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Transcript of We just got done studying forest biomes Now we will move on to focusing on biomes that have less...
GRASSLAND BIOMES
New Biomes!
We just got done studying forest biomes
Now we will move on to focusing on biomes that have less precipitation
These are the grassland biomes because there isn’t enough water to support tree growth
WHAT IS A GRASS?
What happens if you cut off the tops of trees?
What happens if you cut off the tops of grasses?
Which do you think requires more water?
WHAT IS A GRASS?
Vegetation consisting of typically short, woody plants with long narrow leaves that grow vertically and rhizomes.
Other plants that grow in grasslands are shrubs, some trees (depending on water supply), and small soft plants (as opposed to woody) called forbs
Grassland Biomes
The three types of grassland biomes are:
1. Tropical grasslands (savanna, serengeti)
2. Temperate Grasslands (prairies, plains, steppes, etc)
3. Mediterranean grasslands (chaparral)
Intro to Savannas
Savannas are located in tropical and around tropical areas Again – tropical?
So what do we know about the temperature or savannas?
Savannas are hot and near or on the equator
What other biomes would savannas be near?
Savannas
Savannas
Savanna Climate Savannas have two defined
seasons: the wet and dry season
Wet season is defined by drenching rains for months at a time
The dry season can be devoid of rain for months at a time
Savanna Climate During the dry season, fires sweep
across the grasslands
This takes nutrients from the plants and puts them in to the soil
During the rainy season much of the nutrients are stored in plants
In the dry season, fire returns the nutrients to the soil.
Savanna Climate Which month is the
hottest? Temp? March; 21°C
Which month(s) are the coldest? Temp? June, July, Aug, Sept; 16
What is the range of temperatures? About 5°C
Which month(s) make up the dry season? June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct
Savanna Plants Plants must be able to survive
long periods of no water during the dry season
Plants have adapted to the dry season by having large root systems with rhizomes Rhizomes are continuously growing
horizontal UNDERGROUND stems that put out lateral shoots at intervals.
Grasses grow not from the top but from the ground!
Savanna Plants The root systems also allow the
plants to regrow quickly after fires
The roots and rhizomes are deep enough to not get burned in the fire and the plants can grow again
The root systems are thick and form a sod – a dense material that helps hold precious soil and moisture in place.
Savanna Plants
The grass stems grow vertically, which exposes them to less sunlight and allows all neighbors to get sunlight
Some trees lose their leaves during the dry season to conserve water
Grasses are woody, which is hard to eat
Many plants also have sharp thorns to keep herbivores and omnivores from eating them
Layers to the Plants Plants grow at differing heights (short
medium and tall) to avoid being eaten.
Savanna Animals
Many herbivores migrate, or move, with the rainsThis way they are moving
where plants are growing that they can eat
They give birth during the rainy season, so that young will have plenty to eat
Savanna Animals
Herbivores are also adapted to the environment because they eat different heights of plantsGazelle and Zebra graze on the
grassRhinos eat shrubsGiraffes eat tall tree leaves
This adaptation allows all herbivores to live in the savanna with limited competition for food
ALL Grassland Herbivores Grazing animals, such as bison or
giraffes, have special adaptations:• Have broad, flat teeth to crush the woody grasses• Ungulates are herbivore mammals with hooves which allow them to travel far for food and run when predators come.• Ruminants – have special bacteria in their gut to start digestion, regurgitate partially digested cud to reprocess
ALL Grassland Herbivores Grazing animals MIGRATE ,
following the growing grass (following the rains!)
Small animals may not migrate but may, instead, burrow into the ground for protection from predators, food storage, and possibly a way to survive the seasonal fires.
