1. Chap 4
Climates & Biomes

2. Climate Determined by temperature precipitation
Affects species distribution
Species adapt to conditions
Different climates lead to different communities of organisms, especially vegetation.
Affected by
Topography
Wind currents
Ocean currents
Elevation
Latititude

3. Topography and Local Climate:
Interactions between land, oceans, mountains, & cities affect local climates.
Figure 5-8

4. US Topography
Figure 3-9

5. Ocean currents influence climate by
distributing heat
mixing and distributing nutrients.

6. Wind Currents: Convection Cells
Heat & moisture are distributed over the earth’s surface by vertical currents, which form six giant convection cells at different latitudes.
Figure 5-6

7. Similar changes occur moving from:
Latitude & Elevation
Similar changes occur moving from:
the equator to the poles: Latitude
lowlands to mountaintops: Elevation
Figure 5-11

8. Biomes: Large regions categorized by: Climate (Temp & Precipitation)
Soil
Plant (& animals to lesser degree)
Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

9. Temperature & Precipitation  Biome

10. Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn High mountains Polar ice
Polar grassland (arctic tundra)
Tropic of
Capricorn
Figure 5.9
Natural capital: the earth’s major biomes—the main types of natural vegetation in various undisturbed land areas—result primarily from differences in climate. Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors. Human ecological footprints (Figures 3 and 4 on pp. S12–S15 in Supplement 4) have removed or altered much of the natural vegetation in some areas for farming, livestock grazing, lumber and fuelwood, mining, and construction.
Temperate grassland
Tropical grassland (savanna)
Chaparral
Coniferous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
Tropical forest
Desert
Fig. 5-9, p. 106

11. Biome: determined by precipitation, temp, & soil type

12. 3 Categories A. Cold – avg Temp below 5°C (41°F)
Tundra
Boreal
Temperate – avg Temp 5°C to 20°C (68°F)
Temperate Rainforest
Temperate Seasonal Forest (Deciduous)
Woodland/Shrubland (Chaparral)
Temperate Grassland /cold desert
Tropical – avg Temp above 20°C
Tropical Rainforest
Savanna / Tropical Seasonal Forest
Subtropical Desert

13. Climate diagrams Show Temp/Precip
Growing season

14. Tundra Cold, treeless with low-growing vegetation.
In winter, the soil is completely frozen.
Growing season is very short, about 4 months during summer.
The underlying subsoil, known as permafrost is an impermeable, permanently frozen layer that prevents water from draining and roots from penetrating.

15. Tundra
Climate – cold year round, very little rain, but wet in summer (melting)
Located – near the poles
NPP – low
Decomposition – very slow
Soil – nutrient depleted, thin and often frozen
Limiting Factors – water, sunlight , cold, nutrients
Biodiversity – low
Vegetation – low growing plants
Adaptations include: shallow roots for frozen soil, grow close together for warmth, grow underneath snow
Animals – birds and mammals in summer, wolves, foxes and bears year round
Adaptations include: migration and hibernation for winter, summer and winter “coats”,
Major Human impacts – climate change, resource exploration (oil, gas, etc)

16. Boreal Forest
primarily coniferous (cone-bearing) evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons.
found between about 50˚ and 60˚ N Europe, Russia and North America.
very cold climate,
plant growth is more constrained by temperature than precipitation.
The soil is nutrient-poor due to slow decomposition.

17. Boreal Forest (Taiga, Coniferous Forest)
Climate –cold year round, moderate rain all year
Located – around 60o latitude
NPP – moderate
Decomposition – low
Soil – nutrient poor and acidic
Limiting Factors – cold, nutrients, light, water
Biodiversity – moderate
Vegetation – mostly evergreen trees (conifers)
Adaptations include: needles to conserve water and energy, chemicals to repel grazers, shaped to allow snow to slide off
Animals – grazing animals including moose, bears, bobcats, chipmunks and squirrels
Adaptations include: insulating layers of fur or feather, seasonal color changes, migration
Major Human impacts – forestry, acid rain, resource exploration, climate change

18. Temperate Rainforest Moderate temperatures &high precipitation
Coast biome and can be found along the west coast of North America from northern California to Alaska, in southern Chile, on the west coast of New Zealand, and on the island of Tasmania.
The ocean currents help moderate temperature & provide a source of water vapor.
nearly 12-month growing season: winters are rainy and summers are foggy.
The mild temperatures and high precipitation supports the growth of very large trees.

