Module 021131: EcologyLearning objectives: L11 Biomes

• Productivity of terrestrial ecosystems is most closely related to evapotranspiration, which in turns controls element cycles

• The biological characteristics of ecosystems (biomes) are determined by the interaction of temperature and precipitation

Global productivity

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

0 500 1000 1500

Evapotranspiration/ mm yr-1

Abo

vegr

ound

pro

duct

ivity

/ g

m-2

yr-1

• Universal relationship with potentialevapotranspiration(PET)

• controls photosynthesis, mineral cycles, etc

tropical rainforest

deciduous forest

coniferous forest

desert

Classification of terrestrial biomes

Biomes:Large-scale ecosystem types

Determined by interaction of temperature and precipitation

Some regions of this diagram do not occur or support no life

Tropical rainforest, Vanuatu & Ecuador

Cloud forest, Ecuador

Eucalyptus forest, SW Australia

Temperate moist forest, British Columbia

Temperate deciduous forest, England: spring

Temperate deciduous forest, England: summer

Temperate dry forest, Texas

Warm temperate woodland, SW Australia

Taiga (boreal forest)

Tallgrass prairie, Michigan

Shortgrass prairie, Alberta

Alpine vegetation: tree-line and above

Scrubland and chaparral (Washington)

Dry desert, IslasGalapagos

Brachycereus cactus

Extreme desert, no life: White Sands, New Mexico