Mountain Conditions Research Articles

The Use of a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Method to Select the Most Favourable Type of Fish Pass in Mountainous Areas

Fish passes are a key element enabling the migration of aquatic organisms in the context of restrictions resulting from the presence of weirs. Multi-criteria decision analysis, AHP, and Rembrandt methods were used to assess the effectiveness of fish passes on mountain rivers. Three common types of fish passes were considered: slotted fish pass, block ramps, and a circulation channel with boulders. The results of the study indicated that block ramps proved to be the most favourable solution, achieving the highest preference values in both methods (Rembrandt: 0.77, AHP: 0.63). The key factors influencing the effectiveness of the fish passes are the availability of space and the water requirements, which reached values of 0.38 and 0.27 in the Rembrandt method and 0.33 and 0.28 in the AHP method, respectively. The differences between the results of both methods were minimal and did not have a significant impact on the final choice. The discussion emphasised the advantage of nature-like fish passes, such as block ramps, which better preserve the ecological continuity of rivers and can be more easily adapted to local hydrological conditions. The study also indicated the need for continuous monitoring of the fish passes and their optimisation to reduce problems related to sedimentation and flow blocking. The obtained results can provide a valuable basis for decision making in the planning and construction of fish passes, especially in demanding mountainous conditions, contributing to improving the effectiveness of fish migration and minimising negative impacts on the natural environment.

Górale and Farming – It Goes Hand in Hand. Agricultural Work as Part of Cultural Heritage in Podhale

Contrary to common associations linking Podhale with recreation and tourism, this region still retains its rural character. Rurality, thus, is a category inextricably connected with agriculture and largely shaped by work. That is why progressive changes in agriculture and general de-agrarianisation affect rural areas much more strongly than a simple change in occupational structure would suggest. The article concerns selected narratives and activities of Podhale farmers, showing agriculture as part of the cultural heritage of the countryside. Reffering to the specific agrarian structure, I argue that farmers in this regions use mountain conditions and the presence of the tourist business to undertake activities that go beyond economic aspects of work. The specific nature of agriculture makes it a space for realising individual ambitions that reach beyond earning a living and touch upon aspects of indentity. Even though the agricultural past is common to most inhabitants of Podhale, farmers, consciously referring to it, use techniques available only to them as specific continuators of highland farming methods.

Technological advances in high mountains: Development of an augmented reality and IoT Application for snow cover monitoring on Huascaran, Peru

Climate change has had a negative impact on Andean glaciers, especially on the snow-capped Huascaran in Peru, which has experienced a loss of 42 % of its glacier mass. Lack of access to accurate snowpack data complicates understanding and informed decision-making in mountainous environments. To address this problem, an application has been developed based on an AR-IoT architecture that integrates augmented reality (AR) and the Internet of Things (IoT) for the periodic monitoring of snow cover on the Huascaran snow-capped mountain. This application uses data collected from meteorological repositories and simulates IoT interactions, while a mobile app offers an interactive and understandable visualization of the data. The Scrum methodology was applied iteratively, from the creation of the 3D model to the connection with the Ubidots platform to store and share the data. The analysis of 58 readings, obtained between April and May 2023, showed correlations between variables such as snow depth, temperature, and wind speed, which served to validate the operation of the AR-IoT technology implemented. These variables offer an initial understanding of atmospheric conditions in high mountains. In addition, the technology developed has the potential to expand to include more relevant data in future analyses. The tool demonstrates the effectiveness of combining these technologies for monitoring high mountain snow cover and making informed decisions about water resources management.

