Broad categories of ecosystems◦ Similar vegetation and wildlife
Main categories◦ Desert◦ Grassland and Tundra◦ Forest◦ Mountain
www.sustainableplanet.yolasite.com
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/biomemap.htmWorld Biomes
Deserts◦ Subtropics – low moisture
Forests◦ Mid-latitudes, equator – higher moisture◦ East coast
Tundra◦ Polar regions◦ Low moisture, low temperature
Grasslands◦ Temperate – low moisture, interiors
Mountains◦ High elevation – rapid temperature change,
variable precipitation◦ Plate boundaries
Evaporation > Precipitation
Tropical◦ Hottest temps◦ Driest climate
Temperate◦ More fluctuation
in temps◦ More
precipitation Cold
◦ Temp extremes
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/textbook/climate_systems/tropical_desert.html
http://www.sethwhite.org/high%20arctic%20scenery.htm
Small leaves Deep roots and shallow roots Store biomass in seeds low growing wax on leaves Store water in leaves
hair on leaves◦ Reduce evaporation◦ Reflect sunlight◦ Inhibit air circulation
Efficient photosynthesis◦ Only open stomata at night◦ Fewer stomata
Avoid Heat◦ Hibernate, use shade
Dissipate Heat◦ Evaporate from mouth, large ears, dark colours
Retain Water◦ Burrowing, food sources, solid wastes
Acquire Water◦ Plants (cacti), recycle water, retain moisture from
air
Slow recovery time – poor resilience Slow plant growth Low species diversity Slow nutrient cycling – little bacterial
activity Lack of water
Transition – desert and forest
annual precipitation suitable grasses◦ Seasonal drought◦ Grazing by large
herbivores◦ Occasional fires
Tropical Temperate Tundra or polar
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/Biome/biograssland.php
Warm temperatures Two-drought seasons Wetter rest of year Large herds of hoofed animals Resource partitioning
http://biomea.wikispaces.com/Grassland?f=print
Large plains of North and South America
Hot summers, cold winters
Uneven, sparse precipitation
Rich organic layers, fertile soil http://www.champaignschools.org/index2.php?header=./jefferson/&file=../staffwebsites/hamiltja/index
http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/southwestern/MillsCanyon/images/mills_canyon_grassland_lg.jpg
Treeless plains Extreme cold, ice,
snow Mainly snow, little
precipitation Most growth in 6-8
weeks Permafrost –
perennially frozen layer of soil
Animals – burrow, thick coats of fur, feathers
Decomposition slow Low decomposer
populations Soil is poor – organic
matter and nutrients
Tropical◦ Removal of grazers – cattle◦ Desertification
Temperate◦ Removal of grazers, fire, convert to pasture◦ Soil erosion – Dust Bowl
Tundra◦ Soil disturbance◦ Resource development – Oil and Gas
Moderate to high precipitation
Levels of trees and lower vegetation
Tropical Temperate
Deciduous Evergreen
Coniferous
http://www.tropicalisland.de/borneo.html
http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/wc.notes/15.climates.veg/notes_chap15.htm
Equatorial Hot, moisture-laden air Daily rainfall Broadleaf evergreen
plants Shallow roots, wide
bases Dense canopy Epiphytes, vines 2% land surface, half
biodiversity Little litter, rapid
decomp
http://travelwithkids.about.com/od/stluciaresorts/ig/Coconut-Bay-/Rainforest---zip-line.htm
http://www.geography.hunter.cuny.edu/~tbw/wc.notes/15.climates.veg/veg.images/rainforest/huge.tree.cut.down.jpg
Warm summers, moderate-cold winters
abundant precipitation, even distribution
Broadleaf deciduous More leaf litter, slow
decomposition Richer ground layer Most upper-level
predators removed
Evergreen coniferous Cone-bearing, needles Northern hemisphere,
south of tundra Adapted to short
summers Diversity low Deep layer of needles –
duff Acid soil, nutrient poor Bogs, water-logged soil
http://wc-zope.emergence.com:8080/WildernessCommittee_Org/campaigns/wildlands/boreal/reports/Vol11No07/deforestation
http://nrm.salrm.uaf.edu/~dverbyla/bnz_synthesis_CD/chapter9/index.html
25% land surface Extreme variations –
short distances Climate, vegetation,
soil Active geomorphic
processes Islands of
biodiversity – forests Endemic species Control hydro cycle
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/Historical/LewisClark/volcanoes_lewis_clark_october_30_1805.html
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/06/07/1149359779154.html
www.sustainableplanet.yolasite.com
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