Ecology
The ecology of the National Forest are typical for the western side of the southern Sierra Nevada: distributions of species are largely governed by climate, which is strongly dependent on altitude. The ecology can be described by biotic zones, which are marked by either a tree indicator species, or by a lack of trees. The biotic zones include the foothill woodland zone from 1,000 to 3,000 feet (300 to 910 m) (interior live oak), the lower montane zone from 3,000 to 7,000 feet (910 to 2,100 m) (Yellow pine), the upper montane zone from 7,000 to 9,000 feet (2,100 to 2,700 m) (Lodgepole pine/Red fir), the subalpine zone from 9,000 to 9,500 feet (2,700 to 2,900 m) (Whitebark pine), and the alpine zone from 9,500 feet (2,900 m) (above the tree line).
In addition, some 383,000 acres (598 sq mi; 1,550 km2) of the forest are old growth, containing Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), Red Fir (Abies magnifica).
Read more about this topic: Sierra National Forest
Famous quotes containing the word ecology:
“... the fundamental principles of ecology govern our lives wherever we live, and ... we must wake up to this fact or be lost.”
—Karin Sheldon (b. c. 1945)