LSM2251!02!03a Terrestrial & Aquatic Biomes

8/3/2019 LSM2251!02!03a Terrestrial & Aquatic Biomes

1/88

LSM2251

Ecology & the Environment


2/88

LSM3251Ecology & Environmental Processes

Part I: Introduction to biomes

& The Terrestrial environment& The Terrestrial Environment

Part II: The Aquatic Environment

Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: conceptsand applications, 3rdedition. McGraw-Hill.

Chapters 2 & 3: Life on Land, Life in Water

Most general biology or ecology textbooks


3/88

To learn about the terrestrial environment by

understanding the factors that affect theirgeographic distribution and

briefly surveying the diversity ofterrestrialbiomes

Objectives


4/88

Tundra

Boreal forest (Taiga)

Temperate forest

Temperate grassland

Mediterranean woodland & shrubland

Desert

Tropical savanna Tropical dry forest

Tropical rain forest

Mountains

Increasinglatitude

Terrestrial biomes


5/88

Questions

What changes would you experience when movingnorth of south of the equator?

Temperature?

Seasonality?

Precipitation?


6/88

Pattern?

1. Tropical Rainforest

2. Tropical Dry Forest(Monsoon Forest)

3. Tropical Savanna4. Desert

5. MediterraneanWoodland &Shrubland

6. Temperate Grassland

7. Temperate Forest

8. Boreal Forest

9. Tundra

10. Mountains

Which are thewarmest biomes?

Which are the coldest?

Which are the wettest?

Which are the driest?


7/88

Scope

Part I: Introduction to biomes& The Terrestrial Environment

1. What is responsible for climatic variation?

2. A brief look at soil.

3. What are biomes?

Terrestrial biomes & Ecoregions


8/88

There are predictable large-scale climatic patterns, e.g.: Average temperature lower & more seasonal in

temperate zones compared to tropics.

Precipitation more constant in some regions, moreseasonal in others.

Large-scale spatial and temporal variation in climate arefundamental to terrestrial ecology.

Terrestrial biomes influenced by climate, especiallytemperature and precipitation.

1. What is responsible forclimatic variation?


9/88

Whittaker, R.H., 1975.Communities and EcosystemsMacmillan, New York, p. 385.


10/88

What affects patterns of climatic variation?

Uneven heating of earths surface by the sun.

Atmospheric circulation

1


11/88

Uneven heating of earths surface by the sun.

Spherical shape of earth + Tilt of earths axis (23.5)

= Regular shift in latitude where sun is directlyoverhead leads to the seasons.

Leads to variation in temperature & day length. Significant at middle to high latitudes (temperate).

Slight at lower latitudes (tropics).

1.1 The Earth is tilted (axial tilt)blame Theia (impactor on proto-Earth)!

1


12/88

Wikipedia:Axial Tilt

1


13/88

1


14/88

N

S

Southernsummer

Northernwinter

N

S

Southernwinter

Northernsummer

Variation in temperature & day lengthSignificant at middle to high latitudes (temperate).

Slight at lower latitudes (tropics).

1


15/88

! Heating of earths surface andatmosphere.

! and rotation of the earth.

Leads to variation in precipitation.

! Warm, moist air rises -condensation - cool, dry air sinks

! Heavy rainfall in tropics nearequator.

! Desert formation in subtropics atca. 30 latitude.

! Heavy precipitation in temperateregions at ca. 60 latitude.

Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-H

2.2 Atmospheric circulation.

1


16/88

Three atmosphericcirculation cells:

Low latitudes: air circulatingbetween equator and 30atitude

Middle latitudes: aircirculating between 30 and60 latitude

High latitudes:! air circulatingbetween 60 latitude andpoles

Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts andapplications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill

1


17/88

Observed winds do not move directly north/south.

! NE & SE tradewinds - Tropics! Westerlies - Temperate region! Polar easterlies - High latitudes

! Coriolis effect - phenomenon caused by the rotation of the earth, whichcauses deflection of winds clockwise in Northern Hemisphere andanticlockwise in Southern Hemisphere.

Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill

1


18/88

Whittaker, R.H., 1975.Communities and Ecosystems.Macmillan, New York, p. 385.

Predictable large-scaleclimatic patterns

influenced by climate,especially temperature

and precipitation.

1


19/88

Complex mixture of living (organic/biotic) and non-living (inorganic/abiotic) material.

Soil profile based on

vertical layering

(soil horizons) that

merge into one

another at

transition zones.

O

A

B

C


2. Soil

1


20/88

O horizon (organic layer) (litter layer)

Freshly fallen organic matter + fragmented/partiallydecomposed organic matter (action of macro/micro-

decomposers). Absent in?

A horizon (mixed mineral/organic matter) (topsoil)

Mixture of inorganic matter (minerals, clay, silt and sand)and organic matter (from O horizon; burrowers).

B horizon (depositional layer)

Distinctive banding from deposition/leaching of materials(e.g., mineral nutrients, humus) from A horizon by water.

C horizon (parent material) (deepest layer)

Weathered parent material (action of water, frost, roots). Source of smaller fragments from bedrock below.

Soil horizons

Biologicalactivity

plant roots

2


21/88

A biotic community characterised by the distinct life forms ofthe important climax species (plants).

Major divisions of the terrestrial environment (14) Distinguished by predominant plant formations and soil

types.

Associated with different climates.

3. Biomes & Ecoregions3.1 What are biomes?

2


22/88

Biomes: distinguished primarily bythe predominant plants, and areassociated with particular climates.

Occur in different geographical regions.

How many?

Lets see - Google Images, world biome

What is a Biome?Glossary (back of Molles)

2


23/88

2


24/88

http://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/cdciw/biomes/research.htm

2
http://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/cdciw/biomes/research.htmhttp://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/cdciw/biomes/research.htm


25/88

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

2
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm


26/88

How many Biomes?(Molles, Solomon)

1. Tropical Rainforest

2. Tropical Dry Forest(Monsoon Forest)

3. Tropical Savanna

4. Desert5. Mediterranean

Woodland &Shrubland

6. TemperateGrassland

7. Temperate Forest

8. Boreal Forest

9. Tundra10. Mountains

2


27/88

14 biomes

2


28/88

2


29/88

Terrestrial Biomes of the World1. Tropical & subtropical

moist broadleaf forests

2. Tropical & subtropical

dry broadleaf forests

3. Tropical & subtropicalconiferous forests

4. Temperate broadleaf & mixedforests

5. Temperate coniferous forests

6. Boreal forests/Taiga

7. Tropical & subtropicalgrasslands, savannnas andshrublands

8. Temperate grasslands,savannnas and shrublands

9. Flooded grasslands, and

savannnas

10. Montane grasslands, andsavannnas

11. Tundra

12. Mediterranean forests,woodlands and scrub

13. Deserts & Xeric shrublands

14. Mangroves

2


30/88

3.2 Terrestrial Ecoregionsof the World

8 biogeographic realms 14 biomes

867 ecoregions

3


31/88

3


32/88

e.g. Papua New Guinea

Previously - a single bioticregion

New map: 12 ecoregions 4 lowland, 4 montane

alpine scrub, mangrove,freshwater swamp,savannah-grassland

3


33/88

Ecoregions

Olson et al. (2001) defined the biogeographicunit "ecoregions" as

relatively large units of land, containing a distinct assemblage of natural

communities and species,

with boundaries that approximate theoriginal extent of natural communitiesprior to major land-use change.

3


34/88

Helpful , how?

More accurately reflects the distribution of speciesand communities. It provides:

a map with enough detail global and regional conservation increase biogeographic literacy

illustrate conservation issues around theworld

framework for strategies and analyses

3


35/88

3


36/88

3


37/88

3


38/88

3


39/88

Part II. Aquatic environments

3


40/88

Objective & ScopeTo learn about the hydrologic cycle and

selected representative aquatic biomes.