416 Implementation of virtual fencing in heifers for mountain summer grazing

Abstract A virtual fencing (VF) system is based on a smartphone application that defines an invisible grazing boundary based on global positioning. Animals are tracked via GPS collars. When reaching the virtual boundary, the collar emits an ascending audio tone, followed by a mild electric pulse (0.2 Joule) when crossing it. The technology is particularly promising in rough and extensive mountainous areas where physical fencing is difficult and more time-consuming. Environmental conditions may also affect the functionality of the VF system, with potential impacts on animal behavior. Therefore, the present study tested a VF system on 30 female heifers in a rotational grazing system on Swiss mountain pastures (approximately 1,300 to 1,500 m above sea level). Each heifer was equipped with a VF collar (Nofence AS, Batnfjordsør, Norway) for individual recording of audio tones and electric pulses. After two wk of VF training in the lowlands (approximately 700 m above sea level), during which the heifers learned to interpret the VF signals correctly, they were transported to the mountain pasture. For mountain grazing, the herd was divided into three groups of 10 heifers each, balanced for age (mean ± SD: 11.9 ± 1.6 mo) and breed (Holstein-Friesian, Montbeliarde, crossbreeds). The outer perimeter of the mountain pasture was surrounded by an electric fence. Its inner area was divided into 3 electrically fenced and 6 virtually fenced paddocks. For 83 d, all groups grazed simultaneously in separate paddocks and rotated sequentially through the 9 paddocks. Video cameras were placed along the virtual fences to record animal responses after receiving audio tones or electric pulses. Moreover, grass height was measured using a rising plate meter to estimate forage availability in the currently grazed paddocks. Throughout mountain grazing, each heifer received an average of 4.9 ± 6.9 audio tones and 0.3 ± 0.7 electric pulses per day. Generalized mixed-effects models revealed that the number of audio tones and electric pulses did not change over grazing periods or among days after paddock change. Behavioral responses of the animals were less pronounced once the heifers had learned the VF system. In addition, grazing interruptions after receiving an audio tone or electric pulse were shorter during mountain grazing compared with the training period (P < 0.001). Furthermore, lower grass heights (P < 0.05) as well as the occurrence of (common but) unpredictable events (P < 0.001), such as the presence of wildlife (e.g., lynx, deer) or neighboring cattle, increased the number of audio tones and electric pulses during mountain grazing. The VF system was still effective in keeping the heifers within their assigned paddocks under mountainous conditions. However, a well-considered handling when changing paddocks as well as a careful placement of the virtual fence is essential to avoid negative effects on the animals.

Study on Wind Farm Flow Field Characteristics Based on Boundary Condition Optimization of Complex Mountain Numerical Simulation

The accurate prediction of the flow field characteristics of complex mountains is of great practical significance for the development and construction of wind farms, but it is not yet fully understood. The main purpose of this study is to propose a method for the study of flow field characteristics under complex mountain conditions, which can optimize the boundary conditions required for numerical simulation through the wind acceleration ratio and, at the same time, couple the numerical simulation and wind measurement data to reflect the real mountain flow field distribution. The results show that the proposed method has good applicability in complex mountain wind farms, can reproduce the real flow field distribution, and has a certain practical value. Wind speed distribution and turbulence intensity are greatly affected by boundary conditions such as wind speed and wind direction and are also affected by the shielding effect brought by terrain changes. The contrast between 120° and 150° wind direction is more obvious. When the incoming wind moves to the top of a mountain or the ridgeline, it will form a low-speed wake area behind it, resulting in reduced wind speed, increased turbulence intensity, and an unstable flow field.

USE OF TECHNOLOGIES OF HIGHER NERVOUS ACTIVITY AND PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL HUMAN FUNCTIONS STUDYING IN EXTREME CONDITIONS

Applied techniques and some results of studies the higher nervous activity (HNA) of the people, their psychophysiological functions (PFF) by Ukrainian scientists and doctors were described, as well as influences of extreme conditions on HNA. Aim. Results of the influence of extreme mountain conditions at high altitudes (hypoxia, etc.) demonstration and further research of changes in the psychophysiological functions of the brain under these conditions; description of the developed methods of professional selection. Methods. Comparative analysis of a large number of the data from experiments and observations. Physical, mathematical, program modeling. Methods of HNA, brain research: electroencephalography, diagnosis of personal neurodynamic features, etc. Three methods of PFF research: parameters of the neurodynamic level, parameters of the neuropsychological level, and personal specifics. The adapted questionnaire scheme (QS) based on Cattell's 16-factor personality tests was applied. Results. The influence of hypoxia and other factors of mountain conditions on HNA were studied deeply. The results were presented. Also, there were presented results of registered changes of EEG in such extreme conditions. The influence of a number of stress factors in extreme conditions (hypoxia, etc.) has been demonstrated. Some basic methods of HNA researches used in such conditions were described as well as results of investigations of individual typological features of the nervous systems were presented. Methods for human psychophysiological functions studying were described. Studies of human personal characteristics were described in details. Data recorded by the PNN-3 device were taken for the diagnosis of personal neurodynamic features. The parameters of the neuropsychological level were determined using the following methods: "triangles" (the level of development of short-term visual memory), "instrument scales" (working memory, attention functions, etc.), and "red and black tables" (allocation and switching of attention). Personality structures, features, and types of behavior of operators in stressful situations were estimated basing on adapted QS by Cattell. Mathematical models of the reliability of human nervous system functioning under extreme conditions were developed. Conclusions. The obtained results were taken as the basis for the developed professional selection methods for special contingents, pilots, operators, etc. Physical, mathematical, and program models of the reliability of the human nervous system functioning in these conditions were proposed.

