BREEDING BIRDS OF AN ALPINE HABITAT IN THE SOUTHERN SNAKE RANGE, NEVADA

Abstract

Alpine ecosystems occur as isolated islands on the highest of the Great Basin mountain ranges. These include the Wassuk, White, Humboldt, Toiyabe, Toquima, East Humboldt, Ruby, Grant, Schell Creek, Snake, Deep Creek, and Stansbury mountains (Cronquist et al. 1972). Like other altitudinally zoned ecosystems of Great Basin mountain ranges, alpine ecosystems have been neglected in the past because of difficult access and false impressions of biotic sterility (Johnson 1978). Recently, more attention has been directed to the scientific study of these unique environments and to their wise use and management (Ives and Barry 1974, Thilenius 1975, Billings 1978, Johnson 1979, Braun 1980).