Deserts (Arid, Semi-Arid, Coastal and Cold)

1. Deserts (Arid, Semi-Arid, Coastal and Cold) Found around a belt of 30 degrees north and south latitude. North Africa (Sahara), Southwest United States (Mojave), Middle East (Syrian), Australia (Great Sandy)

2. Abiotic Factors Temperatures exhibit daily extremes because the atmosphere contains little humidity to block the Sun's rays. Desert surfaces receive a little more than twice the solar radiation received by humid regions and lose almost twice as much heat at night. Wind patterns carry down dry air from the upper atmosphere.

3. Plant and Animal Species Conditions force plant and animal species to adapt in ways that allow for their survival (water storage, spines, camouflage, nocturnal, estivate) Autotrophs: Barrel Cactus, Brittle Heterotrophs: Coyote, Thorny Devil, Armadillo Lizard, Desert Tortoise, South American gray fox, Kangaroo rats, burrowing owls

4. Environmental Issues Cont… • Desertification • The process of land once suitable for agriculture into desert. This process often expands preexisting desert land and it is currently happening, most significantly in the Sahel region of north Africa. The extreme drought that started in the 1950s has caused a significant portion of the Sahel to become desert land, fusing with the Sahara Desert. More desert = more desolate land = less biodiversity. • Once again there are no true solutions because it is a natural occurring event.

5. Environmental Concerns;Oil Extraction The desert is often destroyed for the purpose of extracting fossil fuels from below the earth’s surface. Switching more of our energy sources to renewable resources and thus decreasing the demand for oil would help to preserve the surviving desert. Furthermore, if oil is going to be taken, regulations should be imposed on the amount and method as to do so with the least amount of harm.

6. Tundra Latitude and longitude Arctic Circle Most northern parts of Northern Hemisphere From about 60° N and above Countries and regions Arctic Circle Russia Canada Siberia

7. Abiotic Factors Wind patterns 30-60 mph (48-97 km/hr) Forces plants to grow close to ground to survive Geographic features Ground is permanently frozen Permafrost underneath the ground surface Melts just enough during summer to allow plant growth/reproductions Solar radiation during summer 24 hrs/day of sunlight Allows for additional plant growth Periods during the winter where no sunlight for weeks Major reason for how cold the arctic tundra can become

8. Major Autotrophs & Heterotrophs Autotrophs adaptations: low to ground, insulating silky hairs Arctic moss, Pasque flower, bearberry Heterotroph adaptations: camouflage, thick fur, fat for insulation Arctic fox, caribou, polar bear, snowy owl

9. Environmental Issues Global warming Melting the permafrost which holds thousands of plant remains Carbon is released into atmosphere from plants, greenhouse gas effect Decreases the carbon sink Solutions Increase number of fuel-efficient cars Increase number of forestlands

10. Environmental Issues continued Pollution from Oil Drilling Kills surrounding plants, disrupts herding routes of animals like caribou Tracks from oil trucks cause permafrost to melt when hit by sun, erode and become bigger Disrupts natural habitats Solutions Use different fuel options (cooking oil) Only buy oil from Middle East

11. Alpine Tundra Not restricted to latitude/longitude boundaries Location Examples: Himalayan Mountains, Andes Mountains, Rocky Mountains

12. Abiotic Factors Geographic features: alpine tundra begins above timberline, either on gentle slopes where the soil has developed large meadow areas or on windswept slopes Solar radiation: the little amount of atmosphere at high altitudes exposes the Alpine to UV sunlight at dangerous levels Poor soil conditions

13. Autotrophs & Heterotrophs Autotroph adaptations: low to ground, dark colors, small leaves Moss Campion, Alpine Phacelia, Bear Grass Heterotroph adaptions: thick fur, camouflage, jump and climb over rocks Mountain Goat, Yak, Chinchilla, Alpaca, Llama

14. Environmental Issues The Alpine Tundra is very fragile and can be damaged very easily. About 1/3 of the world's soil-bound carbon is held in the frozen tundra. Global warmingis a huge threat because if the tundra permafrost is melted, the carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere. This will create an imbalance of chemicals in the atmosphere. We can prevent global warming by using compact fluorescent light bulbs, recycling, or using public transportation.

15. Environmental Issues Hunting is another major problem in the Alpine Tundra. This area contains many animals that can not be found anywhere else in the world. Over-hunting has caused animals inhabiting the Alpine Tundra to be added to the endangered species list. To prevent over-hunting, restrictions can be placed on the hunting of certain species in the tundra.

16. Taiga : Scandinavian and Russian Taiga Longitude and Latitude: 60°10´N 024°56´N • Countries: • Finland • Sweden • Norway • Russia

17. Autotrophs & Heterotrophs Autotrophs adaptations: Plants are evergreens so that they can survive the cold weather, they have a waxy coating on their needle-like leaves Pine, spruce, fir Heterotrophs adaptations: thick fur, hibernate Wolves, Caribou, Lynx, Arctic Fox

18. Environmental Issue #1: Logging There are many trees in this area and so people are cutting them down for their own use, which has global consequences because they are so important to the absorption of carbon dioxide and grow incredibly slowly in the cold climate. A solution to this could be for governments to set limits on how many trees can be cut per year, as well as how and when to replant.

