THE FRENCH ALPS
The temperate evergreen forests of southern Europe
include warm summers and cool winters, perfect
for days of relaxation. The climate of the French
Alps are affected by warm Mediterranean air
flowing northward. Summer temperatures average
27°C, while winter averages 10°C. In terms of
rainfall, the summer averages, 5.6 cm of rain,
while winter averages 10.7 cm.
FAUNAL ADAPTION
In this region, faunal diversity is very high with
200 bird, 21 amphibian, 15 reptile, and 80 mammal
species. A few examples include golden eagles,
chamois, crested tits, mountain hares, salamandra
lanai, and gypaete. Alpine species are special in
that they have found ways to survive difficult
climatic conditions, resulting in a variety of unique
adaptations. For example, the Alpine salamander is
the only European amphibian to give birth to fully
developed young. Another example includes the
mountain hare, the stoat, and the ptarmigan, who
change their brown coats to white in winter to
avoid predation.
CI TATI ONS
TRAVEL TO:
?Abiotic Factors.? The Alpine Biome,
alpine-mountain.weebly.com/abiotic-factors.html.
?Climate & amp; Weather in the French Alps.? Climate
and Weather in the French Alps,
gitelink.com/French-alps-weather.htm. The Conifer ous For ests of
?Coniferous Forests: Location, Temperature,
Precipitation, Plants and Animals.? Conserve Energy Souther n Eur ope
Future, 25 Dec. 2016,
www.conserve-energy-future.com/coniferous-forest.php.
?Fascinating Wildlife.? Alparc,
www.alparc.org/the-alps/fascinating-wildlife.
?Nature's Treasure Trove.? WWF,
wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/alps/area/
species2/.
?Southern Europe: The Alps of Northern Italy,
Southern France, Switzerland, and Slovenia.? WWF,
World Wildlife Fund,
www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0501.
?Symbiotic Relationships.? The Alpine Ibex - Home,
Experience the ethereal
alpineibex.weebly.com/symbiotic-relationships.html.
beauty of the Alps of
southern France on your
next vacation.
Am anda Shk reli
AP Bi ology E/ F ODD
FLORAL ADAPTATION
Of 4,500 vascular plant species nearly 8% of alpine
plant life are endemic. This uniqueness stems from the
variety of habitats in the Alps and the "harsh" conditions
that drive species to change and adapt. One example is
how plants above the forest line have evolved different
growth forms that allow them to survive harsh winds
and cold winters. Some plants form of flat cushions,
rosettes, or carpets to protect themselves from wind and
to resist the pressure of heavy snow. Others have large
root structures and ample underground organs that both
anchor the plant and act as a storage for water and
nutrients. For example, the net-leaved willow barely
reaches 10-15 cm in height, but has roots several meters
long. Examples of flora include, rusty-leaved alpenrose,
glacier buttercup, saxifraga biflora, alpine rock-jasmine,
digitalis purpurea, and centaurea jacea.
SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPSBIOTIC FACTORS
FOOD WEB
not affected. The adult ibex is neither gaining or losing,
INTERESTING FACTS ABIOTIC FACTORS
- The French Alps are one of the sunniest Examples of abiotic factors in the French Alps
areas in Europe, with generally over 2500 include, rock, rainfall, altitude, wind, climate,
hours of sunshine per year throughout the mountains, rivers, and bedrock. The river of
area. the region is the most important abiotic factor,
- The area records only about 90 days of as the Rhone river heavily influences the
rainfall a year, much of the rain falling in Alpine ecosystem by providing fresh water to
the form of short heavy showers. plant and animal life.
- With over 30,000 animal species and
13,000 plant species, the Alps are one of
the richest biodiversity "hotspots" in
Europe.
- There are 831 remote Alpine areas
completely unaffected by humans, 69 of
which are larger than 100 km²
An example of a par asitic relationship is between an Examples of biotic factors in the French Alps
Alpine Ibex and a tapeworm. The tapeworm can enter include vascular plants, such as 800 species of
the Ibex's body and live in its intestines and will mosses, 300 liverworts, 2500 lichens, more than
eventually make the Ibex extremely ill. One organism 5000 fungi, 80 mammal species, and 200 breeding
(the tapeworm) is benefiting and the other organism bird species. The vegetation of the region is the
(the ibex) is being harmed. An example of a most important biotic factor, as deep valleys are
commensalistic relationship is between an Alpine rich in a variety of habitats. Several trees include,
Ibex and grass. When the Ibex excretes its waste onto Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, and other
the grass, the grass is provided fertilizer and will be broad-leaved trees
able to grow. This is a commensalistic relationship
because one organism (the grass) is benefiting and the
other organism (the ibex) is not affected. An example
of a mutalistic relationship is the between an Alpine
Ibex and a baby Alpine Ibex. The adult ibex will
protect its child by herding it away from the steep
edges and cliffs. In this relationship, the baby ibex is
benefiting from this relationship and the adult ibex is
creating a mutualistic relationship.