1.

Biome one: Denali-

"Climate in Denali, Alaska." Travel Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
United States. National Park Service. "Environmental Factors." National Parks
Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 02 Oct. 2014. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
"Where Did Grizzly Bears Originate?" Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
United States. National Park Service. "Moose." National Parks Service. U.S.
Department of the Interior, 02 Oct. 2014. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
"30 Facts about Moose You Might Not Know | Maine Moose FactsMaine's Lakes and
Mountains Blog | Maine's Lakes and Mountains Blog."Maines Lakes and Mountains
Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
United States. National Park Service. "Plants." National Parks Service. U.S.
Department of the Interior, 03 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.
"Issues Facing National Parks of Alaska." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Oct. 2014.
A major attraction of Denali is Mt. McKinley, which is the centerpiece of the area. It is part of
the Alaskan Range of mountain peaks and surrounded by lowlands. At a height of 20,320
feet, The mountain has some of the most severe weather in the world and has its own
weather system, which can be completely different from other areas of south central Alaska.

Climate The park's wilderness includes open tundra, glacial rivers,
floodplains, numerous lakes, several types of forests and diverse
wildlife and vegetation.
The average temperatures fluctuate between 50 and 60 in the
summer. The average high temperature for the area is 66. Summers
are short in Denali, and visitors should be prepared for cold, rain and
even snow in mid-to-late August.Winters in Denali can be harsh and
extreme. Although the park is open for activities, some roads in and
around the park go unplowed during the season. On the park's north
side, temperatures of -50 are not uncommon. During January, the
average high temperature is 11, and the average low is -7.
Location Denali Borough includes approximately 8.2 million acres; more than
6 million of those acres are in Denali National Park and Preserve in
Alaska.The Denali Fault runs through the area and causes more
than 600 small earthquakes per year. Most of the earthquakes go
unnoticed by humans.
Environmental
Issues
1. Climate Change
Recognized as "ground zero" for global warming, Alaska and its
national parks are feeling dramatic effects from our changing
climate. Alaska's parks provide a living laboratory where this natural
phenomenon can be observed (mostly) absent of direct urban &
development influences as temperatures rise. Glaciers are rapidly
retreating and the reduction of the polar ice pack is having an impact
on wildlife and coastal communities from increased storm damage to
the shoreline. The arctic tundra's permafrost is melting, resulting in a
loss of wetland ponds vital for waterfowl, and changes in vegetation
will cause wildlife to move further north in search of food.
2. Mining
NPCA closely monitors new and emerging issues that threaten park
integrity from beyond park boundaries. The pristine waters of Lake
Clark National Park and Preserve help protect spawning habitat
critical to the legendary sockeye salmon fishery of southwest
Alaska's Bristol Bay. Advanced exploration at the Pebble Mine site,
a massive copper/gold/molybdenum deposit, is occurring only miles
from Lake Clark's southern border. Also encroaching upon Lake
Clark are proposals for coal mining and hydro-electric development
just north of the park.

