Abiotic Factors
Slope: the Andes Mountains can have a slope anywhere a 45-degree angle to 15-degree angle. There are certain parts in the mountains where the land is flat but the majority consists of steep slopes and various rugged terrains sometimes going into sheer cliffs.
Climate
Highland
The entire length of the Andes Mountain range is classified in the Köppen Climate Classification System as a highland climate. Also called a "mountain climate," highland climates are found in alpine biomes, typically high plateaus and mountain ranges, and feature cool temperatures that get colder as climbers reach higher altitudes. Areas considered highland climates include places such as the American Rocky Mountains and European Alps. They see less than a foot of annual rainfall and temperatures ranging from -2° F to 50° F.
Humid Middle Latitude
The humid middle latitude climate zone of Chile, South America's long, narrow country in the southwest, is divided into two biome classifications since it covers so much distance, resulting in sometimes vast differences in terrain and bodies of water. All humid middle latitude regions, also known as temperate regions, are characterized by dry, hot summers and damp, cold winters. Northern Chile is further categorized as a Mediterranean climate subgroup and is characterized by extremely dry summers, and summer wildfires are an annual concern. The southern coast of Chile surrounding the Andes Mountain base is considered a moist continental climate subgroup, as it experiences vast seasonal changes between summer and winter, as well as a virtually nonexistent dry season.
Tropical Moist
In Columbia, Ecuador, and Peru, the areas surrounding the base of the Andes Mountains are considered tropical moist climates. These climate regions extend north and south of the equator to about 15° to 25° latitude and are characterized by their year-round high temperatures and precipitation levels. The base areas of the Andes Mountains in Columbia are classified as a tropical wet climate and are characterized by daily rains and minimum temperature changes. These regions are the home of the famed "cloud forests" of the Andes Mountains, where high surface heat and humidity meets cold mountain air to create cumulonimbus and cumulus clouds in the early afternoon each day. In Ecuador and Peru, the base of the Andes is further classified as wet-dry tropical climates or simply savanna climate and features dry winters and light to moderate rains during the summer.
Soil: The soil of the Andes Mountains has several varieties throughout the mountain range depending on the elevation and the distance from the equator. In the northern region where the area is more tropical, the soil is mostly fertile and soft. While in the southern and higher regions of the mountain range the soil is hard and rock , and can only give life the hardiest of plants and herbs.
Biotic Factors
Human Interference: The Mountains are host to large ore and salt deposits and some of its eastern fold act as traps for commercially exploitable amounts of hydrocarbons. In the forelands of the Atacama Desert some of the largest porphyry copper mineralizations occurs making Chile and Peru, the largest exporters of copper in the world. On top of that is the excessive amount of hunting and poaching occurring in both the tropical and freezing regions of the mountains. These two factors lead to territory invasion, species endangerment and general environmental destruction.
Plant Life: The flora of the Andes Mountains is typically dominated by deciduous woodland, shrub and xeric vegetation that is scattered throughout the slopes. A result of the excessive forestry in the region, certain species of evergreen trees have become an endangered species. The once gigantic Polylepis forest, that dominated most of teh mountains is now only 1% of its original size. Despite these many changes Andes Mountains are still home to some of the most diverse and hardy plant-life on earth
Animal Life: The diversity of animals in the Andes is high, with almost 600 species of mammals (13% endemic), more than 1,700 species of birds (about 1/3 endemic), more than 600 species of reptiles (about 45% endemic), and almost 400 species of fish. Each species plays a different vital part in keeping the environment stable. The top carnivores eat everything to keep species from over producing. The smaller carnivores handle the smaller prey. The consumers keep the bug, shrub and greenery under control and the insects take care of the toxins and decomposition.
Plant Life: The flora of the Andes Mountains is typically dominated by deciduous woodland, shrub and xeric vegetation that is scattered throughout the slopes. A result of the excessive forestry in the region, certain species of evergreen trees have become an endangered species. The once gigantic Polylepis forest, that dominated most of teh mountains is now only 1% of its original size. Despite these many changes Andes Mountains are still home to some of the most diverse and hardy plant-life on earth
Animal Life: The diversity of animals in the Andes is high, with almost 600 species of mammals (13% endemic), more than 1,700 species of birds (about 1/3 endemic), more than 600 species of reptiles (about 45% endemic), and almost 400 species of fish. Each species plays a different vital part in keeping the environment stable. The top carnivores eat everything to keep species from over producing. The smaller carnivores handle the smaller prey. The consumers keep the bug, shrub and greenery under control and the insects take care of the toxins and decomposition.
Density Dependent Factors
· Lack of food as a result of increased competition.
· Death of newborns because of parents’ inability to bring back enough food to support both themselves and their offspring.
· Animal territory is impeded on as more and more offspring make stake out land for themselves.
· Water supply is fought after.
· Disease spreads faster among animals.
· Death of newborns because of parents’ inability to bring back enough food to support both themselves and their offspring.
· Animal territory is impeded on as more and more offspring make stake out land for themselves.
· Water supply is fought after.
· Disease spreads faster among animals.
Density Independent Factors
· Earthquakes are common among mountainous regions and are therefore quite common among the Andes Mountains.
· Since Glaciers in the mountains are prone to melting only in summer periods there is less water in the Andes than is lower altitude areas.
· Human deforestation and poaching have led to smaller habits, fewer predators to keep the population of consumers under control, as well as less food for consumers.
· Since Glaciers in the mountains are prone to melting only in summer periods there is less water in the Andes than is lower altitude areas.
· Human deforestation and poaching have led to smaller habits, fewer predators to keep the population of consumers under control, as well as less food for consumers.