1. Hydrologic cycle

2. Aquatic environments

2.1Characteristics

2.2 Oceans

2.3 Littoral shores

2.4 River, streams & Lakes

3. Tides

4


41/88

1. Hydrologic cycle Cycling of water across the

biosphere.

Over 71% of the earthssurface is covered by water:

Oceans: 97%. Polar ice caps; glaciers:

2%.

Lakes; rivers; streams;

! ground water:


42/88

1. Hydrologic cycle =water cycle

Distribution of water is dynamic, not static: Heat from the sun (solar energy)

Evaporation

Clouds

Precipitation

Evaporation

Consumed by organisms

Groundwater

Surface water

4


43/88

USGS: US De t Interior 4


44/88

2.1Aquatic Environments:Characteristics

Go through Molles (2007),tabulate characteristics

of each type of water body

Easiest parameter to remember,

= salinity

4


45/88

2. Aquatic Environments:Characteristics

Heterogenous - diverse in character orcontent

Specific areas have specific influences

4


46/88

How does theWest and East

Coast of Malaysiadiffer from each

other?

What ecosystemsdominate in each?

4


47/88

2.2 Oceans

4


48/88

Intertidal Zone, then:

Distance from shore/continental shelf:

Neritic Zone: Coast to edge of continental shelf (up to 200m depth).

Oceanic Zone: Beyond continental shelf (beyond 200m depth).

Depth beyond continental shelf:

Epipelagic (0-200m) Mesopelagic (200-1,000m) Bathypelagic (1,000-4,000m) Abyssal (4,000-6,000m) Hadal (>6,000m)

Habitat:

Benthic: Habitat on ocean bottom. Pelagic: Habitat off the bottom in water column. Neritic: within the water column

Oceans: Structure

4


49/88

w York Times

4


50/88

Salinity between 34 ppt to 36.5 ppt; lowest near equator;

highest in subtropics.Why?

Lower oxygen concentration (cf. aerial environments).Oxygen concentration highest near ocean surface, anddecreases with depth to a minimum at < 1,000m.

Photosynthetic organisms limited to upper epipelagic zone(euphotic zone).

food only from above?

Chemosynthesis occurs near deep sea hydrothermal vents -chemoautotrophic bacteria making use of hydrogen sulphide

Oceans

5


51/88

! 80% light absorbed in first 10 m.! Which colour light is least quickly absorbed

by water?

! Quality of underwater photos?

! Most of ocean is dark

Oceans: Light

BBC Blue Planet: Bioluminescence

5


52/88

! Warm surface water floats ontop of cooler water below.

! Thermocline separates the twolayers = thermal stratification(300-400 metres).

! Permanent feature of tropicaloceans - seasonal feature oftemperate oceans (summer)

! Temperature variation anrequator = 1C

Oceans: Temperature

5


53/88

!

Wind-driven surface currents transport! nutrients

! oxygen

! heat

! organisms

! Where does this energy come from?

Oceans: Water Movement

5


54/88

Oceanic Circulation

Molles, M. C. Jr., 2007. Ecology: concepts and applications, 4th edition. McGraw-Hill

Currents exist throughout the world.

Warm equatorial waters transported to the poles

E.g. Gulf Stream

5


55/88

! Warm equatorial waters transported to the poles createmoderate climates in temperate areas.


Canada

http://www.welt-atlas.deNOAA (Wikipedia)

Gulf Stream

5
http://www.welt-atlas.de/http://www.welt-atlas.de/http://www.welt-atlas.de/http://www.welt-atlas.de/http://www.welt-atlas.de/http://www.welt-atlas.de/


56/88

Kuroshio CurrentApr - May 1998Remote sensing systemshttp://www.ssmi.com/

5
http://www.ssmi.com/http://www.ssmi.com/http://www.ssmi.com/http://www.ssmi.com/


57/88

pheniscus humboldti,Per: Islas Ballestas

Peter (zug55) on Flickrhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/zug55/4796491016/

5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zug55/4796491016/http://www.flickr.com/photos/zug55/4796491016/


58/88

Currents cause upwellings.

