Colorado Life Zones

Montane shrubland is the region below the montane forests. Characterized by high altitudes and sparse, small trees, this area is often maintained by regular natural disturbance such as fire. Because of this, plants have a wide range of adaptations to fire, such as heavy seed production or fire-germination. The animals of the high altitude shrubland must adapt to fire and to the sparse options for shelter and harsh weather conditions (Wikipedia).