Mountain Ecosystem

Welcome to the mountain ecosystem! In this immersive experience, students will become park rangers tasked with surveying a mountain during the warmer seasons. Guide them on an expedition along a mountain trail and explore a typical mountain ecosystem. They will encounter the diverse landscape, as well as the variety of flora. On their journey, they will meet wolves, snow leopards and bears that inhabit these mountains. As the temperature decreases with altitude, students will observe how these adaptable animals and plants are uniquely suited to thrive in the changing climate and rugged terrain of the mountains. **Note to Teachers** This experience is designed for students to understand the typical climate and landscape of a mountain. They will explore the cool, lush lower mountains and the rocky, icy peaks, discovering the plants and animals that thrive there and how they adapt to the mountain ecosystem. This experience has been inspired by temperate mountain ecosystems around the world, but we have condensed the core components to focus the experience on key elements within the ecosystem. # Learning Objectives 1: Describe the climate on a mountain{.info} 2: Describe animal and plant adaptations needed to survive on a mountain{.info} 3: Explain how living things are adapted to survive on a mountain{.info} # Preparing for the Experience Before entering the mountain habitat experience, ask your students what they already know about mountains as habitats and biomes. Explain that mountains are a specific type of environment formed when tectonic plates push against each other. This force either causes the earth’s crust to be pushed up and outwards from the surface or down into the oceans, creating a diverse landscape with varying altitude and climate within a single mountain range. Mountain ranges are found all around the world, both above and below sea level and in different climate zones. When we look specifically at mountains above sea level, they exist at both the northernmost points of the Earth and near the equator. Although these regions may have different seasonal climates, they share common features: climate, temperature, and water availability can change with altitude. As a result, the varying conditions mean that the animals and plants found in mountain ranges are specially adapted to survive in these rugged environments. But how? **Preparation Questions** Encourage your students to think about the following questions to help guide them through the experience: 1. What causes mountains to form?{.task} 2. How does the climate and landscape change as you climb?{.task} 3. What adaptations would animals need to survive the mountains?{.task} 4. What are some key characteristics of mountains? How are they classified? {.task} # Step-by-Step Experience Guide Teachers can use this step-by-step guide to read aloud and lead students through the experience once they are in the headset. Alternatively, students can use the guide independently or in a group. # Leaving base camp{.objective .objective1}  Welcome to base camp! Get ready to take an expedition into the heart of the mountain's wild, diverse ecosystem. From here, you can already see the landscape shifting above you, from the icy peaks above to the warmer, temperate slopes below. Along the way, take note of how the climate and scenery transform and keep an eye out for animals and plants that have adapted to thrive in these challenging conditions. Let’s go explore! Your journey begins at the mountain’s base. The soil is rich and well-watered here, giving trees a perfect place to sink their roots and thrive. Though it can get chilly, the average temperature stays just above freezing year-round, meaning there is plenty of water available, making it the perfect spot for a lush, thriving forest to take root! In these mountains, evergreens like pines thrive in chilly conditions. Their needle-like leaves help conserve water by reducing evaporation, and their thick, resinous sap acts as a natural antifreeze while their rugged bark protects them from extreme temperature changes. As evergreens, they retain their leaves year-round, providing a splash of green even in winter! Overall, typical mountains experience seasonal weather changes between summer and winter. The lower mountain tends to stay warmer than higher up. **Quick Fire Questions** - How do you think the weather change between summer and winter?{.task} - What type of trees grow in cooler mountain ecosystems?{.task} - What adaptations do evergreens have to survive cold winters on a mountain?{.task} # Brown Bears{.objective .objective2}  Cross the bridge and make your way toward the map and prepare for your mission. What are you going to see along the way? From the bridge you can observe one of the lower mountain woodlands’ most famous residents: the brown bear! These warm-blooded giants are masters of survival, equipped with thick fur that acts like an insulator to keep them warm. Their main food source is fish, especially salmon, which they hunt near rivers and streams during the summer. This is their season to feast, devouring as much salmon as they can to build up a thick layer of fat. This fat not only fuels them but also serves as an excellent insulator for the frigid winter months. Come winter, these bears settle in for hibernation, a state of deep sleep that lasts for months, allowing them to conserve energy when food is scarce, and temperatures drop below freezing. With their thick fur and stored-up fat, they’re fully prepared to sleep through the coldest part of the year. Some bears have even been known to hibernate for up to seven months if the cold lingers! **Quick Fire Questions** - What do bears eat?{.task} - What do bears do during winter to save energy?{.task} - Where do you think the salmon swimming to and why?