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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