19. Temperate Rain Forest
Climate – moderate temperatures year-round and seasonal rainfall (foggy summers)
Located – in the Northwest US/Canada, southwest Argentina and the east coast of Australia
NPP – high
Decomposition – slow due to cool temps
Soil – nutrient poor and acidic
Limiting Factors – light and soil nutrients
Biodiversity – moderate
Vegetation – large coniferous trees, ferns and mosses
Adaptations include: climbing or hanging to access sunlight, leaf shape to allow water to fall
Animals – wide variety including slugs, wolves and deer
Adaptations include: camouflage to hide, migration, and hibernation
Major Human impact – Logging and tree farming

20. Temperate Seasonal Forest
Receive over 1 m (39 inches) of precipitation annually.
Found in the eastern United States, Japan, China, Europe, Chile and eastern Australia.
Dominated by broadleaf deciduous trees such as beech, male, oak and hickory.
Warmer summer temperatures favor decomposition so soils generally contain more nutrients than those of boreal forests.

21. Temperate Seasonal Forest (Deciduous Forest)
Climate –wet year round with 4 seasons
Located – 30-60o latitude
NPP – high
Decomposition – rapid
Soil – fertile due to decomposing leaf litter
Limiting Factors – sunlight, cold winters
Biodiversity – high
Vegetation –mostly deciduous trees with multiple lower layers
Adaptations include: trees lose leaves in winter to conserve energy,
Animals –wide variety and diverse food web
Adaptations include: hibernation, migration or food storage for winter, camouflage
Major Human impact – Deforestation for agriculture and logging

22. Woodland/Shrubland: Chaparral
Found on the coast of southern California, southern Australia, southern Africa and in the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
Hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters
There is a 12-month growing season, but plant growth is constrained by low precipitation in summer and by relatively low temperatures in winter.
Wildfires are common and plants are well adapted to both fire and drought.

23. Woodland / Shrubland (Chaparral)
Climate – mild temperatures with a rainy and dry season
Located – 30-60o latitude near bodies of water
NPP –moderate
Decomposition – moderate
Soil – nutrient poor (rain leaches nutrients)
Limiting Factors – rainfall in summer, low temps in winter, fire maintained
Biodiversity – moderate
Vegetation – scrub-like plants that are similar to desert plants, succulents and drought tolerant trees
Adaptations include: storing water, waxy coatings, deep roots, leaves turn brown or fall off to conserve water, fire adapted
Animals – variety of small animals like lizards, snakes, deer, owls, and some larger predators like mountain lions
Adaptations include: nocturnal, live close to the ground, camouflage, burrowing
Major Human impacts – human started fires and fire suppression activities, urbanization

24. Temperate Grassland/ Cold Desert
lowest average annual precipitation of any temperate biome.
These are found in the Great Plains of North America, in South America, and in central Asia and eastern Europe.
Cold, harsh winters and hot, dry, summers
Plant growth is constrained by both insufficient precipitation in summer and cold temperatures in winter.
Plants include grasses and non woody flowering plants that are well adapted to wildfires and frequent grazing by animals.

25. Temperate Grassland / Cold Desert
Climate – distinct seasons with a rainy and dry season
Located –between 30-60o latitude
NPP – low
Decomposition – rapid
Soil – excellent, deep and nutrient dense
Limiting Factors – water in summer, cold in winter, fire maintained
Biodiversity – moderate (but varies)
Vegetation – mostly grasses, tall grasses in wetter areas, low grasses in drier areas
Adaptations include: deep roots, fire adapted,
Animals –
Adaptations include:
Major Human impact – agriculture

26. Tropical Rainforest average annual temperatures exceed 20˚C.
located approximately 20˚ N and S of the equator.
found in Central and South America, Africa, SE Asia, & NE Australia.
warm and wet with little temperature variation.
more biodiversity than any other terrestrial biome and contain up to two-thirds of Earth's terrestrial species.