Major Animal
(Area of Origin)-
Grizzly bear
Grizzly bears as we know them originated in Asia around 1.3 million
years ago, evolved from Etruscan bears that appeared in Europe
about 5 million years before. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) crossed
the Bering land bridge some 200,000 years ago. These bears
eventually developed into the grizzly bear.The most widely
distributed bear in the world, Ursus arctos is the ancestor of the
grizzly bear. The grizzly is, in fact, a subspecies of brown bear.
Brown bear subspecies vary in weight greatly; some weigh as little
as 300 pounds as adults, others 700, and others 1,200 pounds, the
largest being the male Kodiak brown bear, which can weigh two
tons. Grizzly bears average 300 to 400 pounds for females (sows)
and 350 to 500 pound average for males (boars). Like grizzlies,
brown bears have a characteristic hump on the shoulders that
distinguish them from other bears.
Minor Animal
(Area of Origin)-
Moose
Moose face many natural and human related challenges. These
factors can potentially affect their behavior, distribution and
population:
weather
predation by wolves and bears
human development.
Moose in the park tend to live in forested areas that are often close
to lakes and marshes and other bodies of water. Moose are also
excellent swimmers. In the winter they remain in their territory, often
in willow marshes, and form "yards"- they create paths in the deep
snow as they paw for food. During the summer they graze on
grasses, forbs, underwater vegetation, bushes, coniferous needles
and deciduous leaves. Moose are very large, fast animals and are
aggressive when disturbed.
Major Animal
Interesting Facts
(Grizzly)-
Grizzly bears have few enemies except other bears and humans,
when they go wandering into camp grounds. Grizzlies are hunted
primarily as game animals throughout Western Canada in spring
and fall. They are illegally hunted by both the landowners seeing the
bears as a threat to their livestock, and poachers interested in their
hides, teeth, claws and internal organs for the Asian medical market.
For many years across North America, there has been voiced
concern about the illegal killing of grizzlies, but there is a growing
world medical market for bear parts, especially gall bladders; some
poachers even film the death of the bear to show that the gall
bladders are real.
In 1985, estimated populations of the grizzly were 1,200 in Alberta,
6,500 in British Columbia, and 4,000 to 5,000 in the Northwest
Territories. The grizzly's population is gradually shrinking. The B.C.
government estimates that hunting, poaching, and other human
related activities are responsible for the deaths of 6,335 grizzlies
every year. The natural life span of grizzly bears can be 25 years or
more. Unfortunately, 95% of the grizzly bears who live past age 2 in
North America die at the hands of humans from gunshot. People are
the biggest threat to grizzlies not only because of hunters, but also
because of the increasing human population and the resulting
erosion of grizzly habitat.
Grizzlies can live
up to 30 years.
Grizzlies are 3 to 4 feet tall when on all fours, but on hind
legs they can stand up to 8 feet tall.
Grizzlies get bigger when there is more food available. They
can grow up to 1,400 pounds, but most are between 300 and
600 pounds.

Minor Animal
Interesting Facts
(Moose)
The moose is not on the Endangered Species List as of April, 2014.
However, in some areas, the moose population has dropped
significantly. In Minnesota, the population dropped in 2013 from
4,000 to fewer than 100.
Moose are the official state animal of Maine.
Male moose are called Bull Moose.
Only Bull Moose has antlers.
Bull Moose shed their antlers every winter and grows them
back every spring.
Moose live for an average of 25 years and can weigh up to
1500 lbs.
Moose are great swimmers and can swim up to 6 mph.
Moose can run up to 35 mph.
Female moose are called cows.
Moose have bad eyesight.
Moose have 32 teeth.
Basic Facts (Plant
#1) Alaskan Spring
Beauty
The spring beauty wildflower is one of the most common native
perennials in eastern North America. Hike through one of Indiana's
many nature preserves and parks and you're bound to find a great
number of these small, delicate flowers.Spring beauties are small
low-growing wildflowers that are found in a star-like cluster of five
white to light pink flowers. Closer examination of the petals will
reveal an array of fine pink stripes and a pleasant floral fragrance.
The dark green, grass-like leaves are both narrow and linear, and
are usually found in pairs. Foliage continues to grow after bloom and
may eventually reach close to a foot tall before the leaves disappear
in late spring as the plants go into dormancy.

One reason for why the spring beauty is so common is its ability to
survive in areas that have suffered land degradation such as
livestock grazing and partial tree removal. Many other native
woodland wildflowers dont fare as well under these conditions. The
spring beauty however, can thrive in yards with just a few trees
present and be quite prolific. When spring beauties and other
wildflowers are absent from woodlands, this is a sure sign of severe
degradation from plows or bulldozers in the past.
Basic Facts (Plant
#2) Aspen Tree
An aspen tree is the most widely distributed tree species in North
America, ranging from Alaska to Newfoundland and down the Rocky
Mountains to Mexico. Aspen trees are described as an all important
and community dependant "keystone species" within its natural
range.