"Clinical Features of the Integumentary System in Persons Living in the Vicinity of Uranium Tailings in Mountain Conditions"

"Clinical Features of the Integumentary System in Persons Living in the Vicinity of Uranium Tailings in Mountain Conditions"

Ontogenic Predisposition of Tomato Foliage to Early Blight Caused by Alternaria solani under Mountainous Conditions of Kashmir

This study explores the susceptibility of tomato plants to early blight caused by Alternaria solani concerning their chronological and physiological ages. While previous research has noted higher resistance in younger potato plants and an acropetal increase in resistance within plant leaves, such investigations are limited in tomatoes. Our study aimed to address this gap by investigating the influence of chronological and physiological ages on early blight resistance in tomato plants. Using the Keck Ruth Ageti cultivar, we conducted experiments at various plant growth stages. Chronological age variations were achieved by sowing seeds at 10-day intervals, with inoculation occurring when the youngest seedlings reached 20 days. Leaf sampling from different sections facilitated the evaluation of physiological age effects. Results showed a direct relationship between plant age and disease susceptibility, with older plants exhibiting higher incidence rates. Moreover, resistance increased from lower to upper leaves, with top leaves demonstrating the highest resistance.

Meteorological regime of the Elbrus high-mountain zone during the accumulation period

Unique automated meteorological observations were carried out on the southern slope of Elbrus, near Pastukhov Rocks, at 4700 m a.s.l., during the 2021–2022 accumulation season. Data were obtained on air temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, snowdrift and radiation fluxes with a temporal resolution of 1 minute or less. Analysis of the data series showed that the representative winter air temperature at this altitude on the southern slope of Elbrus is –10 °С, and the minimum is –36.4 °С; the partial pressure of water vapor does not exceed 3.5 hPa. At the same time, the average daily maximum of wind speed amounted 13.1 m s–1 with the absolute maximum of 54.1 m/s. Snowstorms with a snow transport intensity of more 0.1 kg/m2s–1 are quite common phenomenon in winter, while the maximum average value of the transport reaches 0.87 kg/m2s–1. An empirical relationship was established between the average hourly wind speed and the maximum gust speed for the same period, and it was shown that for these conditions the wind gust exceeds the average hourly wind speed by 1.8 times, while the representative value of the standard deviation of wind speed is 5.8 m s–1. This information may be useful not only for the glaciologic problems and modeling, but also for construction and engineering surveys, which are relevant in view of the present-day active development of the mountain ski infrastructure on the southern macro-slope of the Elbrus. In addition, the obtained series of instrumental observations were used to assess the quality of reanalysis data for high mountain regions taking as an example the ERA5. The ERA5 reanalysis was demonstrated to reproduce rather successfully the air temperature, wind speed and humidity in high mountain conditions, but extreme values for all these parameters are underestimated. Thus, the minimum temperature in winter turned out to be overestimated by 2 °C, and the maximum was underestimated by 4 °C, while the wind speed, according to the ERA5 reanalysis, never exceeded 40 m/s during the above observation period. It is also shown that the FlowCapt4 acoustic blizzard gauge (driftometer) can be used to estimate average wind speeds since it is less sensitive to severe high-altitude conditions compared to acoustic and cup anemometers.

Оптимальное проектирование профиля ствола наклонно направленной скважины в горных условиях

The well design process is closely related to the problem of determining effective drilling conditions, namely, constructing an optimal well profile in mountain conditions. The accuracy of the trajectory of the drilling tool in the rock directly depends on the operational calculation of the spatial coordinates of the well. Materials and methods. The displacement and length of the wellbore were preliminarily determined; determining the accuracy of the design well profile and deviation of the wellbore. Results and discussion. During the solution, in addition to constructing a graph of the parabolic dependence using the least squares method, graphic images of other dependences that approximate the original data were also found. Conclusion. Calculating the length of the trajectory at any part of the well and the ability to reach a given end point of drilling in a rock formation with changes in external factors is an obvious advantage of the proposed method. Resume. Based on the results of the analysis of various methods and inclinometric studies, the application of the least squares method is justified, which allows determining the estimated length of the well and promptly responding to any deviation from the optimal trajectory, calculating the shortest path without affecting the drilling speed in mountainous conditions. Suggestions for practical applications and future research directions. The application of this method in combination with existing methods for constructing an optimal well profile and verification by physical methods is proposed.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ РОДОДЕНДРОНА В КАЧЕСТВЕ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННОГО РАСТИТЕЛЬНОГО СЫРЬЯ

