The Interior Yukon-Alaska alpine tundraecoregion (WWF ID: NA1111) covers alpine, sub-alpine, and boreal forest areas along the cordillera (chain of mountain ranges) of Interior Alaska and south-central Yukon Territory. Geologically, they are the disjunct uplands of the Yukon-Tanana Terrane plus a southern extension of the Brooks Range. The cover is extensive 'dark taiga' of closed spruce forest, open forest of other species (aspen, willow, pine, fir), and alpine vegetation at higher altitudes.[1][2][3][4] The region is mostly wilderness and relatively untouched by human development.
The valleys below these ridges are of the 'Interior Alaska-Yukon lowland taiga' ecoregion, with the Yukon River on the north and the Tanana River on the south. The mean elevation is 837 metres (2,746 ft), the highest is 2,745 metres (9,006 ft).[3]
Climateedit
The climate of the ecoregion is Tundra climate (Köppen climate classification ET), a local climate in which at least one month has an average temperature high enough to melt snow (0 °C (32 °F)), but no month with an average temperature in excess of 10 °C (50 °F).[5][6] The area is affected by a rain shadow effect caused by the Alaska Range to the south screening storms from the Gulf of Alaska. Average annual precipitation at Fairbanks is 287 mm/year; precipitation may reach 600 mm/year in the higher elevations. Permafrost is found at the higher elevations and more northerly extents of the ecoregion.[4]
Flora and faunaedit
The most common trees are white spruce (Picea glauca) and black spruce (Picea mariana). 32% of the region is closed needle-leaf evergreen forest, 26% is other types of open and closed forest, 20% shrub, 16% herbaceous vegetation, and rest bare ground or water.[3]
^ ab"Interior Yukon-Alaska alpine tundra". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
^"Map of Ecoregions 2017". Resolve, using WWF data. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
^ abcd"Interior Yukon-Alaska alpine tundra". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
^ abc"Interior Yukon-Alaska alpine tundra". The Encyclopedia of Earth. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
^Kottek, M., J. Grieser, C. Beck, B. Rudolf, and F. Rubel, 2006. "World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated" (PDF). Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Dataset - Koppen climate classifications". World Bank. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
November 30, 2023
interior, yukon, alaska, alpine, tundra, interior, yukon, alaska, alpine, tundra, ecoregion, na1111, covers, alpine, alpine, boreal, forest, areas, along, cordillera, chain, mountain, ranges, interior, alaska, south, central, yukon, territory, geologically, th. The Interior Yukon Alaska alpine tundra ecoregion WWF ID NA1111 covers alpine sub alpine and boreal forest areas along the cordillera chain of mountain ranges of Interior Alaska and south central Yukon Territory Geologically they are the disjunct uplands of the Yukon Tanana Terrane plus a southern extension of the Brooks Range The cover is extensive dark taiga of closed spruce forest open forest of other species aspen willow pine fir and alpine vegetation at higher altitudes 1 2 3 4 The region is mostly wilderness and relatively untouched by human development Interior Yukon Alaska alpine tundraEagle Summit Steese National Conservation Area AlaskaEcoregion territory in green EcologyRealmNearcticBiomeTundraGeographyArea233 172 km2 90 028 sq mi CountryUnited States CanadaCoordinates64 45 N 143 45 W 64 75 N 143 75 W 64 75 143 75 Contents 1 Location and description 2 Climate 3 Flora and fauna 4 Protected areas 5 See also 6 ReferencesLocation and description editInterior Alaska is between the Alaska Range to the south and the Brooks Range to the north The mountains of this interior region include the Kuskokwim Mountains in the western interior the Ray Mountains north of Tanana Alaska and Phillip Smith Mountains southern spur of the Brooks Range and the White Mountains Alaska that run in an arc north and east of Fairbanks Collectively this physiographic province is known as the Yukon Tanana Uplands geologically the Yukon Tanana Terrane The valleys below these ridges are of the Interior Alaska Yukon lowland taiga ecoregion with the Yukon River on the north and the Tanana River on the south The mean elevation is 837 metres 2 746 ft the highest is 2 745 metres 9 006 ft 3 Climate editThe climate of the ecoregion is Tundra climate Koppen climate classification ET a local climate in which at least one month has an average temperature high enough to melt snow 0 C 32 F but no month with an average temperature in excess of 10 C 50 F 5 6 The area is affected by a rain shadow effect caused by the Alaska Range to the south screening storms from the Gulf of Alaska Average annual precipitation at Fairbanks is 287 mm year precipitation may reach 600 mm year in the higher elevations Permafrost is found at the higher elevations and more northerly extents of the ecoregion 4 Flora and fauna editThe most common trees are white spruce Picea glauca and black spruce Picea mariana 32 of the region is closed needle leaf evergreen forest 26 is other types of open and closed forest 20 shrub 16 herbaceous vegetation and rest bare ground or water 3 Mammals of the area include caribou Rangifer tarandus grizzly bear Ursus arctos black bear Ursus americanus Dall s sheep Ovis dalli moose Alces alces beaver Castor canadensis red fox Vulpes fulva wolf Canis lupus and hare genus Lepus 4 Protected areas editOver 17 of the ecoregion is officially protected 3 About 85 of the ecoregion is estimated to remain intact 1 The protected areas include Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve Chena River State Recreation Area Steese National Conservation Area White Mountains National Recreation AreaSee also editList of ecoregions in Canada WWF List of ecoregions in the United States WWF References edit a b Interior Yukon Alaska alpine tundra World Wildlife Federation Retrieved March 21 2020 Map of Ecoregions 2017 Resolve using WWF data Retrieved September 14 2019 a b c d Interior Yukon Alaska alpine tundra Digital Observatory for Protected Areas Retrieved August 1 2020 a b c Interior Yukon Alaska alpine tundra The Encyclopedia of Earth Retrieved August 28 2020 Kottek M J Grieser C Beck B Rudolf and F Rubel 2006 World Map of Koppen Geiger Climate Classification Updated PDF Gebruder Borntraeger 2006 Retrieved September 14 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Dataset Koppen climate classifications World Bank Retrieved September 14 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Interior Yukon Alaska alpine tundra amp oldid 1107009724, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
