High Atitude Adaptations
Animal and Plant Adaptations
High Altitude Climate
High Altitude areas such as Mount Kilimanjaro can be approximately 6096 meters above sea level. High Altitude can also be known as the Alpine Climate. High Altitude areas have low oxygen levels which make it hard for any life living there to survive.
At the bottom of the highlands, the temperature is approximately 26 degrees.It is nice and sunny at the bottom of the highlands. As you start to elevate up, the temperature can drop approximately 3 degrees every 30 meters you climb up. The temperature on the top of the mountains depend on how tall the mountains are. These are all the conditions that animals need to face to adapt to their environment in order to survive.
The Yak
The Yak has lives in the Tibetan Plateau where the temperature can easily drop. The Yak has long, black fur to keep itself warm. The Yak has large lungs to transport oxygen to the heart through blood vessels. This is how they are able to breathe in any area where there are low oxygen levels. They have short thin legs which makes it difficult for them to walk on the rocky edges of the mountains.Although they walk slowly, they have a lot of energy.All of these features are structral adaptations.They also have an accurate sense of smell which makes it easy for them to find food in their environment. This is a behavioural adaptation.
The Snow Leopard
The Bharal
The Bharal is mostly found in the Himalayas of Nepal, Tibet, China, India, Pakistan and also Bhutan. The Bharal is also known as the Blue Himalayas Sheep. They have short legs to escape from predators.They have warm fur which keeps them warm when the weather gets cold. They can also camouflage aganist rocky cliffs with their short, brown fur. This makes it easier for them to stay safe. These are structral adaptations.
Animal Adaptations
The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
The Snow Willow
The Snow Willow is a white plant that grows in cold climates and High Altitude areas. They have small, white furs. These furs surround their bud. Although the furs are white, the bud is acutally black. The little furs absorb the heat from the sun and then traps all the heat. The black bud then absorbs all the heat. This adaptation keeps them warm. These are structral adaptations.