19. Environmental Issue #2: Unsustainable Hunting This is when hunters kill animals faster than they can reproduce, and the numbers start to decrease, with greater chances of the animal being endangered or extinct. This can be solved with limits on hunting and, when the issue is that the animal preys on livestock, a fence or other form of protection around their farm instead of getting rid of the animals.

20. Deciduous Forest The Deciduous forest biome is general located between the tropics and boreal forests all the way up to 60 degrees depending on the area.

21. Autotroph and Heterotroph • Autotroph adaptations: • American beech • Heterotroph adaptations: camouflage, migratory • White Tailed deer, Orioles, Raccoon, Eastern grey squirrel

22. Issues Over development is one of the main issues facing the deciduous forests everywhere. In the US urban sprawl is turning thousands of acres of forest into suburbs, and thousands more into farmland. This problem is made worse do to the fact that the east cost is not only the home of the deciduous forest but one of the most densely populated area of the United States. The only solution being more effective zoning laws and more responsible building.

23. The new Diseases, and blights, have harassed the deciduous and other American forests for the last two centuries. Invasive Funguses destroyed the chestnut trees in the 1800 Insects and fungi being introduced via international travel can be controlled by laws which prevent the importation of foreign invasive plants but not easily.

24. Tropical Rainforest

25. Autotrophs and Heterotrophs • Autotroph adaptations: live on tree limbs, parasitic, do not need soil to grow, thin bark • Bromeliads, Orchids, Ferns, Strangler Fig • Heterotroph adaptations: arboreal, strong/long tails, camouflage, long sharp beaks, poisonous • Toucan, spider monkeys, orangutans, poison dart frogs, sloth

26. Environmental Issues of Borneo-Deforestation Deforestation motives= timber, palm oil, rubber, pulp, and minerals. Problem: Rare and specialized species are vulnerable to forest degradation. Solution: special conservation efforts required to prevent extinction. Problem: illegal logging. Solution: more sufficient alternative economic developments. Solution to deforestation in general: more adequate laws should be enforced with stricter consequences.

27. Biodiversity The Amazon exists in layers, each layer(ex. Canopy, ocean floor etc) 30 million species of insect 500+ mammals 175+ lizards 300 other reptiles 3000 fruits Half the worlds species can be found in amazonia It’s the most biodiverse area in the world

28. Chaparral Biome -The chaparral biome is found in a little bit of most of the continents -The west coast of the United States, the west coast of South America, the Cape Town area of South Africa, the western tip of Australia and the coastal areas of the Mediterranean. All the red areas have a chaparral biome

29. Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Autotroph adaptations: waxy, waterproof coating on leaves, dwarf vegetation Coyote brush, sagebrush Hetertroph adaptations: camouflage, large ears Jack rabbit, aardwolf, golden jackal

30. Environmental Issues One environmental issue that the chaparral biome is facing is, the cutting down of trees. This is a huge problem because it is disturbing many plants and animals that depend on them trees for a habitat. Solution: One solution can be that they limit the amount of trees allowed to be cut down. Also, they could make a law that says if you cut down so man trees, you are required to plants some in return.

31. Prairie The North American Prairie covers parts of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming It also cover part of several Canadian Provinces

32. Autotroph and Heterotrophs Autotroph adaptations: purple needle grass, buffalo grass, blue grama grass, and galetta grass Heterotroph adaptations: need little water, camouflage, sharp claws Prairie dogs, jack rabbits, coyotes, prairie chickens

33. The Prairie -vs- The World When European settlers first arrived in the prairie, they overgrazed the tall grass areas and replaces them with agricultural plants, and now the shortgrass prairie areas are becoming overgrazed One potential solution to this problem would be reintroducing the original tall grass species back into the area

34. Savanna Geographical Locations A few countries with this biome include: Chad Somalia Sudan Uganda Rwanda Australia

35. Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Autotroph adaptations: grow quickly in the wet season, lie dormant in the dry season red Oat Grass, Acacia Trees, Baobab Trees Heterotroph adaptations: migration, camouflage Lion, gazelle, african wild dogs, cheetah, elephants

36. Increase Human Usage Overuse of land for agriculture degradation of vegetation and soil resources Overuse of water resources nutrient losses and shifts in water balance and availability Preserve the savannas, control overgrazing, and manage resources effectively

37. Steppe Located in the USA, China, Mongolia, Tibet, and Siberia Approximate Latitude: 45N

38. Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Autotroph adaptations: low to ground, perennials. Tap roots Goldenrod, tumbleweeds, fringed sagebush Heterotroph adaptations: estivate, run fast, flat teethed herbivores, camouflage Prairie dogs, northern lynx, mongolian gerbils, mongolian gazelle

39. Major Environmental Issues Overgrazing Suggested Solution: Restrictions on the number of animals that can graze at a time