Editing Sierra Nevada (section)

==Ecology==
{{Main|Ecology of the Sierra Nevada}}
[[File:Tuolumne Meadows Sunset.jpg|thumb|[[Tuolumne Meadows]] is an example of a [[subalpine meadow]] in the Sierra.]]

The Sierra Nevada is divided into a number of [[life zone|biotic zones]], each of which is defined by its climate and supports a number of interdependent species.<ref name="Schoenherr">{{cite book |last=Schoenherr |first=Allan A. |title=A Natural History of California |year=1995 |publisher=UC Press |isbn=978-0-520-06922-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryof00scho}}</ref> Life in the higher elevation zones adapted to colder weather, and to most of the precipitation falling as snow. The [[rain shadow]] of the Sierra causes the eastern slope to be warmer and drier: each [[life zone]] is higher in the east.<ref name="Schoenherr" /> A list of biotic zones, and corresponding elevations, is presented below:
* The [[Sierra Nevada foothills|western foothill zone]], {{cvt|1000|-|2500|ft|m}},<ref name="Schoenherr"/>{{rp|92}} with grassland, oak-grass savanna and chaparral-oak woodland.<ref name="ecosubregions">{{cite web |title=Chapter 33-Ecological subregions of the United States, Sierran Steppe - Mixed Forest - Coniferous Forest |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/ch33.html |publisher=United States Forest Service |access-date=August 30, 2013 |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192152/https://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/ch33.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Gray pine]] (also known as Foothill pine) is intermixed with the oak woodland.<ref name="Schoenherr" />{{rp|95}}
* The [[Pinyon pine]]-[[Juniper]] woodland, {{cvt|5000|-|7000|ft|m}} east side only.<ref name="Schoenherr"/>{{rp|92}}
* The [[Sierra Nevada lower montane forest]] ([[indicator species]]: [[Ponderosa pine]], [[Jeffrey pine]]), {{cvt|2500|–|7000|ft|m}} west side, {{cvt|7000|-|9000|ft|m}} east side.<ref name="Schoenherr"/>{{rp|92}} This biotic zone is notable for containing [[Sequoiadendron giganteum|giant sequoia]].
* The [[Sierra Nevada upper montane forest]] (indicator species: [[Lodgepole pine]], [[Red fir]]) {{cvt|7000|–|9000|ft|m}} west side, {{cvt|9000|–|10500|ft|m}} east side.<ref name="Schoenherr" />{{rp|92}}
* The [[Sierra Nevada subalpine zone]] (indicator species: [[Whitebark pine]])<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fites-Kauffman |first=J. |author2=P. W. Rundel |author3=N. Stephenson |author4=D. A. Weixelman |year=2007 |contribution=Montane and subalpine vegetation of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges |pages=460–501 |editor1-first=M.G. |editor1-last=Barbour |editor2-first=T. |editor2-last=Keeler-Wolf |editor3-first=A.A. |editor3-last=Schoenherr |title=Terrestrial vegetation of California |edition=3rd |publisher=University of California Press |place=Berkeley, CA, USA}}</ref> {{cvt|9000|–|10500|ft|m}} west side, {{cvt|10500|–|11500|ft|m}} east side<ref name="Schoenherr"/>{{rp|92}}
* The [[alpine tundra|alpine]] region at greater than {{cvt|10500|ft|m}}, and greater than {{cvt|11500|ft|m}} east side.<ref name="Schoenherr"/>{{rp|92}}