{.task} # Eagles, Wolves and Elks{.objective .objective3}  Making your way further up the mountain trail, you should notice that the landscape starts to change. One of the changes is that the number of trees decreases. As you ascend the mountain, the climate becomes colder and icier, especially in the winter months. When the winter snow and ice melt, any loose material like soil typically gets washed away into nearby streams, leaving very little for plants to anchor their roots to. In winter, freezing conditions make it even harder for plants to obtain water. Despite this, you will see some shrubs that can thrive with less water. Their shallow roots allow them to absorb the limited moisture available on the surface. In the distance, you will notice the valley with rugged terrain, marked by the remains of a landslide. These rocky patches make it challenging for most trees to grow. Along the trail you will encounter wildlife that is adapted to the cooler temperatures and the varied terrain. Across the valley, grazing in the distance is a small herd of elk. They are specially adapted to this environment with their hooved feet that help them roam the rugged terrain in search of grass. In winter, the elk migrate down to areas with lighter snow cover where food is easier to access. During the winter months, elk grow longer, thicker fur that insulates them against the cold, helping them maintain body temperature by reducing heat loss. Wolves can also be found living in these areas of a mountain. As natural predators of elk, they move around the mountain in search of food and water. Similar to elk, wolves grow longer, thicker fur in winter to stay warm, adapting to the mountain's changing climate and seasonal shifts. As both their food sources are available year-round, neither elk nor wolves hibernate through winter. Look up along the cliffs, and you might catch sight of a bald eagle soaring high above. Eagles fly on thermal currents, conserving energy as they search for prey with their keen, telescopic vision. Majestic birds, such as eagles, prefer the safety of higher altitudes and adapt to the changing seasons without hibernating. Their thick plumage keeps them warm, acting as natural insulation against the cold mountain air. **Quick Fire Questions** 1. How are wolves and elks adapted to the colder climate of the mountain ecosystem?{.task} 2. Why do bald eagles prefer higher altitudes?{.task} 3. What is the relationship between elk and wolves?{.task} # Icy tops{.objective .objective4}  Continue up the trail as it winds toward the mountain’s peak, where the landscape transforms dramatically. Snow and ice cover most of the terrain due to the lower temperatures found at higher altitudes. In temperate mountain ranges, these icy conditions often persist year-round, with only brief summer thaws before snow returns. Even in mountain ranges closer to the equator, high-altitude temperatures can still drop low enough to sustain snow and ice at the summit. Notice that the climate at the mountain top is extreme and few plants can survive because freezing temperatures lock water in ice, making it inaccessible to their roots. Look up and all around you. What do you notice about the correlation between tree coverage and altitude? **Quick Fire Questions** 1. How does the climate change further up the mountain?{.task} 2. Why do trees not grow at the highest point?{.task} # Surviving the icy landscape{.objective .objective5}  Moving forward toward the mountain's peak, you may encounter a few remarkable animals adapted to this rugged and inhospitable environment. The ibex and snow leopard are two species that coexist in these challenging conditions. The ibex, known for its distinctive curved horns, is well-adapted to the steep, rocky terrain. Its specially designed concave hooves, with edges for better grip, enable it to navigate the hard, uneven surfaces that most animals can’t. This adaptation provides a crucial advantage for evading predators. Can you spot the snow leopard? This big cat is typically found at the mountain’s highest elevations, where they are well-adapted to freezing temperatures. Their large, flat paws increase surface area, making it easier to walk on snow without sinking into it, while their compact bodies minimize heat loss by reducing surface area relative to volume. Both the snow leopard and ibex are insulated by thick fur, which helps them retain body heat in the extreme cold, maintaining a stable body temperature despite the harsh environment. **Quick Fire Questions** 1. How is the ibex able to scale steep rocky terrains of the mountain?{.task} 2. How can snow leopards walk on snow without sinking?{.task} # The Mountain Panorama{.objective .objective6}  Climb up toward the mountain viewing platform, and you'll see the mountain landscape below as you retrace your footsteps. Check out the ibex navigating the rocky slopes and the signs of human activity at base camp at the foot of the mountain. Take a moment to appreciate the diverse flora that thrives in this rugged environment, including hardy shrubs and resilient evergreens. This vantage point offers a perfect view of the diverse ecosystems at different altitudes. Using the panorama and map, what do you notice about the unique geological features, such as rock formations and valleys, that shape the terrain? **Quick Fire Questions** 1. How does elevation influence vegetation?{.task} 2. How does elevation influence activity?{.task} # Cross-Curricular Links **Geography** Ask students to create an infographic of global mountain ranges, including an example near the equator, in temperate regions, close to the poles, along coasts and inland. Each example should highlight the biome’s climate and features and, overall, draw a conclusion as a summary of similarities and differences based on their geographical location. Each example should highlight the biome’s climate and features and overall, draw a conclusion as a summary of similarities and differences based on their geographical location. **Art & Design** Create a landscape piece of a typical mountain range, using a choice of style. Students could use pastels, pencils, charcoal or watercolors. **Download the Science Teacher Notes Notes Below** [](https://avnfs.com/uPEaik5IZSa3ZMNbAWACpqNfvGgdBgdcjsTBUXSDjvM?size=4035377&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Mountain+Ecosystem+SS+Version+Teacher+Notes.pdf) **Download the Geography Teacher Notes Below** [](https://avnfs.com/0Dqz5-Hm-DkS_91yLsJSpMZw1-l-Bqx0aPhmUmBNlqc?size=4014379&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Mountain+Ecosystem+Teacher+Notes+EE.pdf) ## Download the Science Student Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/S7UzPo9kZ0Vi1cSpmkOYT4IP9QZeUBaabkRH3-Kb2LI?size=4147097&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Mountain+Ecosystem+SS+Version+Student+Version.pdf) ## Download the Geography Student Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/5kWrnhHP5umikbYkY_Fy3cxHyRbVuPcrkovsxSzttj8?size=4126335&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Mountain+Ecosystem+Student+Version+EE.pdf)