Mountain Ecology

The Mountain regions of Chranara are breathtaking to witness. There are towering peaks, rolling hills, deep valleys, serene meadows and exquisite waterfalls from rivers and creeks. Because the highest elevation is12,000 feet, most of the regions remain temperate. Although there are often fierce storms in the winter, they last for short periods of time and the storm season is relatively short. The temperatures range between minus 20 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. There are many forests of tall evergreen conifers, along with an array of shrubs and small plant life. The mountains also have a large number of various animals living among caves, trees, rocks and soil.

Primary Producers

 Barbious Shrub

Barbious are a small dense plants that produce small berries. They are cone shaped and a couple of feet tall. They are green in color with a brown trunk and pink berries.

 
 

 Billious Evergreen

Billious are conifers with green and brown colors. They are taller and wider than Barbious. Billious have an extensive root system which enables them to withstand harsh weather maintaining a strong hold.

Mountain Berry Bush

The Amythyst Berry Bush developed from the Amythyst Mountain Violet over millions of years. An Amythyst Berry bush grows to approximately 3 feet tall and 5 feet in diameter. Its trunk is about 6 inches in diameter with tiny branches throughout the plant. One purple colored berry can grow from each branching. To survive winter seasons the flower developed stronger stems that turned into branches. The branches developed small berries that carried the seeds for asexual reproduction. The seeds are carried away by small animals and birds. When the seeds are relocated and buried in the ground they grow into a new plant. The Amythyst Berry Bush lives all year round, but the berries develop during spring, summer and early fall. It can grow in rocky soil because its roots draw water from deep in the soil. The plant needs 15-25 inches of rainfall each year like the Mountain Violet. The temperatures in which the plant can survive is -10 degrees to 95 degrees.

 
 

 Amythyst Mountain Violet

The Amythyst Mountain Violet, also an angiosperm and part of the diocotyledon family, grows in mountainous areas in cool shady locations. The Amythyst Mountain Violet is a beautiful four petaled flower with four leaves beneath the petals. The center of each petal is a dark purple with lavender outlining each petal. The stamens carry yellow pollen. The plant measures 6 inches in diameter while the flower is 3 inches across. One might find Mountain Violets growing near streams, creeks and fresh water springs. They require indirect light because of the delicate composition of the flower. The flower blooms in late spring and continues growing through summer. The rainfall for the regions in which violets exist is between 15-25 inches per year. The temperatures need to be from 55-85 degrees Fahrenheit. The flower grows best in areas where the soil contains a high amount of clay.

Primary Consumers

Nutpuff

The Nutpuff is a mountain creature about 10-12 inches in height, and weighing four to five pounds. Nutpuffs are friendly animals that often beg for food from Chranarans. When they scavenge for food themselves they primarily feed on Amythyst Mountain Violets, Amythyst Berries, Barbious, and Billious. Nutpuffs are a mixture of light brown, tan, brown, and white. Their tail is about five inches long and can either be slender or bushy. Younger Nutpuffs have fluffy tails, while Older Nutpuffs have slender tails, since the fur on the tail is shed throughout their lifetime. The average life span for a Nutpuff is eight years. The quick speed and ability to jump for limb to limb allows this creature to avoid predators. The Nutpuff requires 300 K/Cal a day. This rodent will eat 4-5 ounces.

 

Violet Cockatoo

The Violet Cockatoo is a lovely creature to behold with its brilliant purple plumage and orange crest atop its head. The Violet Cockatoo has a peach-colored face with a salmon-colored spot below the eyes. They are 15-20 inches in length and weigh between one to two pounds. A Cockatoo also has a seed-eating beak and perching feet. Cockatoos are very territorial and need a lot of space. They live in mountains and nest high in the trees to avoid predators. In the mountains these birds feed on berries from the Mountain Berry bush, and seeds from Barbious and Billious. Violet Cockatoos choose one mate for a lifetime. Their lifespan can be as long as 16 years. Violet Cockatoos may lay two clutches a year with two to three eggs in each. The incubation period for the eggs is 35 days. The Violet Cockatoo does not have many ways to protect itself. The only protective mechanism it has is its strong beak and sharp talons. The Violet Cockatoo needs 200 K/Cal a day. It will eat 3 ounces a day.

 
 

Brown-Capped Flycatcher

The Brown-Capped Flycatcher is native to coastal, mountain, valley and desert regions. It is an adaptable bird and is able to provide for itself in almost any location. The Brown-Capped Flycatcher has a goldenrod plumage on the majority of the body with a brown head. It also has a yellow stripe over its eye. This flycatcher is eight to ten inches in length and weighs 14-18 ounces. The Brown-Capped Flycatcher has an insect-eating beak and perching feet. A fascinating characteristic of the Brown-Capped Flycatcher is how it will catch insects in mid-air to get its food. It feeds mostly on the various types of flies and some other flying insects. The lifespan of a Brown-Capped Flycatcher is seven years barring any disasters. Each year a pair will have one clutch with four to five eggs. The Brown-Capped Flycatcher's coloring is its protection. The brown coloring acts as a camouflage to protect the bird from predators. It requires 120 K/Cal each day which is 5 ounces insects.

Secondary Consumers

Spotted Barker

The Spotted Barker is a very athletic creature which needs a lot of food each day. He needs 2500 K/Cal and 15 pounds of food each day. The weight of the Spotted Barker is 80 pounds. He roams the valleys and mountains searching for food. A Spotted Barker will eat any primary consumer and at times secondary consumers when hunting in a pack. The agility and speed of this animal make hunting quite easy for this animal especially when working with a pack.

 
 

Aslan

An Aslan is a majestic and noble creature which wanders both the mountain and valley regions. Aslans live in groups of 15-20 animals. Their coloring is unusual with a multi-colored bushy mane, a light brown coat and face and khaki spots covering the body. A male Aslan stands about 40 inches tall and weighs between 390-400 pounds. A female Aslan stands about 35 inches tall and weighs between 370-390 pounds. Aslans mainly feed on large herbivores and sometimes Nutpuffs. An Aslan can live up to 25 years. An Aslan will eat any primary consumer and secondary consumer that it is able to attack and kill. Their speed, sharp claws and teeth allow this creature to capture prey easily. An Aslan requires 7000 K/Cal a day

 Brown Grizzler

The Brown Grizzler eats 18.8 pounds of meat and 3075 K/Cal a day. He weighs 300 pounds. With these needs and its size this creature is quite formidable. It is a fierce and strong animal that hunts both mammals and fish. The Grizzler lives in caves with one mate or alone. Despite his bulk, the Brown Grizzler is a swift runner and has sharp claws making this creature lethal in an encounter.

 

The Food Pyramid

The Energy Pyramid

The Primary Producers of the forest including the Amythyst Mountain Berry Bush, Amythyst Mountain Violet, Billious and Barbious produce about 7000 Kilocalories per square meter per year. The herbivores including the Nutpuff, Violet Cockatoo, and Brown-Capped Flycatcher produces 420 Kilocalories per square meter per year for the Carnivores to live on. A Nutpuff for instances needs 13 square meters a year to survive. The Carnivore produces 4.2 Kilocalories per square meter per year. The carnivores include the Aslan, Brown Grizzler and Spotted Barker as well as many others creatures. A Brown Grizzler needs 2225 square meters per year to survive.

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Page by: Suzanne Abell