Oceans: Water MovementUpwelling - wind-driven motion of dense, cooler, and usuallynutrient-rich water towards the ocean surface, replacing the

warmer, usually nutrient-depleted surface water.

NOAA

5


59/88

Currents cause upwellings.


Deep water is nutrient-rich.No light; Energy source?

What is marine snow?Dead or dying animals and plants (plankton), protists (diatoms)

faecal matter, sand, soot and other inorganic dust.

What is the significance of marine snowto the twilight and midnight zones?

What is the significance of upwellingto fisheries and humans?

5


60/88

Deepwater currents cause upwellings.


Rutgers COOLhttp://marine.rutgers.edu/coolroom/education/upwelling.htm

6
http://marine.rutgers.edu/coolroom/education/upwelling.htmhttp://marine.rutgers.edu/coolroom/education/upwelling.htmhttp://marine.rutgers.edu/coolroom/education/upwelling.htm


61/88

Normalconditions

Warmerwater in

W Pacific

Coolerwater in E

Pacific

Upwelling

El Nioconditions

Warmerwater in E

Pacific

Absence ofupwellingRelatively

cooler waterin W Pacific

Source:www.elnino.noaa.gov/

6
http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/http://www.elnino.noaa.gov/


62/88

Oceans: Water MovementWhat is the significance of EL Nino to upwelling?

During normal conditions:

Cool, W coastal waters off S America rich in nutrients due to upwelling.

During warm episode (El Nio):

Stratification!thermocline

!upwelling shut off! reduced nutrient supply

! reduced phytoplankton primary production

! reduced food supply to consumers.

6


63/88

Salinity between 34 ppt to 36.5 ppt;lowest near equator; highest in

subtropics.Why?

Lower oxygen concentration (cf. aerialenvironments). Oxygen concentrationhighest near ocean surface, and decreaseswith depth to a minimum at < 1,000m.

Photosynthetic organisms limited toupper epipelagic zone (euphotic zone).

food only from above?

Chemosynthesis occurs near deep seahydrothermal vents - chemoautotrophicbacteria making use of hydrogen sulphide

Oceans

6


64/88

2.3 Inter-tidal shores

6


65/88

2.3 Inter-tidal shoresVarious systems of vertical zonation of the sea shore.

Example:

Supralittoral (=splash zone) Zone: > HHWST Always exposed, i. e. Never covered even by the highest tides.

Littoral (= intertidal) zone: HHWST < Littoral > LLWST

Daily exposure (air) and immersion (seawater), 1-2x/day.

Sublittoral Below LLWST mark

Always covered by water even during lowest tides.

6


66/88

6


67/88

Sea shores

Waves and tides affect distribution and abundance ofintertidal organisms.

Semidiurnal tides: Two periods of low and high tidesdaily.

Diurnal tides: Single low and high tide each day.

Intertidal zone organisms adapted to amphibiousexistence.

Differential tolerances to periodicity of air exposureleads to zonation of species.

6


68/88

Inter-tidal tropical forest communities, 30-35 latitude of the Equator.Along protected/sheltered coastlines and estuaries.

Temperate zone equivalent: salt marsh (no trees, dominated by herbaceousvegetation).

(2.3) Mangrove forests

6


69/88

Open ecosystem:

autochthonous (inside) and allochthonous (outside) inputs.

Challenging environment:

High and fluctuating salinity (physiologically dry environment)

Unstable and anoxic substratum Mangrove plants and animal adaptations (structural,

physiological, reproductive)

Low plant species diversity


6


70/88

Low plant species diversity Zonation parallel to shoreline, defined by dominant

tree species or topography

Keystone species:. Mud lobster, Thalassina anomala

Keystone species: Sulphur bacteria, Desulfovibriospp.


