Alpine and subalpine environments fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are alpine and subalpine environments?

Alpine and subalpine environments are cold mountain environments found at high elevations. They are shaped by low temperatures, frost, strong winds, seasonal snow, steep slopes, shallow soils and short growing seasons.

Alpine environments are the highest mountain environments. In alpine areas, conditions are usually too cold and exposed for trees to grow. Subalpine environments occur below the alpine zone and can include snow gum woodland, grasslands, heath, wetlands, rocky areas and mountain streams.

In NSW, alpine and subalpine environments are found in the Snowy Mountains, especially in Kosciuszko National Park. These environments are not found at Field of Mars Reserve or Lane Cove National Park because Sydney’s altitude and climate are much warmer and lower.

An alpine and subalpine environment.

Alpine herbfields in Kosciuszko National Park are shaped by cold, wind, snow and short growing seasons.

Where are alpine and subalpine environments found?

Alpine and subalpine environments are found in high mountain areas. In Australia, they occur in the Australian Alps across parts of NSW, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

In NSW, these environments are mainly found in Kosciuszko National Park. The park includes Australia’s highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko, and protects alpine, subalpine, montane forest, grassland, wetland, river and cave environments.

Alpine and subalpine environments are found in high mountain areas such as Kosciuszko National Park.

What living and non-living features make up alpine and subalpine environments?

Living features include low herbs, grasses, sedges, shrubs, snow gums, mosses, lichens, fungi, insects, spiders, reptiles, frogs, birds and mammals. Some alpine plant communities include herbfields, heathlands, grasslands, bogs, fens and subalpine woodlands.

Non-living features include cold air, frost, snow, wind, sunlight, water, rocks, soil, slope and altitude. Snowmelt, rainfall, bogs, fens and mountain streams are important because they store and move water through the landscape.

Alpine bogs and fens help hold water and slowly release it into mountain streams.

What plants and animals live in alpine and subalpine environments?

Plants in alpine and subalpine environments must survive cold, frost, wind and short growing seasons. Many grow close to the ground, form clumps or have small, thick, leathery, rolled or hairy leaves. Snow gums grow in subalpine woodlands and are adapted to cold conditions, snow and wind.

Snow gums grow in cold subalpine woodlands where frost, wind and snow shape the trees.

Animals in these environments include insects, spiders, reptiles, frogs, birds and small mammals. The mountain pygmy-possum lives in alpine and subalpine boulderfields and is one of Australia’s most specialised mountain mammals. The southern corroboree frog lives in and around sphagnum bogs, wet tussock grasslands, wet heath, pools and seepages in Kosciuszko National Park. Bogong moths migrate to the Australian Alps in spring and shelter in cool rock crevices and boulderfields over summer.

Southern corroboree frogs are alpine frogs that depend on wet habitats for breeding.

Bogong moths can gather in large numbers in cool rock crevices in the Australian Alps.

How do living things depend on alpine and subalpine environments?

Alpine and subalpine food webs begin with producers such as grasses, herbs, shrubs, mosses and algae. These living things use energy from the Sun to make food. Consumers feed on plants, seeds, fruit, nectar, fungi or other animals. Bogong moths show how connected alpine environments are. They spend part of their life in inland lowland areas, then migrate to the Australian Alps where they shelter over summer. Many animals feed on bogong moths, including birds, reptiles and mountain pygmy-possums.

Decomposers such as fungi, bacteria and small invertebrates break down dead leaves, animals and other organic material. This returns nutrients to the soil, helping plants grow during the short warmer season. Snow cover can also be important because it insulates some plants and small animals from the coldest winter air.

Mountain pygmy-possums depend on healthy alpine habitats and seasonal food sources such as bogong moths.

How are alpine and subalpine environments connected to Aboriginal Peoples and Country?

Aboriginal Peoples have lived in surrounding plains, river valleys and foothills for tens of thousands of years. Many alpine and subalpine places are culturally important and are connected with travel routes, seasonal gatherings, foods, medicines, tools, stories and ceremony.

Different alpine places are on the Countries of different Aboriginal Peoples, so local Traditional Custodians should be identified for each specific place or learning site. Aboriginal knowledge of alpine plants, animals, seasons and weather continues to be important for understanding and caring for these environments.

