Biome classification matrix

The region is divided into interacting belts rather than isolated units. Elevation, water residence time, snow persistence and substrate type create transitions that are gradual in space but sharp in seasonal response.

Comparative biome table

Biome	Altitude Range	Annual Rain / Snow	Dominant Vegetation	Hydrology	Observed Trend (3y)
Alpine	1500-2400 m	1180 mm (snow-led)	Low shrubs, cushion plants, meadows	Fast runoff, late melt pools	Growing season +4 days
Conifer Forest	850-1700 m	890 mm	Pine, fir, spruce, moss layers	Perched water in shallow soils	Stable canopy, drier late summer
Mixed Forest	400-1100 m	760 mm	Oak, birch, beech, understory shrubs	Moderate infiltration	Higher fungal diversity
Floodplain	0-280 m	640 mm + pulse floods	Willow, alder, riparian herbs	Seasonal inundation	Side-channel recovery improving
Wetland	0-420 m	580 mm	Reeds, sedges, peat moss	Shallow standing water	Bird nesting success up
Steppe	190-640 m	420 mm	Perennial grasses, xeric forbs	Water deficit in summer	Fire risk days increasing

Transition zones

Forest-Steppe edge: strong interannual swing in grass dominance.
Alpine-Conifer contact: snowpack timing drives regeneration windows.
Floodplain-Wetland merge: water chemistry shifts after flood pulses.
Coastal wet belt: salinity spikes during dry wind periods.

Monitoring protocol

Each biome has a baseline route with fixed stations. Core indicators include canopy closure, litter depth, water level, flowering onset, and representative fauna counts. Stations are revisited monthly in stable weather windows, with event-based visits after storms.