Vertical distribution

Japanese: 垂直分布 - すいちょくぶんぷ

Also called altitudinal distribution. Distribution of organisms with land altitude and water depth. As opposed to horizontal distribution. This is especially clear in plants. In mountains, the temperature drops by an average of about 1°C for every 100m increase in altitude, and this drop corresponds to a vertical change in the type and appearance of communities similar to the horizontal distribution. In the mountains on the Pacific coast of central Honshu, the evergreen broad-leaved forest zone (low mountain zone) is located up to about 500m, the evergreen broad-leaved forest zone (mountain zone) is located up to about 1500m, and the coniferous forest zone (subalpine zone) is located from 1500m to 2500m, with no forests or tall trees above this level. The upper limit of this forest is called the tree line, and the upper limit of the distribution of tall trees is called the timber line. Above this, the dwarf pine zone (alpine zone) where shrubs and alpine grasslands develop, and then the lichen zone (subalpine zone) are located up to about 3000m. The upper limit of the distribution of shrubs is called the scrub line. The fauna also changes with altitude, but this is more dependent on changes in vegetation than changes in temperature. Plants also show a zonal distribution depending on depth in lakes, ponds, and oceans.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

高度分布とも。土地高度および水深に伴う生物の分布。水平分布の対。特に植物では明瞭。山岳では高度が100m増すごとに平均約１℃の気温の低下があり，この低下に対応して水平分布に似た群落の種類や外観の垂直変化がみられる。本州中部の太平洋岸の山岳では500m付近まで照葉樹林帯（低山帯），1500m付近まで夏緑林帯（山地帯），1500〜2500mまで針葉樹林帯（亜高山帯）となり，この上には森林や高木がない。この森林の上限を森林限界，高木の分布上限を高木限界という。この上は3000m付近まで低木や高山草原の発達するハイマツ帯（高山帯），さらに地衣帯（亜恒雪帯）になる。低木の分布上限を低木限界という。動物相も高度につれて変化するが，これは温度変化よりもむしろ植生の変化により強く依存している。また湖沼や海にも水深によって植物の帯状分布がみられる。

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