The use of a system of fundamental and applied knowledge in the field of biological resources including endemic plant species listed in the regional Red Books of the North Caucasus will allow us to determine the mechanisms of their adaptation in extreme mountain conditions. In this regard it is necessary to monitor wild species of Rhododendron caucasicum Pall. in natural ecosystems and the prospects of their practical application as BAS. The research was carried out during the period of mass flowering of plants. It has been established that the Caucasian rhododendron grows on mountain forest-meadow soils is part of the grass- rhododendron and blueberry- rhododendron communities. The analysis of the chemical composition showed a high content of BAS in the leaves: catechins-0.34-0.61, flavonols-1.15-2.23 %, ascorbic acid-15.0-19.0 %, anthocyanins 50.1-68.3 mg%. A high content of tannins was found in the stems - 12-16 %. Due to its high decorative value throughout the growing season, its rich chemical composition, this species can be a valuable biological resource for use as an ornamental, medicinal, ethereal plant, tannin-bearing plant.

Survey of driver's functional state change, considering movement through mountain passes

According to traffic accident statistics, the main causes are violations of traffic rules. Based on scientific research, it is clear that the main reason for these events is the drivers' incorrect assessment of the road situation and their inadequate response. Assessing road conditions depends on drivers' qualifications, skills, work experience, reaction time, and other physiological factors. The functional state of drivers is important to consider. It reflects their ability to work reliably and affects both fatigue levels and how fatigue builds up. Factors that impact decision-making speed and quality are crucial when evaluating the risks of the transportation process, particularly those associated with human behavior. This study investigates the safety of freight transportation for drivers, road users, third parties, and the environment. The study focuses on road traffic characteristics in mountainous conditions at high altitudes. The study aims to analyze how drivers' performance is affected while navigating challenging sections of mountain roads in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Four different routes will be examined. The research will provide graphic analysis of the results. It will show the main patterns of changes in drivers' functional state based on the route's complexity. The research aims to analyze indicators of drivers' functional state and their impact on their performance reliability. It allows for a more detailed evaluation of transport routes and planning of truck drivers' work and rest schedules on suburban routes.

Study of Wind Load Influencing Factors of Flexibly Supported Photovoltaic Panels

Flexible photovoltaic (PV) support structures are limited by the structural system, their tilt angle is generally small, and the effect of various factors on the wind load of flexibly supported PV panels remains unclear. In order to investigate the shape coefficients of the flexibly supported PV panel arrays, the grid-independent validation is carried out first, and then the case study validation is carried out to ensure the accuracy of the method in this paper. The CFD numerical simulation method is used to obtain the wind load variation of the PV panel array with different tilt angles, different spacing ratios, different wind angles, different heights above ground, different regions, and mountainous conditions. The distribution of wind pressure coefficients on the surface of PV panels with different inclination angles at different spacing ratios was investigated. The results show that the wind load shape coefficients with the increase in tilt angle and height above ground are basically a linear growth; the maximum value of PV shape coefficients appears in the wind angle at 30°, and 150° near the different tilt angles of the flexible PV array group shape coefficients distribution law is inconsistent. Different tilt angles of PV modules with the change rule of the spacing ratio of the wind load are inconsistent and have a greater impact on the wind load, so the PV panel array in all wind direction angles under the regional shape coefficients has a recommended value. The proposed value of the regional shape coefficients at all wind angles and the wind load calculation formula introducing height coefficients and spacing ratio coefficients are given.

