Abstract for S16
Tropical High Montane Scrub & Grassland [does not occur in Canada]
Broussailles et prairies tropicales de haute montagne [absentes du Canada]
Tropical High Montane Scrub & Grassland is dominated by herbaceous perennials and woody shrubs or small-leaved low sub-woody species in high tropical mountains, where freezing and cryogenic processes occur. It occurs in all tropical high mountains worldwide, where it occupies the sub-nival altitudinal belt. The predominant growth forms are rosulate plants with deep taproots and several plants with densely cespitose root systems and or creeping prostrate habit. The canopy cover varies from very low to open or semi-open. Species have, in general, adapted to sliding or movement of the substrate due to the diurnal alternation of freezing and melting, which is a typical phenomenon of the high tropical mountains. Soils have marked cryogenic phenomena, mainly contraction and expansion, gelifluction and freeze fracture (gelifraction).
Source: Faber-Langendoen, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, D. Meidinger, C. Josse, A. Weakley, D. Tart, G. Navarro, B. Hoagland, S. Ponomarenko, J.-P. Saucier, G. Fults, E. Helmer. 2014. Classification and description of world formation types. Part I (Introduction) and Part II (Description of world formations). Hierarchy Revisions Working Group, Federal Geographic Data Committee, FGDC Secretariat, U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, VA, and NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
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