Strong winds, shallow soil, a short Only a few animals live all year on the growing season, thin air, intense tundra. Pika cut and dry stacks of sunlight, temperature extremes, and plants in summer for their winter larder. limited water challenge life on the Ptarmigans, the only birds that winter tundra. Plants cope by hugging the on the tundra, grow feathers on their ground. Waxy or hairy leaves help hold feet and comb-like teeth on their toes water. Red pigments act as sunscreen. that work like snowshoes. Marmots Roots are extensive; tundra plants have hibernate. Other animals migrate or up to 90% of their bulk below commute: ravens, hawks, coyotes, and ground level. elk. March, 2009 Park information is available at 970-586-1206 or on-line at www.nps.gov/romo EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ THE ALPINE TUNDRA ECOSYSTEM It may look barren--but look again! While standing in one spot you could touch a meadow, a marsh, a rocky desert, or perhaps all three. On the tundra slight differences in climate (microclimates) result in very different ecosystems. Microclimates provide growing conditions for certain plants by providing slightly warmer temperatures, especially where rocks shelter the plants from wind. FELLFIELDS These "fields of rock," lie on exposed slopes where winter winds blow the snow away. Water and soil are scarce, but lichens— SNOWBED COMMUNITIES crust-like plants that tolerate ALPINE TURFS A distinct community forms where extremes of cold and drought— AND MEADOWS deep snow collects. Late-melting can grow on the rocks. Among Much of Rocky Mountain snow shortens the already brief the rocks pioneer leafy plants National Park's alpine tundra is growing season for plants beneath grow in the shape of rounded KRUMMHOLZ covered with dense turfs of sedges it but insulates them in winter and "cushions," hugging the ground Alpine tundra begins where trees and grasses that support many yields a bonus of water during to avoid wind. As dead leaves cannot survive extremes of cold animals such as elk, marmots, the growing season. Blossoms and soil collect within a cushion and wind, and the short growing and pikas. Rich soils support a of the yellow snow buttercup plant, other plants may sprout in season. At Rocky Mountain colorful diversity of wildflowers (Ranunculus adoneus) often bloom this fertile bed. In time invading National Park this happens whose colors peak in late June or while the plant is in the snow. Look plants may replace the cushion near 11,500 feet (3505 m). The early July. The largest flower on for snake-like casts of soil left by plant. Moss campion (Silene transition is marked by low, the tundra, the alpine sunflower pocket gophers tunneling through acaulis) is a common cushion wind-shaped spruce and fir trees (Rydbergia grandiflora), grows the snow. The gophers eat plant plant in the park. Nearly half of called krummholz (German for only in the Rocky Mountains. It roots and shoots. The soil they Rocky Mountain National Park's "crooked wood"). Many of these stores solar energy for seven to 10 plow makes a seedbed for pioneer alpine plants grow in other tundra short, twisted trees have lived summers before blooming only plant communities: the "gopher areas throughout the northern more than a thousand winters. once. Then the whole plant dies. garden." hemisphere..