Habitat parameters influencing the distribution of a geographically isolated flying squirrel

AbstractThe San Bernardino flying squirrel (SBFS) is an isolated subspecies of Humboldt's flying squirrel, occurring in montane sky islands in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains in Southern California, USA. Recent small mammal surveys in the San Jacinto Mountains suggest the squirrel is extirpated. Our objectives were (1) determine habitat features, including forest metrics and topographical factors, that influence SBFS presence, in the San Bernardino Mountains; (2) use information collected in the San Bernardino Mountains to confirm squirrel occurrence and habitat preference in the San Jacinto Mountains; and (3) assess habitat and climatic differences between the two mountain ranges that could explain species persistence in one mountain range but not the other. We surveyed for SBFS using camera traps at 54 sites in the San Bernardino Mountains and 34 sites in the San Jacinto Mountains using both camera traps and acoustics. In the San Bernardino Mountains, we detected squirrels in sites that were more mesic, had higher structural heterogeneity, and had greater amounts of downed woody material compared to non‐detection sites. Habitat parameters were similar between the two ranges; however, squirrels were not detected in the San Jacinto Mountains. Conditions in the San Jacinto Mountains were hotter and drier. Increased temperatures due to climate change could potentially explain the absence of flying squirrels in the San Jacinto Mountains.

Progress in the Research of Features and Characteristics of Mountainous Rural Settlements: Distribution, Issues, and Trends

The study of Features and Characteristics of Mountainous Rural Settlements (RFCMRS) is a key factor in the development of rural settlements during the urbanization process. Mountainous rural settlements, due to their unique mountainous conditions, climate, living environments, and regional culture, are among the important subjects of research for governments and the academic community worldwide. This paper, utilizing the knowledge mapping software CiteSpace (6.2.R3) for co-citation and collaboration analysis, keyword clustering, keyword time zoning, and keyword emergence, analyzes the research trajectory, key issues, and future trends of RFCMRSs. The study finds that current RFCMRS research can be categorized into the following three key issues: “implications of climate change: risks and adaptive responses”, “regional cultural heritage and economic development”, and “ecological conservation and fostering harmonious symbiosis”. Future research will focus on the following three development trends: “risk response based on climate resilience and ecological protection”, “factors of features and characteristics based on regional culture and landscape configurations”, and “human settlements based on low-carbon objectives and sustainable development principles”. Lastly, the paper proposes the following three future research suggestions: “improving the evaluation system for features and characteristics of mountainous rural settlements”, “deepening the study on the evolutionary phenomenon and mechanism for features and characteristics of mountainous rural settlements”, and “exploring the design methods for features and characteristics of mountainous rural settlements based on the concept of sustainable development”.

Analysis of the Current Opportunities for Valorization and Conservation of the Main Autochthonous Cattle Breeds in the Conditions of the Carpathian Mountain Areas

The Carpathian areas are defined by a specific natural area, outlined by mountain geographical and climatic conditions that allowed the development of traditional agriculture, dominated by native cattle breeds, adapted to restrictive factors specific to mountain areas, which limited the expansion of perfected, highly productive and sensitive breeds. The purpose of this review consists of synthesizing and revising the current literature regarding the origin and evolution of cattle breeding of Pinzgau de Transilvania, Brună type Schwyz and Bălțată Românească breeds in various mountain areas of Romania, in association with their morpho-productive characteristics and development of traditional dairy products. The results found in the literature revealed the current level of support and implementation of strategies for the conservation of significant cattle herds from the main native breeds. The essential characteristics for the perpetuation of cattle breeds adapted to the Carpathian Mountain conditions are also presented, as well as the criteria of their promotion by breeders in the mountain areas. In the current context of the expansion of commercial farms, domestic cattle breeds, mainly Pinzgau herds, are insufficiently supported. Thus, we consider that any effort to preserve and support local cattle breeds is fully justified.

Efektivitas Modul Pencemaran Sampah dengan Model Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) untuk Meningkatkan Keterampilan Berpikir Kritis Mahasiswa Biologi

Critical thinking skills are a crucial aspect of the 21st century, playing a fundamental role in various areas of life, yet they are still not optimally developed in classrooms. This research aims to develop critical thinking skills through the Argument Driven Inquiry (ADI) module for biology students. This study uses a nonrandomized control-group pretest-posttest design experiment involving three classes as the experimental group, positive control, and negative control. This research sample consisted of 67 biology students from Universitas Negeri Malang across three classes. Data collection techniques employed pretest and posttest questions on critical thinking skills. Data analysis was performed using ANCOVA. The results of the ANCOVA test on the biology students' critical thinking revealed a significance of learning at 0.036 (less than 0.05), thus it can be concluded that the research hypothesis is accepted, indicating a difference in critical thinking between students using the ADI module, ADI model, and PowerPoint. The ADI module proved effective in enhancing the critical thinking skills of biology students, with significantly higher posttest results compared to other learning models. The development of this module also included the integration of interactive videos about the conditions of garbage mountains and leachate water pollution at the Supit Urang Malang landfill, providing a more realistic context for the students

Changes in the pulmonary circulation due to gravitational loads in high altitude conditions.

