NatureMapping Habitat - Unvegetated: Glacier

Definition of "Unvegetated" - General Code 100: Less than 10% vegetation cover. Excludes agricultural and, developed areas, and open water. Refers mostly to large areas of bare rock, saline flats, and permanent snow and ice fields.

Unvegetated: Glacier (120)

Descriptive Habitat Code: The glaciers on Mt. Rainier are Unvegetated (1), with permanent Ice/Snow (20)

Photo: Tim Knight

Ice worms

Photo: AVP

Distribution and Habitat:
Ice worms are found in glaciers.

Diet:
Probably small particles of plant debris trapped inside the ice.

Interesting fact:
The glacial ice is not a solid block, but made up of small crushed pieces pressed tightly together. Ice worms move through the small openings between the pieces.

Lady beetles
(aka Ladybugs)
Photo: TFK

Distribution and Habitat:
Ladybugs are found all over the world. They have many different patterns.

Diet:
Larvae eat more than their parents. Their food consists of aphids, white flies, mites and other insects that damage our gardens.

Interesting fact:
Lady beetles have been known to hibernate in large groups in the crevices of glaciers.

Lady Bug Fact Sheet »

Western toad
Bubo boreas
Photo: KM

Distribution and Habitat:
The Western toad has been found on top of glaciers in Alaska. It is also found in the lower 48 states.

Diet:
Insects are its primary food source.

Interesting fact:
Some of the frogs "freeze" during the winter. Their bodies produce a lot of sugar which moves into all of the cells. Just as sugar water doesn't freeze, neither does their sugar-packed blood, and it flows very slowly. When there is a spring thaw, the sugar decreases and their blood thins out and they are ready to look for a mate.