​​Abiotic  Characteristics 

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  • Water: Water is a very important factor in the forest. Water provides liquid for all of the animals and all of the trees and plants.
  • Sunlight: Sunlight gives new life to the forest plants and animals in the early spring. In the spring the sun melts the snow and provides lots of water for all the forest.
  • Soil: Depending on the area, the soil can either be very dry or very moist. Without the soil in the forest the trees would not have any nutrients. The soil plays an important role by sucking in water so that the roots can take it in.
  • Air: Air is a very important factor in the Montane. The trees and plants and mammals all depend on air to live.  Without air there would not be any animals or plants.
  • Temperature: As the temperature increases it gets hotter and it is hard for the plants and animals to adapt to the rapid changing climate.
  • Wind: When wind blows in the montane it blows seeds around which spreads the seeds and causes new trees to sprout.    
    Although the wind is good it can also cause many problems in the ecosystem. Harsh winds can destroy animal homes and possibly kill the animals.
    ​These are some of the Abiotic Characteristics in the Montane Mixed Conifer Ecosystem
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Major Producers

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Some of the major producers in the montane are...
  • The Blue Spruce Tree
Their scientific name is Picea pungens. It is the state tree of Colorado and Utah. It lives in the montane forests.They live in areas that have moderate sunlight and little water. One of their adaptations is when the  stem sprouts from the seed it reaches for the light.  
  • Douglas Fir
The Douglas fir can be used as medicine for colds. It has green needles. This tree, live in the mountains. Stretching from Washington to California. The Douglas fir has adapted to forest fires they have changed their bark to make it thicker.
  • The Chokecherry 
The chokecherry is a bush that gives off berries.  It lives in the montane.  It gives berries off to help support the deer and the bears.  The plant is native to North America. It's scientific name is Prunus virginiana.The chokecherry bush has partly adapted to shade. The plant used to not be able to tolerate shade at all.  
  • Other Major Producers
Other major producers are raspberry bushes, serviceberry, and the willow. These plants are major producers and they give off things to help other parts of the ecosystem. They all live in the middle of the ecosystem.

Major Consumers 

  • Herbivores
The Mule Deer eats almost all vegetation. It usually prefers rocky habitats. The Mule Deer's adaptations are its warm fur. This keep it warm during the cold winter season.

The Elk eats mostly grass, shrubs, and tree leaves. It usually lives in woodland habitats.  Some of the elk's adaptations that help them survive are they have special stomachs to help them digest food. Their teeth are also helpful they help rip off leaves and stems.
  • Carnivores
 ​The coyote's habitat is mostly grassland but it moves habitats very quickly. They can even be found in cities. The coyote has many adaptations like its claws that let it rip through food and its camouflage that lets it hide.  Also its speed that helps it catch its prey. Prey species include deer, sheep, rabbits, rodents, and birds.That is the diet of the coyote.
  • Omnivores 
The Black Bears habitat is mostly vegetation and thick branches. The black bear usually eats meat like fish and also berries and other vegetation. The black bears adaptations are their teeth and it can carry lots of food in its mouth.

The Squirrels usually eat nuts, fruits, and seeds but it also eats insects .The squirrels lives in a lot of places and usually they hide in holes and under things.The Squirrels adaptations are its strong legs, its sense of smell, and its memory. 

Birds

flicker woodpecker
  • Vulture  
 A bird of the montane zone is the Vulture. the vulture's habitat is not in a nest so the Vulture lays his eggs in protected places. Caves, large tree cavities, or abandoned barns are some examples . Vultures only get their food from animals that are dead and that's how they survive.
  • Great Horned Owl: The Great Horned Owl is a predator. Its habitat is usually abandoned magpie, eagle, hawk, or heron nests in sturdy treetops.The Great Horned Owls adaptations to help them survive is that they are a very wise bird and strong bird. The Great Horned Owl's diet is mostly small mammals like mice, rabbits, and more.
  • Woodpecker: It pecks  a cavity in the tree trunk to make its habitat. Their beak is its adaption. The Woodpecker eats small insects under trees for their diet.
  • Bald Eagle: The Bald Eagle's habitat is built of sticks in sturdy trees. It eats mostly fish but also ducks. The Bald Eagle's adaptions that help them survive is they have razor sharp claws and bumpy skin.
  • ​Common raven:
Their habitat is usually in large obvious nests built in tall trees. The Common Raven usually eats dead animals. The Common Ravens adaptations is that it is really good at flying and it is very inteligent.
  • Golden Eagle: These birds build large cup shaped nests built of sticks. The golden eagle eats small rodents, snakes and other birds. The Golden Eagle's adaptations are his long claws and beak.

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​

Human  Impacts 

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The human culture wants to expand into parts of the montane, knocking out all parts of the ecosystem.  Some kill animals and plants in the process. We also can start wildfires creating mass death in plants and wildlife.
A huge problem in the montane is humans expanding into the forest, building houses and clearing trees for ski resorts.

 Work Cited

http://www.nps.gov/articles/montane-human-impacts.htm
http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_arme6.pdf
http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_sara2.pdf
http://www.nps.gov/articles/montane-human-impacts.htm
http://www.mountain-forecast.com/
http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/TreeVarieties/ColoradoBlueSpruce.aspx
https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Plants/Douglas-Fir.aspx
​https://sites.google.com/site/themontanecordillerabc/home/soil-vegetation
​https://mountainplover.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/prunus-virginiana-chokecherry-xg-2008july18-lah-4505.jpg
https://www.google.com/search?q=human%20impacts%20in%20the%20montane&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS669US669&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=614&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjC0_af2dTJAhVQnYMKHSdGDmEQ_AUIBigB&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=vc5YvjqR_wYh5M%3A
https://www.google.com/search?q=woodpecker&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS669US669&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=614&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiZqK7_2NTJAhWxnoMKHf8BCvwQ_AUIBigB&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=pt6Dy8Y7YO6CwM%3A
https://www.google.com/search?q=sunlight&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS669US669&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=614&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiv4e3G2NTJAhVyjoMKHX98BfoQ_AUIBigB&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=-ulcbB-rMhSKOM%3A
https://www.google.com/search?q=water&espv=2&rlz=1CAACAG_enUS669US669&biw=1366&bih=614&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi188qU2NTJAhWJj4MKHfEBByMQ_AUIBigB&safe=active&ssui=on#imgrc=l2jE_8lH_A1n3M%3A
http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_sara2.pdf
​​https://mmeara.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/pic-flamb-male-aur1.jpg