Hawks Aloft, Inc.
New Mexico
Partners in Flight

Description, importance and conservation status:

Alpine tundra occurs on isolated mountain summits above timberline from 12,499 to 13,156 feet (Brown 1994). In New Mexico, this community extends from the Colorado border south to areas northeast of Santa Fe. It also includes the summits of Sierra Blanca, Mt. Taylor, and South Baldy in the Magdalena mountains.

This habitat is an extension of the extensive Rocky Mountain alpine tundra found further north. The vegetation includes lichens (various genera), mosses (various genera), sedges (Carex spp.), low-growing shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Elfin growth forms of conifers (krummholz) are sometimes included. All vegetation is adapted to short growing seasons, extreme cold temperatures, drought, and isolation (Brown 1994). Predominant grasses include: tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa), alpine fescue (Festuca brachyphylla), bluegrasses (Poa spp.) and spike trisetum (Trisetum spicatum spp. spicatum). Other grass-like plants include rushes (Juncus spp.). Common low forbs include avens (Geum sp.), yarrow (Achillea sp.), Erigeron simples, Hymenoxys brandegei, cinquefoil (Pontentilla sp.), Saxifrage spp., and clovers (Trifolium spp.).

Currently there is little concern about habitat deterioration in New Mexico. However, it is easily damaged by continued pressure from hikers and livestock. If the vegetation is broken, the soil below rapidly erodes. This process is difficult to stop due to severe climate and the freeze-thaw cycle of the soil. Also, because wood is scarce here and the krummholz grows slowly, campers using wood for fires can quickly deplete the wood resources in this habitat (Dick-Peddie 1993).

All alpine tundra in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains is managed by the United States Forest Service, as is Mt. Taylor and South Baldy. Sierra Blanca is owned and managed by the Mescalero Apache.

Physiographic Areas covered: Mogollon Rim, Colorado Plateau and the Southern Rocky Mountains

Associated priority species from Appendices B and C:

Table 1. Alpine Tundra Priority Species

Highest Priority	Priority	High Responsibility
White-tailed Ptarmigan Brown-capped Rosy-Finch	Mountain Bluebird
Additional Representative Species: American Pipit

Bird Habitat Requirements, Population and/or Habitat Objectives:
(in taxonomic order)

White-tailed Ptarmigan _{(Braun et al. 1993)}

Associated Species: Mountain Bluebird, American Pipit, White-crowned Sparrow

predominantly rocky areas, krummholz, moist vegetation near snowfields and streams, and willow-dominated communities

summering areas include Trifolium cushion fellfields, Carex meadow, Carex-Geum rock meadows and vegetation near receding snowfields

nest sites are on the ground, sometimes in rocky areas usually with lateral or overhead cover, and snow-free by June

Distribution: found above treeline in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
maintain continued presence in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains
reroute snow catchment fences and ski trails away from potential breeding habitat
reduce or eliminate alpine grazing or delay until after July

American Pipit _{(Verbeek and Hendricks 1994)}

Associated Species: White-tailed Ptarmigan, Mountain Bluebird, White-crowned Sparrow

uses alpine meadows of Carex, dwarf willow and Deschampsia, and cushion fell fields (Silene, Trifolium, Phlox, and Arenaria)
nests on ground in wet or dry meadows, tussocks, or erosion banks, often with overhanging layer; can nest in fell fields, or burrows
nests sites buffered from prevailing winds

Distribution: Found above treeline at Sierra Blanca in the Sacramentos, at South Baldy in the Magdalenas, and above treeline in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
reduce or eliminate alpine grazing or delay until after July

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch _{(Yanishevsky and Petring-Rupp 1997)}

Associated Species: None

uses cirque headwalls, talus slopes and permanent or late-melting snowfields

nests on cliffs or on the ground, both with an overhanging rock for concealment

nests often placed near snowfields and situated so that sunlight does not hit the nest

frequently forages at the edges of snowfields for seeds and torpid insects gleaned from snowbanks

Distribution: found above treeline in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

no BBS data available
maintain continued presence in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains

Overall Habitat Strategies:

Firewood-cutting - Because wood is scarce and the krummholz grows slowly, it is recommended that all firewood cutting be eliminated.

Grazing - Restrict grazing to maintain the integrity of fragile tundra habitat. If grazing must occur in this habitat, delay grazing till August.

Recreation - Maintain responsible recreation use in alpine areas to minimize damage to this habitat and reduce erosion.

Research and monitoring needs:

1. Assess both the success of the release program conducted in the 1970's and any need for additional releases of White-tailed Ptarmigan.

2. Determine if Brown-capped Rosy Finch breeding still occurs in the state and if so, the size of the population.

Table 2. Alpine Tundra Priority Species: Habitat Factors

Species	Vegetation Composition/ Structure	Abiotic Factors	Landscape Factors	Special Factors
WTPT	Carex meadows, fell fields, krummholz, willow communities	vegetation often near rocky areas	often in areas with receding snowfields
AMPI	fell fields with cushion plants and alpine meadows; vegetation with enough height above ground to hangover nest
BCRF		talus slopes, cirque headwalls and receding snowfields; nests in areas with cliffs or large rocky areas