Alpine and subalpine environments are part of Country and hold cultural significance for Aboriginal Peoples connected to the Australian Alps.

Why are alpine and subalpine environments important?

Alpine and subalpine environments are important because they support plants and animals that are adapted to cold mountain conditions. Some species have very small ranges and depend on these environments for shelter, food, breeding sites and survival. Mountain pygmy-possums rely on alpine and subalpine boulderfield habitats, southern corroboree frogs rely on wet alpine and subalpine breeding habitats, and bogong moths provide a seasonal food source for many animals.

These environments are also important for water. Snowmelt, bogs, fens and mountain streams help feed rivers, including parts of the Murray, Murrumbidgee and Snowy river systems. Alpine and subalpine environments also support cultural heritage, scientific research, recreation, tourism and outdoor learning.

Old Currango Homestead is part of the historic heritage protected in northern Kosciuszko National Park.

What threatens alpine and subalpine environments?

Alpine and subalpine environments can be threatened by climate change, weeds, pest animals, trampling, erosion, changed fire patterns, habitat damage and pressure from recreation. Climate change is a major concern because warmer temperatures can reduce snow cover, dry out wet habitats and change seasonal patterns. This can affect cold-adapted species such as the mountain pygmy-possum and southern corroboree frog, as well as ecological relationships linked to bogong moth migration.

Feral animals such as deer, horses, pigs, foxes, cats and rabbits can damage plants, soils, wetlands and native animals. Visitors can also cause damage when they walk off track, disturb animals, leave rubbish or trample fragile plants and wet ground.

Fire, climate change and other disturbances can affect snow gum woodlands and alpine habitats.

How can you help protect alpine and subalpine environments?

You can help protect alpine and subalpine environments by staying on marked tracks, keeping out of bogs and wet areas, taking all rubbish with you, leaving plants and animals undisturbed and following national park signs.

You can also help by cleaning shoes, clothing and equipment before visiting natural areas so weeds and pathogens are not spread. Learning about alpine and subalpine environments helps people understand why these cold mountain places need careful protection.

Staying on marked tracks helps protect fragile alpine plants, soils, bogs and fens.

Related fact sheets

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• Ecosystems and environments fact sheet⁠ – Learn how ecosystems and environments are made from living and non-living features.
• Eucalypt forest ecosystem fact sheet⁠ – Compare cold mountain environments with eucalypt forest ecosystems found closer to Sydney.
• River and creek environment fact sheet⁠ – Learn how water moves through environments and supports living things.

Habitats

• Habitat fact sheet⁠ – Learn what habitats are and how they support plants, animals and other living things.
• Ground cover habitats fact sheet⁠ – Compare alpine ground-layer plants with ground cover habitats in Sydney bushland.
• Tree habitats fact sheet⁠ – Compare subalpine snow gum woodland with tree habitats in local bushland.
• Water habitats fact sheet⁠ – Learn how wet areas, streams and water habitats support biodiversity.

Animals in alpine food webs

• Mammals fact sheet⁠ – Learn about mammals, including marsupials such as possums and other animals that use shelter, food and warmth to survive.
• Amphibian fact sheets⁠ – Explore frog and toadlet fact sheets and compare local amphibians with alpine frogs.
• Moth fact sheet⁠ – Learn about moths, including bogong moths, and their roles in food webs.
• Invertebrate fact sheets⁠ – Explore insects, spiders and other small animals that help move energy and nutrients through ecosystems.
• Reptile fact sheets⁠ – Learn how reptiles use warmth, shelter and camouflage to survive in different environments.
• Bird fact sheets⁠ – Explore birds that feed on insects, seeds, nectar, fruit and other animals in different ecosystems.

Learn with us

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Book a curriculum-aligned excursion or incursion and use this fact sheet to compare alpine, subalpine, forest, wetland and urban environments.

Learning programs

Explore Field of Mars EEC programs that support learning about climate, habitats, biodiversity, adaptations and environmental change.

Learning resources

Use this alpine and subalpine environment fact sheet to support classroom learning about cold mountain environments, seasonal change and species adaptations.

Flora and fauna fact sheets

Explore plant, animal and ecosystem fact sheets connected to alpine environments, subalpine habitats and wider NSW ecosystems.