Plant Ecology in a Changing World
  • Topics
    • Topic Overview
    • Biomes and Climates in a Changing World >
      • Adaptation, biodiversity, and environment
      • Climate constrains plant distributions
      • Biome and climate relationships
      • Deserts
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      • Plant microclimate 1
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    • Resource Allocation Changes with Environment >
      • Architecture and canopy processes
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    • Plant Responses to a Changing World >
      • Global changes occurring today
      • Invasive species
      • Atmospheric CO2 impacts plant
      • C3/C4 photosynthesis and climate
      • Climate change and the global carbon cycle
      • Climate warming and its impacts
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      • Remember Utah's past and envision our future
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Page 659

The Henry Mountains

One of the last mountain ranges to be explored in the lower 48 states was the Henry Mountains of southern Utah. This volvanic range is east of Capitol Reef NP and west of Canyonlands NP. Named for the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution (Joseph Henry), Mount Ellen in the Henry Mountains reaches a height of 3,512 m (11,522 feet). Not surprisingly with desert shrublands at the lowest elevations and alpine fields at the top, there are changes in coniferous vegetation along this elevation gradient.

I can list the different conifers along this gradient in order of first appearance from the lowest elevations as
  • Juniperus osteosperma (Utah juniper)
  • Pinus edulis (piñon pine)
  • Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine)
  • Pseudostuga menziesii (Douglas fir)
  • Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir)
  • Pinus longeava (bristlecone pine)
Picture


Ok, now I need to prepare for a lecture on climate, drought tolerance, and monsoonal rains as they relate to this fascinating vegetation distribution gradient.
Picture
 
Images from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Mountains,_Utah,_2005-06-01.jpg
​and http://www.capitolreef.org/images/Henry-Mountains.jpg
​
Jim Ehleringer, University of Utah