7


71/88

Image: www.freeimages.co.uk

2.4: Rivers, streams and lakes

7


72/88

2.4 LimnologyLSM4264 Freshwater Biology

Study of freshwater habitats. Lakes Rivers, streams Freshwater swamps

Peat swamps Freshwater marshes Peat bogs

"Freshwater ecosystems

have lost a greaterproportion of their

species and habitat thanecosystems on land or

in the oceans,and they face increasing

threats from dams,water withdrawals,pollution, invasive

species, andoverharvesting."

7


73/88

2.4 Lakes ~ small seas

Littoral zone: Shallows Limnetic zone: Open lake Lakes become thermally stratified as they warm forming

three layers:

Epilimnion: Warm surface layers. Uppermost stratum. Oxygen-rich - higher concentration of fauna.

Metalimnion: Temperature changes rapidly with depth(=Thermocline).

Hypolimnion: Cold dark waters. Lowest stratum. Oxygen-poor - lower concentration of fauna.

Most of the worldsfreshwater resides ina few large lakes;

ca. 60% of the

worlds freshwaterare in three majorlakes

7


74/88

Lake Structure

= (Thermocline)


7


75/88

Classified by trophic (nutrition) state

Well nourished = eutrophic (hyper-eutrophic)

mesotrophic

Lowly nourished = oligotrophic

Classification of Lakes

7


76/88

Dependent on:

Nutrient supply - bedrock geology, soils, vegetation, humanlanduse and management

Climate - sunlight, temp, precipitation, turnover

Shape of lake basin (morphometry) - depth, vol.,watershed: lake surface area

Classification of Lakes

7


77/88

Oligotrophic: Nutrient-poor; lowbiological production; well oxygenated.E.g. Lake Toba (rock base)

Organisms requiring high oxygenconcentrations

Cooler, well mixed increased oxygensolubility and concentration

Low in phytoplankton reduced oxygenconsumption by respiration at night

Lakes

http://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspx

7
http://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspxhttp://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspxhttp://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspxhttp://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspx


78/88

Eutrophic: Nutrient-rich; highbiological production; depleted ofoxygen. E.g. Seletar reservoir (mud/claybase)

Organisms tolerant of low oxygenconcentrations

Warmer, stratified reduced oxygensolubility and concentration;accumulation of decomposing matterbelow thermocline consumes oxygen

High in phytoplankton increasedoxygen consumption by respiration atnight

Lakes

http://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspx

7
http://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspxhttp://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspxhttp://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspxhttp://www.rmbel.info/Reports/Static/TrophicStates.aspx


79/88

Wind-driven mixing of the water column is ecologicallyimportant.

oxygenation of bottom waters replenish nutrients in surface waters

Temperate context: Summer mixing limited to above thermocline

Spring, autumn, winter (if no ice) mixing throughout breakdown of thermal stratification

Local (Tropical) context: No seasonality, but breakdown of thermal stratification may occur

at night due to lower temperatures and strong, night winds.

Lakes

7


80/88

Mangroves

Sand bar

Seagrass lagoon

Rocky shore

Coral rubble

Straits of Johor

Coastal Hill forest

ntations

1km= 0.63 miles0.7km = 0.43 miles

Quarry

3. Tides

8


81/88

Chek Jawa - why a hidden eden?

8


82/88

8


83/88

0.3m

Where are the barnacles?

8


84/88

See http://tides.sivasothi.com for links

8
http://tides.sivasothi.com/http://tides.sivasothi.com/


85/88

What will the tide be like onthe Pulau Ubin field trip?

How will affect your travel there?

what you will see there?

8


86/88


87/88

What time to do thecoastal cleanup briefing?

ICC falls on the third Saturday of September= Sat 17th September 2011: 9am.

Is the tide suitable for a cleanup?

The Kranji Mangrove briefing is conducted on theSaturday one week before the cleanup.

The organisers take a walk through the site andexamine the mangrove and must see the conditionsof the actual day.

At what time should the briefing be held?8


88/88

LSM2251!02!03a Terrestrial & Aquatic Biomes

Documents

Transcript of LSM2251!02!03a Terrestrial & Aquatic Biomes