High mountain ecosystems

Mountain regions host rare and important ecosystems, rich in endemic and endangered species and characterized by specific adaptations to the extreme conditions of high-altitude environments. Mountain ecosystems, however, are threated by direct anthropic pressures, such as pollution, and indirect effects, such as the impact of global warming. This short documentary movie by Marco Andreini and Paolo Fioratti describes some of the fascinating aspects of high mountain ecosystems, focusing on the specific adaptations to the high altitudes and stressing the need for a deeper understanding of the functioning of mountain ecosystems and of their response to global change.