Arid montane scrub in the high Andes.
Arid Montane Scrub
The arid montane scrub is structurally similar to the arid lowlad scrub. This habitat type supports a variety of plant communities including shrubby vegetation, scrub, scattered small trees, and cacti.
Arid montane scrub occurs throughout Tropical America including the Andean mountains at elevations ranging between 1000 to 4000 meters.
The dry parts of the Andes, particularly south of Ecuador, support a great variety of arid montane scrub habitats. Isolated patches of this habitat are found on the arid west slope of the Andes of Peru and Northern Chile at elevations ranging from 700 to 3000 meters. Similar habitat is also found in southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.
Shorter and rather dry arid montane scrub.
Slightly moist arid montane scrub in the highlands of Cuzco, Peru. Photo: Nestor Ccacya.
Reference:
Neotropical Birds: Ecology and Conservation. Stotz Douglas F., Fitzpatrick John W.,
Parker Theodore A. III, and Moskovits Debra K. University of Chicago Press, 1996.