Xxx…

1. The Biosphere Xxx… False-color composite image of global photoautotroph abundancefrom Wikimedia Commons

2. Terrestrial Biomes Large-scale biological communities sharing similar plant growth forms - convergent adaptations to similar physical environments Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3A

3. Terrestrial Biomes Xxx… Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3.5

4. Terrestrial Zoogeographic Regions Published as “an update of Wallace’s zoogeographic regions” Map from Holt et al. (2013) Science

5. Biomes & Biogeographic Realms World Wildlife Fund team identified 14 terrestrial biomes Map from Olson et al. (2001) Bioscience

6. Ecoregions … and 867 distinct ecoregions Map from Olson et al. (2001) Bioscience

7. Tropical Rainforests Dominant plants = broad-leaved evergreen trees Also epiphytes, lianas, palms, and generally sparse understory More-or-less continuous growing season Contain ~50% of Earth’s species in ~11% of terrestrial veg. cover Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3A

8. Tropical Rainforests E.g., scatter-hoarding of seeds by rodents Photo of agouti and Astrocaryum palm fruits by Christian Ziegler; Figure from Jansen et al. (2012) PNAS

9. Tropical Seasonal Forests & Savannas Tropical dry forests Thorn woodlands Tropical savannas Resource availability, fire & large herbivores help determine the balance between grasses vs. woody species Pronounced wet / dry seasons Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3B

10. Tropical Seasonal Forests & Savannas E.g., protection of plants against herbivores by ants Photo of Pseudomyrmex on Vachellia (formerly Acacia) – Wikimedia Commons; Table –Janzen (1966) Evolution

11. Hot Deserts Sparse populations of plants & animals Succulent plants are common Sustained periods of high temp. & low water avail. Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3C

12. Hot Deserts E.g., large-male advantage in lek-mating tarantula hawks Photo of Tarantula Hawk and Tarantula – http://blogs.sandiegozoo.org/tag/tarantula-hawk; Figure from Alcock (1981) Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology

13. Temperate Grasslands Dominant plants = grasses Warm, moist summers & cold, dry winters Some have sufficient rainfall to support woody veg., but fire & grazers maintain grasslands Soils rich in organic matter Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3D

14. Temperate Grasslands Large ungulate & marsupial (in Australia) grazers are common Photos of pronghorn antelope and red kangaroo from Wikimedia Commons

15. Temperate Shrublands & Woodlands Winter rainy season (e.g., Mediterranean-type climates) Fire is a common feature Sclerophyllous leaves are common Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3E

16. Temperate Shrublands & Woodlands Resprouting is common Photo from http://www.eco.science.ru.nl/plantecology/Estrela/pig_fireecology.html

17. Temperate Deciduous Forests Deciduous leaves owing to freezing temperatures Sufficient rainfall & soil fertility to support tree growth Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3F

18. Temperate Deciduous Forests Insect populations sometimes outbreak Photo of tent caterpillars from http://www.twincities.com/outdoors/ci_25948887/minnesota-tent-caterpillar- outbreak-concerns-eased-by-dnr

19. Temperate Evergreen Forests From warm coastal zones to cool maritime climates Generally on nutrient-poor soils Northern Hemisphere – needle-leaved conifers Southern Hemisphere - needle-leaved & broad-leaved Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3G

20. Temperate Evergreen Forests Photo of British Columbian rainforest from Wikimedia Commons; K. Harms photo of Florida pine savanna

21. Boreal Forests / Taiga Coniferous species Extreme weather Permafrost common Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3H

22. Boreal Forests Immense carbon pools Photo of Canadian taiga from Wikimedia Commons

23. Tundra Beyond treeline Dominated by sedges, grasses, forbs & prostrate shrubs Primarily in the Arctic Extreme weather Permafrost common Cain, Bowman & Hacker (2014), Fig. 3I

24. Tundra Prey can be seasonally very abundant during short growing season Photo from http://www.reddit.com/r/itookapicture/comments/1nh6eo/itap_of_a_few_mosquitoes_in_alaska/

25. Ecotones Transition zones between biomes or ecosystems Photo of lakeside ecotone from Wikimedia Commons

26. Where the Land Meets the Sea Estuary – junction of a river & ocean Mangrove – shallow estuaries & mudflats with salt-tolerant evergreen woody species Salt Marsh – found on sediments carried to shorelines by rivers Photos of Amazon estuary, a mangrove & a salt marsh from Wikimedia Commons

27. Where the Land Meets the Sea Rocky Intertidal – stable substrate alternates between terrestrial & marine Beaches / Sandy Shores – unstable substrate limits opportunities for plants, so limited opportunities for animals Etc. Photos of a Galapagos sandy / boulder beach & a rocky intertidal shoreline from Wikimedia Commons

28. Marine Biomes Coral Reef – warm, shallow water Seagrass bed – flowering plants on subtidal mud or fine sand Kelp bed – large brown algae in clear, shallow, temperate oceans Photos of coral reef, kelp bed & seagrass bed from Wikimedia Commons

29. Marine Biomes Deep sea – extreme pressure & temperature; no light, so limited, patchy energy supply Etc. Photo of 1700 m deep gray whale fall from Wikimedia Commons; photo of octopus that broods eggs for 4 yr at ~1700 m deep from http://www.newsweek.com/octopus-broods-eggs-record-412-years-then-dies-scientists-report-262157

30. Anthropogenic Influence on Planet Earth We live in a very different world from the one we inherited from our Pleistocene forebears Photo (1929) of New York City (previously Temperate Deciduous Forest) from Wikimedia Commons

31. Anthropogenic Influence on Planet Earth “Perhaps it’s my natural pessimism, but it seems that an awfully large part of travel these days is to see things while you still can.” Quote from Bryson (2001, pg. 279) In a Sunburned Country; photoof polar bear from Wikimedia Commons