Montane grasslands and shrublands are abiome defined by theWorld Wide Fund for Nature.[1] The termmontane in the name of the biome refers to high elevation, rather than the ecological term that denotes the region below thetreeline. The biome includes high-elevation (montane andalpine)grasslands andshrublands around the world, including thepuna andpáramo in South America,subalpine heath in New Guinea and East Africa,steppes of the Tibetan plateaus, and other similar subalpine habitats.[1]Drier subtropical montane grasslands, savannas, and woodlands include theEthiopian Highlands, theZambezian montane grasslands and woodlands, and the montane habitats of southeastern Africa.[1][2][3]
The páramos of the northernAndes are the most extensive examples of the habitat type. Although ecoregion biotas are most diverse in the Andes, these ecosystems are distinctive wherever they occur in the tropics. The heathlands and moorlands of East Africa (e.g.,Mount Kilimanjaro,Mount Kenya,Rwenzori Mountains),Mount Kinabalu of Borneo, and theCentral Range of New Guinea are all limited in extent, isolated, and support endemic plants and animals.[1]The plants and animals of tropical montane páramos display striking adaptations to cool, wet conditions and intense sunlight. Around the world, characteristic plants of these habitats display features such asrosette structures, waxy surfaces, and abundantpilosity.[1]
The montane grasslands of theTibetan Plateau still support relatively intact migrations of Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsoni) and kiang, or Tibetan wild ass (Equus hemionus). A unique feature of many tropical páramos is the presence of giant rosette plants from a variety of plant families, such asLobelia (Africa),Puya (South America),Cyathea (New Guinea), andArgyroxiphium (Hawai’i). These plant forms can reach elevations of 4,500–4,600 metres (14,800–15,100 ft) above sea level.[1]
This article incorporates text available under theCC BY-SA 3.0 license.World Wide Fund for Nature."Montane Grasslands and Shrubland Ecoregions".Archived from the original on 2011-04-01. Retrieved2019-05-29.
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