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The climate and ecology of different locations on the globe naturally separate into life zones, depending on elevation, latitude, and location. The generally strong dependency on elevation is known as altitudinal zonation: the average temperature of a location decreases as the elevation increases.
The general effect of elevation depends on atmospheric physics. However, the specific climate and ecology of any particular location depends on specific features of that location. This article provides a list of life zones by region, in order to illustrate the features of life zones for regions around the globe.
Foothill zone, 300 – 800 m (Eastern Alps), 150 – 300 m (Central Uplands), oak limit (Quercus spp.). European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Sessile oak (Quercus petraea), Pedunculate oak or English oak (Quercus robur), European or common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and small-leaved Lime (Tilia cordata). Grape crop limit (Vitis spp.), around 600 m, Switzerland, North, south-facing slopes, estimated 7.5 °C. Crops: maize for feed; sweet maize (Zea mays).
Montane zone, 800 – 1,200 m (Eastern Alps), 450 – 650 m (Central Uplands), rye (Secale cereale) crop limit and wheat (Triticum spp.) crop limit.
Mid-Montane zone, 1,000 – 1,400 m (Eastern Alps), 650 – 800 m (Central Uplands). Limit of the whole year populated areas, limit of a growing season of 100 days.
Kilimanjaro Base at around 1,300, crops at around 1,300 - 1,800 m (West Slope is too dry): Coffee (Coffea arabica), Banana (Musa spp.), Mango (Mangifera indica), Avocado (Persea americana). Traditional agriculture uses a multilayer system to save water: Bananas are under the shadows of mango trees, avocado trees and Albizia schimperiana var. amaniensis, Coffee bushes and vegetables are under the shadows of bananas;[9][10][11]
Subtropical moist broadleaf forests, between 1,400 and 3,000 m (4,600 and 9,800 ft), max. 3,300 m. Bamboo Zone needs quite a lot of water, it is missing at the Kilimanjaro because of the agriculture;
Timberline forest, "goat's beard" lichen (Usnea spp.), between 3,000 and 3,500 m (9,800 and 11,500 ft);
Tree line, 2,700–3,000 m (8,900–9,800 ft), max. 3,500 m (Coniferae are absent);
Heathland and chaparral, between 3,200 and 3,800 m (10,500 and 12,500 ft). Giant Lobelias, up to ca. 4,000 m; Subalpine forests with Ericaceae up to 4,100 m (as high as 10 m);
Afro-alpine zone, above about 3,800 m (12,500 ft), giant groundsels up to 4,500 m;
Nival zone, usually above 4,500 m (14,800 ft).
Vulcano Kibo - Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m rock and ice. As the conifers are absent, the tree line is lower.[12][13]
In the altitudes between 3,400 and 4,500 m (11,200 and 14,800 ft) some of the most extreme examples of adaptations can be found. At altitudes below 3,400 m (11,200 ft) the daily temperature fluctuations are less extreme, the average daily temperature steadily increases, and the growth forms and ecology of the Dendroseneico reflect the increased influence of biotic factors (such as competition for light) over abiotic factors (such as nightly frost).[15]
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountains contain the glacier nearest of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere. The landmarks 4,506 m and 4,680 m at the end of the glacier can be reached through the cable car from Ganhaizi (Tibetan for dry lake, a grassland with conifers at 3,400 m). The mountain desert begins around 4,000 m. The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan (UNESCO World Heritage Site) encompasses the watershed areas of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Mekong (Lan Cang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers and is the joint of the Palearctic realm and the Indomalayan realm.
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Hemp, Andreas (2006a). "The banana forests of Kilimanjaro. Biodiversity and conservation of the agroforestry system of the Chagga Home Gardens". Biodiversity and Conservation. 15 (4): 1193–1217. doi:10.1007/s10531-004-8230-8.
Hemp, Claudia (2005). "The Chagga Home Gardens – relict areas for endemic Saltatoria Species (Insecta: Orthoptera) on Mt. Kilimanjaro". Biodiversity and Conservation. 125 (2): 203–210. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2005.03.018.
Mayer, Hannes[in German] (1974). Wälder des Ostalpenraumes. Standort, Aufbau und waldbaulichen Bedeutung der wichtigsten Waldgesellschaften in den Ostalpen samt Vorland. Ökologie der Wälder und Landschaften vol. 3. Stuttgart, New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 344. ISBN3-437-30166-7.
Mayer, Hannes (1984). Wälder Europas. Stuttgart, New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 691. ISBN3-437-30441-0. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
Mayer, Hannes (1988). Die Wälder Korsikas. Wanderungen durch ein Waldparadies. Stuttgart, New York: Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 79. ISBN3-437-30586-7.
Wittmann, O. (1983). Standortkundliche Landschaftsgliederung von Bayern. Materialien. Vol. 21. München: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Landesentwicklung und Umweltfragen.
