Moist alpines Scrub :These are found all along the Himalayas and on the higher hills near the Myanmar border. It has a low scrub, dense evergreen forest, consisting mainly of rhododendron and birch. Mosses and ferns cover the ground in patches. This region receives heavy snowfall.The abiotic factors (climate, temperature, soil, precipitation) of the moist alpine forests include freezing temperature and snow-covered land. Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and West Bengal have also identified these forests.
Climatic Conditions
- The climate varies from subarctic to arctic.
- The Moist Alpine Scrub receives heavy snowfall.
- Snow covers the ground generally for more than 5 months of the year.
- Summer temperatures average between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius.
- Winter temperatures are typically considerably below freezing.
- At elevations above 3000 meters, birch woods meet fir forests.
Fauna
- Larger mammals found in these forests include Snow leopards (Uncia uncia), Himalayan blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur), Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus), takin (Budorcas taxicolor), Himalayan musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster), Himalayan goral (Naemorhedus baileyi), and Himalayan serow (Nemorhaedus bailey).
- Himalayan marmots (Marmota himalayana), weasels, and pikas are among the smaller animals.
Also Read : Sub-alpine Forest
