Rocky Mountains BioProvince

This BioProvince (as defined by Armen Takhtajan) comprises the Rocky Mountains together with associated ranges in British Colombia, Oregon (the Blue and Wallowa mountains), Utah (Uinta Mountains) and New Mexico. The geology is a complex mixture of igneous and metamorphic rocks with younger sedimentary rock on the southern margins. The north-central ranges including the Tetons are composed of rocks of Paleozoic and Mesozoic ages but these cover cores of Proterozoic and Archean igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from 1.2 billion (e.g. Tetons) to more than 3.3 billion years (Beartooth Mountains). The Rockies have a typical highland climate with an average winter temperature of about -14 °C and average snowfall of about 29.0 cm. In summer average temperature goes up to about 28°C.  However, in the north-central Rockies the climate varies from west to east with the western edge experiencing the moderating effects of maritime influence and the eastern edge experiencing a harsher more continental regime. The flora includes more than 800 endemic species, several endemic genera, but no endemic families.

The following accounts for this BioProvince have been written or will be written with particular reference to endemic and locally important species. Accounts available are displayed in green or yellow. Those displayed in red are either in the pipeline or awaiting expert contributions.

 

Index
Major Ecosystems
Endemic Vascular Plant Flora
Bryophyte Flora
Fungus Flora
Lichen Flora
Invertebrate Fauna
Amphibian Fauna
Reptile Fauna
Bird Fauna
Mammal Fauna
Conservation Status