The effects of global climate change are magnified in mountainside environments because
A)there are such narrow belts of different ecosystems that would shift abruptly.
B)most climate models expect more significant warming in mountainous areas than elsewhere.
C)soils are generally thicker in mountainous environments.
D)biodiversity is generally less in mountainous environments than in adjacent flatlands.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mountains have narrow belts of different ecosystems, which means that even a small shift in temperature or precipitation can cause a significant change in the entire ecosystem. For example, a slight increase in temperature could cause a species of plant to move higher up the mountain, and that could further affect the herbivores that depend on it, and then predators that depend on the herbivores, and so on. This domino effect can cause the entire ecosystem to shift and change rapidly.

The Effects of Global Climate Change Are Magnified in Mountainside