sky island

n. an isolated ecosystem occurring at a high altitude, such as on a mountain top, which shows evolutionary tendencies similar to those occurring on islands surrounded by water. Subjects: English, Environment

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Citations: 1969 New York Times (Nov. 2) “The Nameless Rocks in Arizona’s ‘Sky Island’” (in Wilcox, Arizona) p. 10-27: As breezes from the Gulf of Mexico lift over the Chiricahua Mountains, an exceptional amount of rain falls on this desert region, which has bee aptly called a “sky island.” The volcanic soil among the rock and ample shade produce an ideal microclimate for lush vegetation. Birds, animals, insects and reptiles live exceedingly well in such salubrious surroundings. 1987 Carol Ann Bassett Newsday (Long Island, New York) (May 5) “A Desert Mountain Versus The Stars” p. 5: From a parched sea of desert in southeastern Arizona, Mt. Graham rises 2 miles to a crested summit above the clouds. Isolated in time and space for 11,000 years, the mountain is what biologists call a sky island, “a cradle of evolution.” 2006 Mary Esch @ Lake Placid Newsday (Long Island, New York) (Aug. 26) “Researchers work to ensure survival of a rare songbird”: It’s a difficult bird to study because it’s distributed across a fragmented range of mountaintops which we sometimes refer to as “sky islands.”

Posted 29 Aug 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend