How do snow leopards contribute to biodiversity?
Snow leopards are top predators in their environment, and their prey include mountain sheep and goats. Without the snow leopard, the ecological balance would be disrupted. For example, herbivore populations would increase, resulting in changes to the vegetation, also affecting other wildlife that live in these areas.
What ecosystem do snow leopards live in?
1. Where do snow leopards live? Snow leopards live across a vast area in northern and central Asia’s high mountains, including the Himalayan region. In the Himalayas, snow leopards live in high alpine areas, mostly above the tree line and up to 18,000 feet in elevation.
Are snow leopards a keystone species?
Snow leopards have adapted to life on steep terrains at heights between 3,000 -5,400 meters above sea level. Snow leopards are keystone species and according to National Geographic, “A keystone species is an organism that helps define an entire ecosystem.
How has the snow leopard adapted to its environment?
Snow leopards are highly adapted to their home in the cold high mountains. Their thick fur patterned with dark rosettes and spots (a pattern that is unique to each individual snow leopard) is the perfect camouflage for their rocky habitat, allowing them to stalk their prey.
Why are snow leopards keystone species?
Snow leopards have adapted to life on steep terrains at heights between 3,000 -5,400 meters above sea level. Due to the complex terrain and altitude these cats require a large home range in order to find adequate prey such as mountain goats and sheep.
Why are leopards a keystone species?
The leopard may truly be a keystone species whose existence is essential to the present environmental balance. Removing this top cat from the arid zone environment, for example, might drastically change the population structure of its present prey species.