Biome characteristics

Quick Recap… As latitude gets higher Less direct sunlight More seasonal variation Extreme changes in day / night at poles Lower temperatures

Geographic features

Biomes and Climate Land locations characterized by distinct climate and vegetation. Understanding the general characteristics of each biome leads to a general understanding of the range of biodiversity on earth how this biodiversity is distributed how all biomes are connected through global climate patterns, energy flow, and chemical cycling.

Deserts Areas where evaporation > precipitation

Tropical Deserts Be SURE TO INCLUDE SOIL INFO FROM CH 10

Tropical Deserts Cover much of northern Africa (the Sahara), and parts of the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) Surface areas have little vegetation and are dominated by rocks and sand that are often blown about by windstorms Extremely high daytime temperatures Be SURE TO INCLUDE SOIL INFO FROM CH 10

Temperate Deserts

Temperate Deserts Found in the southwestern US (Mojave and Sonoran Deserts) Receive more precipitation than tropical deserts Characterized by patchy drought-resistant shrubs, cacti, and other succulents Have high daytime and low nighttime temps

Cold Deserts

Cold Deserts Area of the United States known as the Great Basin (Idaho, Utah), Gobi Desert in Northern China and Southern Mongolia Vegetation is very sparse Winters are extremely cold

Desert soils Not suitable for abundant growth due to slow decomposition rate due to lack of moisture. Limiting factors: lack of rainfall, wind, lack of soil nutrients LOW PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY

Driest Desert of all

Atacama Desert Temperature inversion: The cool air coming from the coast gets trapped below a layer of hot air. Since the desert is also at high altitudes the air can only hold small amounts of moisture.

Rain shadow impacts the Atacama Desert Blocking moisture from the Amazon

Polar Grasslands Arctic Tundra

Polar Grasslands: Arctic Tundra Found in the northern regions of North America (Canada), Asia, and Europe Frigid, treeless plains that are covered with snow and ice much of the year Vegetation is limited to low-growing grasses, moss, and lichen Animals, such as Arctic foxes and wolves, have adaptations such as thick coats of fur to survive the harsh climate and wide paws or hoofs to not fall into snow Limiting factors: Permafrost, wind, lack of accessible water, temperature

Soil of the tundra Extreme cold forms permafrost- underground soil in which captured water stays frozen for more than two consecutive years

Tropical Grasslands Savannas

Tropical Grasslands Savannas Location: Found largely in Eastern Africa and also parts of South America and Australia Characteristics: Warm temperatures and alternating warm and dry seasons (will experience several months of little/no rainfall) Large grazing herbivores such as gazelles, zebras, wildebeests Plants have deep roots to utilize groundwater supplies

Limiting factors: Water availability

Temperate Grasslands (Tall grass and short grass prairies)

Temperate Grasslands Locations: found in midwestern and Western US and Canada; also found in parts of South America and Russia Rainfall determines whether it is a tall-grass or short-grass prairie Winters are cold, summers are hot and dry High winds and rapid evaporation promote fires in the summer and fall that eliminate other competing species LIMITING FACTORS: winds, dry season. Tall grass receives about three times as much rain as short grass

As grasses die and decompose annually, large amounts of organic matter accumulates in the soil This area is highly fertile and productive for crops

Chaparral

Chaparral Temperate Shrubland Found along coastal areas of southern California, parts of the Mediterranean, and central Chile Low growing evergreen shrubs and some small trees Plants adapted to occasional fires, which encourage seed production in many plant species Fires can increase nutrient availability in soil depending on intensity and duration Less intense/less time- better for soil

Chaparral Soils tend to lack structure

Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Rain Forest Location: along the equator- from 0-30 degrees N and S in Brazil, Central America, Indonesia, Central Africa Characteristics: Warm temperatures, high humidity and heavy rainfall year round Dominated by broadleaf evergreen plants Distinct zones such as canopy, emergent, sapling, and ground, provide habitat space for abundance of life

High Primary Productivity (Photosynthesis) and Biodiversity Poor soil quality due to low concentrations of stored nutrients

Temperate Rainforest

Near oceanic climates along coasts Long growing seasons but do have seasonal variation as well with short dry summer Lots of precipitation in addition to coastal fog that adds moisture Adaptation of canopy trees, moss and lichen is ability to absorb moisture from air.

Fertile soil due to decomposition Nurse logs: fallen trees that break down and add nitrogen to soil Chilliwack River Provincial Park, BC

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest Location: Found between 30 and 60 degrees north and south latitudes Eastern US, most of Europe Moderate temperatures that fluctuate with seasons Dominated by a few species of broadleaf deciduous trees such as maple, beech, oak, and hickory CLIMATOGRAM ACTIVITY

Trees go dormant in winter by dropping their leaves in the fall to prevent water loss Slow rate of decomposition of leaves provides abundant leaf litter and nutrients stored in the soil

Evergreen Coniferous Forest (Taiga or Boreal forest)

Evergreen Coniferous Forest (Taiga or Boreal forest) Location: Just south of the Arctic tundra In northern regions of Northern America (Canada), Asia and Europe Characteristics: Winters are long, dry, and extremely cold Dominated by a few species of conifers such as pine, hemlock, cedar, and spruce. Trees have small, waxy, needle-shaped leaves to survive the cold winters Plant diversity is low

Needles of the conifer trees add acidity to the soil when decompose Slow decomposition of needles; nutrient poor, acidic soils

Alpine *mountain* Biomes

Alpine *mountain* Biomes Mountains are places where dramatic changes in altitude, climate, soil, and vegetation take place over a very short distance. Above the snow line, temperatures are so clod that the mountain is almost permanently covered in snow and ice. Because of steep slopes, they are prone to erosion They are important ecologically because they contain majority of the Earth’s forests, are home to lots of biodiversity, and regulate Earths climate when ice/snow reflects solar radiation back into space (this is called having high albedo)

Reminder of Themes Climates are different because if different air and water currents flowing over an unevenly heated planet A biome map of earth can be drawn based on knowledge of the uneven heating of Earth The organisms in each biome are uniquely adapted to them based on climate