BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND

1. BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND • Different climates lead to different communities of organisms, especially vegetation. • Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals. • Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

2. BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND Figure 5-9

3. Tropic of Cancer Equator High mountains Polar ice Polar grassland (arctic tundra) Tropic of Capricorn Temperate grassland Tropical grassland (savanna) Chaparral Coniferous forest Temperate deciduous forest Tropical forest Desert Fig. 5-9, p. 106

4. BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND • Biome type is determined by precipitation, temperature and soil type Figure 5-10

5. Cold Polar Tundra Subpolar Temperate Coniferous forest Decreasing temperature Desert Deciduous Forest Grassland Tropical Chaparral Hot Desert Savanna Wet Rain forest Dry Tropical seasonal forest Scrubland Decreasing precipitation Fig. 5-10, p. 107

6. BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND • Parallel changes occur in vegetation type occur when we travel from the equator to the poles or from lowlands to mountaintops. Figure 5-11

7. Elevation Mountain ice and snow Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Coniferous Forest Latitude Deciduous Forest Tropical Forest Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Polar ice and snow Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tropical Forest Fig. 5-11, p. 108

8. DESERT BIOMES • Deserts are areas where evaporation exceeds precipitation. • Deserts have little precipitation and little vegetation. • Found in tropical, temperate and polar regions. • Desert plants have adaptations that help them stay cool and get enough water.

9. Video: Desertification • This video clip is available in CNN Today Videos for Environmental Science, 2004, Volume VII. Instructors, contact your local sales representative to order this volume, while supplies last.

10. DESERT BIOMES • Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate and cold deserts. Figure 5-12

11. Tropical Desert Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-12a, p. 109

12. Temperate Desert Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-12b, p. 109

13. Polar Desert Freezing point Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Mean monthly temperature (°C) Month Fig. 5-12c, p. 109

14. DESERT BIOMES • The flora and fauna in desert ecosystems adapt to their environment through their behavior and physiology. Figure 5-13

15. Red-tailed hawk Gambel'sQuail Yucca Agave Jack rabbit Collared lizard Prickly pear cactus Roadrunner Darkling Beetle Bacteria Diamondback rattlesnake Fungi Kangaroo rat Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer Producer to primary consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 5-13, p. 110

16. GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES • Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue). Figure 5-14

17. Tropical grassland (savanna) Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-14a, p. 112

18. Temperate grassland Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-14b, p. 112

19. Polar grassland (arctic tundra) Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-14c, p. 112

20. GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES • Grasslands (prairies) occur in areas too moist for desert and too dry for forests. • Savannas are tropical grasslands with scattered tree and herds of hoofed animals.

21. Temperate Grasslands • The cold winters and hot dry summers have deep and fertile soil that make them ideal for growing crops and grazing cattle. Figure 5-15

22. Temperate Grasslands • Temperate tall-grass prairie ecosystem in North America. Figure 5-16

23. Golden eagle Pronghorn antelope Grasshopper sparrow Coyote Grasshopper Blue stem grass Prairie dog Bacteria Fungi Prairie Coneflower Secondary to higher-level consumer Primary to secondary consumer Producer to primary consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 5-15, p. 113

24. Polar Grasslands • Polar grasslands are covered with ice and snow except during a brief summer. Figure 5-17

25. Long-tailed jaeger Grizzly bear Caribou Mosquito Snowy owl Arctic fox Horned lark Willow ptarmigan Dwarf Willow Lemming Mountain Cranberry Moss campion Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer Producer to primary consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 5-17, p. 114

26. Chaparral • Chaparral has a moderate climate but its dense thickets of spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires. Figure 5-18

27. FOREST BIOMES • Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar forests. Figure 5-19

28. Tropical rain forest Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-19a, p. 116

29. Temperate deciduous forest Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-19b, p. 116

30. Polar evergreen coniferous forest (boreal forest, taiga) Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Fig. 5-19c, p. 116

31. FOREST BIOMES • Forests have enough precipitation to support stands of trees and are found in tropical, temperate, and sub-polar regions.

32. Tropical Rain Forest • Tropical rain forests have heavy rainfall and a rich diversity of species. • Found near the equator. • Have year-round uniformity warm temperatures and high humidity. Figure 5-20

33. Ocelot Harpy eagle Blue and gold macaw Squirrel monkeys Climbing monstera palm Katydid Slaty-tailed trogon Green tree snake Tree frog Ants Bacteria Bromeliad Fungi Secondary to higher-level consumer Primary to secondary consumer Producer to primary consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 5-20, p. 117

34. Tropical Rain Forest • Filling such niches enables species to avoid or minimize competition and coexist Figure 5-21

35. Emergent layer Harpy eagle Toco toucan Canopy Height (meters) Understory Woolly opossum Shrub layer Brazilian tapir Ground layer Black-crowned antipitta Fig. 5-21, p. 118

36. Temperate Deciduous Forest • Most of the trees survive winter by dropping their leaves, which decay and produce a nutrient-rich soil. Figure 5-22

37. Broad-winged hawk Hairy Woodpecker Gray Squirrel White oak White-footed mouse Metallic wood-boring beetle and Larvae White-tailed deer Mountain Winterberry Shagbark hickory May beetle Racer Long-tailed weasel Fungi Bacteria Wood frog Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer Producer to primary consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 5-22, p. 120

38. Evergreen Coniferous Forests • Consist mostly of cone-bearing evergreen trees that keep their needles year-round to help the trees survive long and cold winters. Figure 5-23

39. Blue jay Great horned owl Marten Balsam fir Moose White Spruce Wolf Bebb willow Pine sawyer beetle and larvae Snowshoe hare Fungi Starflower Bunchberry Bacteria Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 5-23, p. 121

40. Temperate Rain Forests • Coastal areas support huge cone-bearing evergreen trees such as redwoods and Douglas fir in a cool moist environment. Figure 5-24

41. MOUNTAIN BIOMES • High-elevation islands of biodiversity • Often have snow-covered peaks that reflect solar radiation and gradually release water to lower-elevation streams and ecosystems. Figure 5-25

42. HUMAN IMPACTS ON TERRESTRIAL BIOMES • Human activities have damaged or disturbed more than half of the world’s terrestrial ecosystems. • Humans have had a number of specific harmful effects on the world’s deserts, grasslands, forests, and mountains.

43. Natural Capital Degradation Desert Large desert cities Soil destruction by off-road vehicles Soil salinization from irrigation Depletion of groundwater Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction Fig. 5-26, p. 123

44. Natural Capital Degradation Grasslands Conversion to cropland Release of CO2 to atmosphere from grassland burning Overgrazing by livestock Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra Fig. 5-27, p. 123

45. Natural Capital Degradation Forests Clearing for agriculture, livestock grazing, timber, and urban development Conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations Damage from off-road vehicles Pollution of forest streams Fig. 5-28, p. 124

46. Natural Capital Degradation Mountains Agriculture Timber extraction Mineral extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism Urban air pollution Increased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletion Soil damage from off-road vehicles Fig. 5-29, p. 124