The impact of gravity on the existence of all living things has long been of interest to scientists. The force of the Earth's gravity combined with hypoxia significantly affects blood circulation and blood accumulation in various parts of the human and animal body. To date, the relationship between body position and blood circulation in pulmonary circulation under hypobaric hypoxia has not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, the research aims to determine the possibility of changing the body position in space on the reactions in the pulmonary circulation in the plains and highlands. For this purpose, research was conducted on male Wistar rats, 44 of whom spent 150 days at an altitude of 3200 m above sea level, and 25 representatives of the control group - at an altitude of 164 m. The study revealed that gravitational redistribution of blood in mountainous conditions is less pronounced compared to the control group. This is explained by the remodeling of the vascular wall and an increase in its stiffness. It was found that a change in pulmonary artery pressure at the time of a change in body position was recorded both on the plains and in the highlands. On the plains, when the body position of rats was changed to passive orthostatic, a decrease in systolic and diastolic pulmonary artery pressure was noted, and when the body position was changed to passive anti-orthostatic, an increase in pulmonary artery pressure was observed. The increase in pulmonary artery pressure was a compensatory mechanism due to the increased stiffness of the pulmonary vasculature. The practical significance of this research is to expand the understanding of the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension in high-altitude hypoxia.

Response of the Soil Organic Matter to Clear-cutting in the Face of Climate Change – a Report from the East Sudety Mountains, South-West Poland

Abstract Clear-cutting induces biogeochemical, ecological, and hydrological changes in the soil environment, especially in the conditions of climate change effect. This type of management affects soil carbon sequestration. In this paper, we generalize the effect of clear-cutting in mountainous mixed coniferous forests on the direction of organic matter transformation and the properties of humic substances. Soil samples of dystric Cambisols were taken two and ten years after clear-cutting (CC). Soil profiles located at the same elevation under forest cover without any harvesting were used as references. The contents of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of humic substances, as well as the mineralogical composition and the clay-associated C fraction, were analysed. Under mountainous conditions, clear-cutting in the mixed coniferous forest enhanced organic matter decomposition and decreased the low-molecular weight humic fraction. It also caused the accumulation of more stable humic acids, particularly in the upper soil horizons, and resulted in accumulation of humic substances with higher contents of C and O and lower H content in the first years after CC. Clear-cutting in the first two years reduced the aliphacity of humic acids in the topsoil. Ten years after harvesting, a significant increase in aliphacity in the Oa horizon confirmed organic matter recovery. Mixed coniferous forests are more resistant to biotic and abiotic disturbances, which is particularly important in the face of violent weather phenomena related to climate change. Thus, forest management plans should consider the conversion of spruce monocultures to mixed coniferous forests.

Phylogenomics of Puya (Bromeliaceae): Evolution in the Andean slopes and sky island ecosystems

AbstractPhylogenomics enhances our understanding of plant radiations in the biodiverse Andes. Our study focuses on Puya, primarily Andean and a part of the Bromeliaceae family. Using a phylogenomic framework based on the Angiosperms353 probe set for 80 species, we explored Puya′s phenotypic evolution and biogeography. Divergence time analyses and ancestral area estimations suggested that Puya originated in Central Coastal Chile around 9 million years ago (Ma). Subsequently, it dispersed to the dry valleys of the Central Andes and Puna regions between 5–8 Ma, leading to the emergence of major lineages. Key events in the last 2–4 million years include the recolonization of Chilean lowlands and dispersal to the northern Andes via Peru's Jalcas, facilitating passage through the Huancabamba depression. This event gave rise to the high‐elevation Northern Andes clade. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we tested the hypothesis that adaptation to the Andes' island‐like high‐elevation ecosystems was facilitated by unique leaf and floral traits, life history, and inflorescence morphology. Our findings suggest correlations between inflorescence axis compression, protective bract overlap, and high‐elevation living, potentially preventing reproductive structure freezing. Semelparity evolved exclusively at high elevations, although its precise adaptive value remains uncertain. Our framework offers insights into Andean evolution, highlighting that lineages adapted to life in dry ecosystems can easily transition to high‐elevation biomes. It also underscores how the island‐like nature of high‐elevation ecosystems influences phenotypic evolution rates. Moreover, it opens avenues to explore genetic mechanisms underlying adaptation to extreme mountain conditions.