Yosemite Nature Notes 16: Sky Islands

The video explores the unique high plateaus of Yosemite, highlighting their isolated ecosystems and diverse plant species. It discusses the challenges these plants face due to climate change and the importance of documenting them. The video also covers the process of conducting plant surveys and mapping, emphasizing the surprising biodiversity found in these alpine environments.

What is unique about the high plateaus in Yosemite?

• They are the lowest points in the range.

• They are covered entirely by glaciers.

• They host isolated plant species not found elsewhere.

• They are the warmest areas in the region.

What is notable about the wildflowers found on the rocky summits?

• They only bloom for a few days each year.

• They are short but have a wide variety of colors and shapes.

• They are very tall and dominate the landscape.

• They are all the same color.

What is the purpose of mapping plant species in Yosemite?

• To understand how plant communities may change over time.

• To create a new botanical garden.

• To find the best spots for tourism.

• To replace native species with exotic ones.

Which flower is described as having a bright purple-blue color?

• Alpine gold

• Skypilot

• Alpine buckweed

• Primrose

What adaptation is mentioned for the Alpine buckweed?

• It requires a lot of water to survive.

• It grows only in tropical climates.

• It has very dense hair-covered leaves.

• It blooms only at night.

Why is the plant diversity in Yosemite surprising to the researchers?

• They expected to find more animal species.

• They thought the area would have fewer than 40 species.

• They assumed all plants would be the same species.

• They believed the climate was too harsh for any plants.

What challenge do these high-altitude plants face with climate change?

• They thrive in warmer temperatures.

• They can easily move to lower altitudes.

• They may not adapt fast enough to changing conditions.

• They are unaffected by climate change.