Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity Chapter 6 APES Ms. Miller Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity Chapter 6 APES Ms. Miller

Key Concepts  Factors influencing weather  Factors influencing climate  Effect of climate on distribution of biomes  Characteristics of major biome types

Weather: A Brief Introduction  Weather— an area’s short-term atmospheric conditions  Warm front— boundary between advancing warm air mass and cooler one it is replacing Fig. 6-2 p. 102

Warm Front

 Weather extremes—cause a lot of damage but may have beneficial ecological effects

 Cold front—leading edge of an advancing cold air mass

Climate  Temperature  Precipitation  Uneven heating  Seasons  Earth’s rotation  Properties of air and water Fig. 6-5 p. 105

Seasons Fig. 6-7 p. 106

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Air Circulation Fig. 6-10, p. 107 Fig. 6-8, p. 107

Short-Term Climate Changes: ENSO Fig p. 108 ENSO—El Nino Southern Oscillation (shift in thermocline) causing drought in Australia and rains in the Americas; can affect aquatic populations (plankton, fish, birds)

Greenhouse Effect  Greenhouse gases—water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) Fig p. 110

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Rain Shadow Effect  Windward side gets moisture and leeward side is dry Fig p. 110

Figure 3 - Yakima & Mt. Adams Storms have a difficult time escaping the Cascades with their moisture intact because many of the mountain peaks reach more than 10,000 feet above sea level. Mt. Adams is 12, 307 feet above sea level and the highest point in Washington, Mt. Rainier, is 14, 410 feet above sea level. The valleys on the eastern side of the Cascades, however, are much lower. The average elevation for Yakima is 1,100 feet and the Tri-Cities is only at 400 feet above sea level. This sharp rise and steep decline in elevation is the setup for the process known as the Pacific Northwest rain shadow.

Biomes: Climate and Life on Land  Relationship between latitude and altitude— as latitude increases, the temps decrease and lower biodiversity; as altitude increase, temps decrease and lower biodiversity

 Grassland Biomes

There are many types of grasslands

Grassland, Tundra, and Chaparral Biomes  Tropical grasslands (savannas)—warm temps year round but have a wet and dry seasons  Temperate grasslands—winters are cold summers are warm and dry; fertile soil for food production  Polar grasslands (Arctic tundra)—cold, has layer of permafrost (permanently frozen soil just below surface)  Alpine tundra—occurs above the limit of tree growth but below permanent snow line on high mountains; vegetation similar to arctic tundra  Chaparral—hot, dry summers and rainy season in winter due to closeness to sea (high risk of fire) Refer to Figs. 6-23, 6-24, and 6-25 pp

Chaparral Biome

Tundra Biome

Forest Biomes  Tropical rainforest—heavy rain fall, hot temps and high humidity; high species diversity and poor soil  Temperate deciduous forest—found in mid latitudes; most trees lose leaves in winter and produce nutrients in soil  Evergreen coniferous forest (boreal forest or taiga)— found in cold climates mostly of evergreens that have needles year round; slow decomposition due to low temps  Temperate rain forest (coastal coniferous forest)—large evergreens due to ocean moderating temperature and abundance of water Refer to Figs. 6-29, 6-30, 6-31, and 6-32 pp

Forest Biomes Tropical Rain Forests

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Evergreen Coniferous Forests/Boreal Forests/Taiga

Temperate Rainforests

Mountain Biomes

Biomes: Latitude and Altitude Fig p. 112 Refer to Fig p. 112

Desert Biomes —where evaporation exceeds precipitation; three types to be discussed later  Tropical deserts— hot and dry most of the year; few plants and a hard windblown surface

 Temperate deserts—daytime temp is hot and summer and low in winter; more precipitation than in tropical deserts; sparse vegetation (cacti, shrubs, succulents)

Refer to Fig p. 114 for energy flow and food web  Cold deserts—winters are cold, summers are warm or hot and precipitation is low