27. Tropical Rain Forest
Climate - Warm year-round, wet and humid year round
Located - near equator, specifically around the ITZC
NPP - High
Decomposition – rapid
Soil - thin, nutrient poor and acidic because decomposition rates are so rapid
Limiting Factors – light, soil nutrients
Biodiversity – highest on land
Vegetation – a wide variety, but dominated by broadleaf evergreen trees
Adaptations include: waxy leaves to keep extra water out, leaves shaped to allow water to drip off
Animals – wide variety with a diverse and complex food web
Adaptations include: Camouflage and specialization
Major Human impact – deforestation for farming

28. Tropical Seasonal Forest / Savanna
Warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons
Central America, on the Atlantic coast of South America, in southern Asia, in northwestern Australia, and in sub-Saharan Africa.
Soil is fairly fertile and can be farmed due to high decomposition rates, but the low amount of precipitation constrains plants from using the soil nutrients that are released.
Grasses and scattered deciduous trees are common.

29. Tropical Seasonal Forest / Savanna
Climate - Warm year round with a rainy season and a dry season
Located – south of the equator between 30-60o
NPP - High
Decomposition – moderate
Soil – fairly fertile
Limiting Factors – water, fire maintained
Biodiversity – varies based on rainfall with scattered trees and tall grasses
Vegetation – forests in the wetter areas, grasses in less wet areas
Adaptations include: losing leaves during dry season to conserve water, fire maintained community
Animals – wide variety particularly grazers and predators
Adaptations include: Nocturnal hunting during dry season, migration for water, burrowing to avoid water loss, specialized hunting and defensive traits
Major Human impact - deforestation for farming

30. Subtropical Desert
This biome is found at 30˚ N and S with hot temperatures and extremely dry conditions.
The Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States, the Sahara in Africa, the Arabian Desert of the Middle East and the Great Victoria Desert of Australia are all subtropical deserts.
Cacti, euphorbs and succulent plants are well adapted to this biome.

31. Subtropical Desert Climate - Warm and dry year round
Located – 30o above and below the equator
NPP – Very low
Decomposition – very slow
Soil – almost non-existent
Limiting Factors – water, nutrients
Biodiversity – varies based on rainfall with scattered trees and tall grasses
Vegetation – sparse and generally low to the ground with shrubs, cacti and succulents
Adaptations include: no leaves, waxy coatings and water storage to conserve moisture, deep or very spread out roots to reach water, spines and protection from grazers
Animals – wide variety particularly grazers and predators
Adaptations include: Nocturnal animals, hibernation to escape heat, water conserving (dry feces, moisture absorbing skin) and avoid overheating (reflective skin, burrowing)
Major Human impact – off road vehicles destroy delicate soil crust and threaten organisms

32. Forested Biomes
All forested biomes receive a sufficient amount of rainfall to support trees
Community of plants and animals are typically distributed in various layers:
Emergent layer of branches above the canopy
Canopy of full–grown trees
Understory of tree saplings
Undergrowth of herbaceous plants and shrubs

33. Another way to organize Biomes: Cold, Temperate, & Tropical for: Desert Grassland Forest

34. Polar Deserts
ARCTIC
ANTARCTIC

35. Cold & Temperate Deserts
Great Basin Desert (NV/UT)
Woodland/Shrubland/Chapparal

36. Hot/Subtropical Deserts

37. Cold Grasslands (Tundra)

38. Temperate/Seasonal Grasslands (Prairie/Steppe)

39. Tropical Grassland (Savanna)

40. Cold Forest (Boreal Forest/Taiga)

41. Temperate/Seasonal Forests
Deciduous (Seasonal) Forest
Temperate Rainforest

42. Tropical Forest