Savanna Animals Carnivores, like
lions and hyenas, follow the migratory herbivores
Savanna Key Points Climate: Hot and only rainy during rainy
season Soil: Nutrients in plants in rainy season,
fires return nutrients to soil in dry season
Plants: Roots are shallow enough to collect lots of water, but deep enough to regrow plants after fires
Animals: Move with the rains to find plants; eat at different levels of the vegetations (short, medium, high)
To Hand In
Use at least 6 of the organisms in the next picture for a FOOD WEB
Give the ADAPTATIONS each of these animals has to live in the Savanna
BONUS: give at least 2 examples of COEVOLUTION.
Temperate Grasslands
Let’s break it down:Temperate: Where have we heard that before?
Grasslands: Receive less precipitation than forests, so grass is the dominant vegetation
Temperate Grasslands
Temperate Grasslands
Temperate Grassland Climate
Hotter, drier summers than temperate deciduous forests, but similar winters
Usually located in the center of a continent where mountains, etc. keep it from getting a lot of precipitation
Temperate Grasslands
Let’s go to view some smart dudes talking about this!
Common Grassland Names In the US they’re called the
plains or prairies In Asia, they’re called
steppes In South America, they’re
called pampas In South Africa, they’re
called veldt Puszta in Hungary (Europe) The list goes on…
Temperate Grasslands
There are three different types of temperate grasslands:
1. Short grass prairies2. Mixed or middle grass prairies3. Tall grass prairie (may have a
few trees)
Temperate Grasslands– Each depends on the amount of
precipitationWetter = taller grassesDrier = shorter grasses
– Roots are different for each but still have rhizomes and make sod
Why not forest?
Drought and fire keep trees from taking over the grassland
Also, animals graze off the tops – trees can’t live through that.
Fire burns down the plants and returns nutrients to the soil, which allows new growth – just like in savanna
Temperate Grassland Soil
The temperate grassland has the most fertile soil of all the biomes
How does it get that way? From dead and decaying organic
matter, like from roots and leaves.
Unlike the tropical rainforest, it doesn’t get sucked right back out!!
This has resulted in much of the temperate grassland being turned into farm land
Grassland Animals
Grazing animals - see savanna notes
Smaller animals burrow in to the ground for protection from fire, wind and predators – just like savanna
Threats to Temperate Grassland
Temperate Grassland has the richest soil of ANY biome. Makes it natural farmland. This is not good for the ecosystem:
Farming- the plants being grown do not hold the soil together and there is soil erosion
Overgrazing- Animals are eating the grasses before they can regrow
Decrease of Biodiversity- less grassland means that there are less animals that can survive there
Grassland Challenges
Chaparral Chaparral- A temperate shrub-
land biomeHas the least rain of the grassland
biomes, but still more precipitation than a desert
What is the picture below and where is it located?
Chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral Climate
Has what is called a Mediterranean ClimateIt is the predominant biome around the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa
Climate is hot and dry in the summer
Winters are mild with some rain
Chaparral Location
Chaparrals are found between 30 and 50 degrees North and South of the equator
Like Temperate Rainforest, is on a coast. Usually, a west one. Not quite as far from equator, though.
Chaparral Climate
Which month is the warmest? What is the temp? Aug; 19°C
Which months have less than 5 cm of rain? April, May, June,
July, Aug, Sept, Oct What is the range
of temps in this biome? About 9°C
Chaparral Plants
Most plants are shrubs or small treesNot enough water for larger trees
Plants have small leathery leaves that help retain waterThink of a sponge wrapped in
plastic wrap or open to the airGrapes, olives… what do these areas
produce?
Chaparral Plants Because the temperatures
are so hot and the land is so dry:Plant seeds have become adapted to only sprout when there is a fire
Plants have oils in their leaves that help them burn more quickly
Chaparral Animals Animals of the chaparral,
such as kangaroos and wild dogs use camouflage to hide from predators or sneak up on prey
They also have to accommodate the temperature
The Black-Tailed Jack rabbit also uses it’s large ears to regulate it’s body temp. The kangaroo licks its arms!
Chaparral Threats
The biggest threat to the Chaparral is human development
The Chaparral is usually by the ocean, has little rain and has moderate tempsAll things that make for a great
vacation spot