The variation of vegetation zones in Sikkim from subtropical forests in lower valleys to alpine tundra near snowlines is an example of which geographical phenomenon?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Altitudinal zonation describes the changes in plant and animal communities at different elevations due to corresponding decreases in temperature and changes in precipitation with increasing height above sea level. Latitudinal zonation refers to climatic and ecological shifts observed from the equator toward the poles across broad flat latitudes. In Sikkim, climbing from 300 meters to over 8,000 meters compresses multiple climatic belts into a very short horizontal distance, creating one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the world.