View source for Northern transitional alpine forests

{{Short description|Temperate coniferous forest ecoregion in British Columbia, Canada}}
{{Infobox ecoregion
|name                = Northern transitional alpine forests
|image               = Telkwa High Road near Moricetown IMG 6125a.jpg
|image_size          =
|image_alt           =
|caption             = Transitional alpine forest just south of [[Witset]]
|map                 = Northern transitional alpine forests map.svg
|map_size            = 250px
|map_alt             =
|map_caption         =
|biogeographic_realm = [[Nearctic realm|Nearctic]]
|biome               = [[temperate coniferous forest]]s
|animals             =
|bird_species        = 144 <ref name=Atlas>{{Cite web|title=The Atlas of Global Conservation|url=http://maps.tnc.org/globalmaps.html|access-date=2020-08-23|website=maps.tnc.org|archive-date=2012-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305201312/http://maps.tnc.org/globalmaps.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|mammal_species      = 51 <ref name=Atlas/>
|border              = [[British Columbia mainland coastal forests]]
|border1             = [[Central British Columbia Mountain forests]]
|border2             = [[Fraser Plateau and Basin complex]]
|border3             = [[Northern Cordillera forests]]
|border4             = [[Pacific Coastal Mountain icefields and tundra]]
|borders             =
|area                = 25641
|country             = [[Canada]]
|state               = [[British Columbia]]
|region_type         = Provinces
|elevation           =
|coordinates         =
|geology             =
|seas                =
|rivers              =
|climate             =
|soil                =
|conservation        = Vulnerable
|global200           =
|habitat_loss        = 0
|habitat_loss_ref    = <ref name=Atlas/>
|protected           = 1.57
|protected_ref       = <ref name=Atlas/>
|embedded            =
}}
'''Northern transitional alpine forests''' is a [[temperate coniferous forest]] [[ecoregion]] in the northwestern [[Interior of British Columbia|interior]] of [[British Columbia]], as defined by the [[World Wildlife Fund]] (WWF) categorization system.
==Setting==
This ecoregion occupies a [[Basin and range topography|transitional region]] of mountains and valleys between the [[Coast Ranges]] to the west and the [[Omineca Mountains]] to the east. It varies greatly in elevation from the [[Glacier|heavily glacierized areas]] of the [[Hazelton Mountains|Hazelton]] and [[Skeena Mountains|Skeena]] mountains between {{convert|2500-2800|m|ft|abbr=on}}, to the [[Nass River|Nass]] and [[Skeena River|Skeena]] river valleys below {{convert|750|m|ft|abbr=on}}.
==Climate==
This ecoregion varies greatly depending on its proximity to the Pacific coast. In the west it has a [[Humid continental climate|warm humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] '' Dsb '') with warm summers and cold winters. In the east it has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] '' Dfc '') with cool summers and cold winters. Precipitation ranges from 2500mm (98.4 in) in the western coastal areas of the [[Nass River]] valley, to 600mm (23.6 in) in the lower elevations of the interior [[Bulkley Ranges]]. Temperature varies greatly with elevation, but averages around 13°C (55.4°F) in the summer and -9.5°C (14.9°F) in the winter.
==Ecology==
===Flora===
The lower mountains and valleys are dominated by [[western red cedar]], [[western hemlock]], and [[mountain hemlock]]. Higher elevations are dominated by [[lodgepole pine]], [[engelmann spruce]], and [[alpine fir]], though to a lesser extent in the west of the ecoregion. Vegetation in the alpine tundra includes discontinuous patches of low-growing [[Ericaceae|heather]], [[Carex|sedge]], and [[mountain avens]].
===Fauna===
Fauna found throughout this ecoregion include [[grizzly bear]], [[American black bear]], [[moose]], [[mountain goat]], [[red fox]], and [[wolves]]. Parts are also populated by [[Boreal woodland caribou|woodland caribou]], [[black-tailed deer]], [[Castor canadensis|beaver]], [[wolverine]], [[Martes americana|marten]], [[snowshoe hare]], [[ptarmigan]], and [[grouse]].
==See also==
*[[List of ecoregions in Canada (WWF)]]
*[[Babine Mountains Provincial Park]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{WWF ecoregion|name=Northern transitional alpine forests|id=na0521}}
{{Nearctic temperate coniferous forests|state=collapsed}}
{{coord missing|British Columbia}}
[[Category:Ecozones and ecoregions of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Forests of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Nearctic ecoregions]]
[[Category:Temperate coniferous forests]]