Chapter 1 Finishing it up!

Plethodon jordani

Chapter 1 Finishing it up!

Chapter 1 Finishing it up!

Chapter 1 Finishing it up!

Chapter 1 Finishing it up!

Chapter 2Life on Land

Chapter 2

Objectives:

1 Identify the major biomes of the world using temperature, precipitation and latitude.

2. Explain how uneven heating and the earth’s rotation create climates

3. Be able to interpret a climate diagram

Biome - What is it?

Biome - A definition:

The major categories of the world’s terrestrial environments

Biomes

• Distinguished by their plants

Biomes

• Distinguished by their plants

• Associated with a particular climate

1. Temperature (radiant energy)

Biomes

• Distinguished by their plants

• Associated with a particular climate

1. Temperature (radiant energy)

2. Precipitation (water)

Biomes

• Distinguished by their plants

• Associated with a particular climate

1. Temperature (radiant energy)

2. Precipitation (water)

• Large spatial scale (no microclimates, etc.)

Fig. 2.3

Seasons of the earth

Rotation around the sun:

Uneven heating of the earth (most concentrated when sun is directly overhead)

Earth’s axis is not perpendicular to sun (23.5o tilt)

Uneven heating drives global wind and precipitation patterns

Fig. 2.4

Fig. 2.5

Winds and Temperature

Earth spins. The air move north and south.

What happens?

What we feel is “apparent” wind, or Coriolis effect

Fig. 2.6

Factors That Control Climate• Latitude (Affects solar radiation)

• Direction of prevailing winds

– From ocean or from land (moist vs. dry)

– From tropical or polar (warm vs. cold)

– Rain shadow of mountains

• Proximity to large water bodies (moderates temperature, less extreme hot / cold)

• Elevation (temperature decreases, rainfall increases with increased elevation)

Climate Diagrams

Climate diagrams explore relationship between terrestrial vegetation and climate

Fig. 2.6

Structure of climate diagrams

Figure 2.7

With the 10oC and 20mm intervals on the temperature and precipitation axes, when the precipitation curve is above the temperature curve vegetation has enough water to be actively growing (indicated by the blue shading b/t the two curves.

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Dark blue for > 100 mm/mo

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Structure of climate diagrams

Figure 2.7

When the precipitation curve drops below the temperature curve, this indicates drought conditions. Vegetation would not have enough water to be actively growing and would be dormant (indicated by the tan shading b/t the two curves.

Biome• A major geographic region characterized by a

distinctive assemblage of life forms.– Defined by dominant plant life forms on land.– Defined by dominant plants or animals in sea

• Terrestrial biomes are generally the result of large-scale climate patterns.

Biomes

From Your Text:Tropical Rain ForestTropical Dry ForestTropical SavannasDesertMediterranean

Woodland and Shrubland

Temperate Grassland

Temperate Forest

Boreal Forest

Tundra

Mountains

Biomes

From Image Map:

Tundra

Taiga

Temperate Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Grassland

Desert

Mountain Geography

Biomes

Tundra:

Precipitation: Low

Temperature: Cold, short summers

Plant Assemblage:Lichens, mosses, sedges, small trees

Fig. 2.34

Biomes

Taiga or Boreal Forest:

Precipitation: Moderate

Temperature: Cold, short summers

Plant Assemblage:Conifers of one or two species

Biomes

Temperate Forests (Indiana):

Precipitation: Moderate

Temperature: Not Extreme

Plant Assemblage:Deciduous and Conifer trees

Biomes

Tropical Rain Forest:

Precipitation: High

Temperature: Warm Year Around

Plant Assemblage:Great Diversity, bunches and bunches of critters

Fig. 2.8a

Biomes

Grasslands:

Precipitation: Wet and dry seasons

Temperature: Winter and summer

Plant Assemblage:Grasses, few trees

Note: Fire is an important abiotic factor that controls growth of large plants

Biomes

Desert:

Precipitation: Low

Temperature: Hot or cold, but extreme

Plant Assemblage:Low productivity, but high diversity.

Note: Plants adapted to extreme environments

Fig. 2.8b

What did we learn in Chapter 2?

Uneven heating of the earth’s surface creates predictable variations in global climates

Distribution of terrestrial biomes corresponds closely to prevailing temperature and precipitation.

Ain’t Ecology cool!!!