What changes occur in biodiversity by increasing altitude from the earth's surface?
Question
What changes occur in biodiversity by increasing altitude from the earth's surface?
Solution
As we increase altitude from the Earth's surface, several changes occur in biodiversity. Here are the steps to understand these changes:
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Lower Altitudes: At lower altitudes, the climate is generally warmer and there is more available oxygen. This leads to a higher biodiversity as more species can survive and thrive in these conditions. You'll find a wide variety of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and other organisms.
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Mid Altitudes: As we move to mid altitudes, the climate becomes cooler and the oxygen level starts to decrease. The biodiversity decreases as not all species can adapt to these conditions. However, you'll still find a good variety of species, including those adapted to cooler climates.
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Higher Altitudes: At higher altitudes, the climate is much cooler, and the oxygen level is significantly lower. The biodiversity is much lower here as only a few species can survive in these harsh conditions. You'll mostly find species that are specifically adapted to cold climates and low oxygen levels.
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Extreme Altitudes: At extreme altitudes, the conditions are very harsh with extremely cold temperatures and very low oxygen levels. The biodiversity is very low, with only a few species able to survive. These are usually species that are highly specialized and adapted to these extreme conditions.
In summary, as we increase altitude from the Earth's surface, the biodiversity generally decreases due to the cooler temperatures and lower oxygen levels. However, the species that do live at higher altitudes are often highly adapted and specialized for these conditions.
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