Vegetation is segmented into different altitudinal levels as living conditions for plants become increasingly less favourable. Plants are not only affected by oxygen saturation at high altitudes, as they are also affected by sunny and shaded regions, windy and wind-protected slopes. These factors lead to micro-climates being formed therefore specific adaptation to physiology can only be generalised.
Adaptions
Plants native to the environment are fast growing and lower to the ground protecting them from harsh winds. It has been shown they express more than 200 different genes at lower atmospheric pressure linked to hypoxia but other responses are not seen.
UV-b Radiation Adaptions
Plants are exposed to elevated levels of UV-b radiation at higher altitudes. UV-b radiation impairs photosynthesis in plants and therefore plants at high altitude harbour mechanisms to reduce its damage, such as the accumulation of radiation absorbing compounds. Maize landraces grown at high altitude exhibits an increase in the promoters of such compounds when they are exposed to radiation, more so than the maize grown at lower altitudes although it could be due to other factors.