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Part I: Introduction to biomes & The Terrestrial environment & The Terrestrial Environment Part II: The Aquatic Environment
Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill.
Chapters 2 & 3: Life on Land, Life in Water
Objectives
To learn about the terrestrial environment by
understanding the factors that affect their geographic distribution and biomes
Terrestrial biomes
Tundra Boreal forest (Taiga) Temperate forest Temperate grassland Mediterranean woodland & shrubland Desert Tropical savanna Tropical dry forest Tropical rain forest Mountains
Increasing latitude
Questions
What changes would you experience when moving north of south of the equator?
Pattern?
Which are the coldest? Which are the wettest? Which are the driest?
1. Tropical Rainforest 2. Tropical Dry Forest (Monsoon Forest) 3. Tropical Savanna 4. Desert 5. Mediterranean Woodland & Shrubland 6. Temperate Grassland
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Scope
Part I: Introduction to biomes & The Terrestrial Environment
1. What is responsible for climatic variation? 2. A brief look at soil. 3. What are biomes? Terrestrial biomes & Ecoregions
Average temperature lower & more seasonal in temperate zones compared to tropics. Precipitation more constant in some regions, more seasonal in others.
Large-scale spatial and temporal variation in climate are fundamental to terrestrial ecology. Terrestrial biomes inuenced by climate, especially temperature and precipitation.
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Spherical shape of earth + Tilt of earths axis (23.5) = Regular shift in latitude where sun is directly overhead leads to the seasons.
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Variation in temperature & day length Signicant at middle to high latitudes (temperate). Slight at lower latitudes (tropics). Northern winter Northern summer
N S
Southern summer
N S
Southern winter
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Heating of earths surface and atmosphere. and rotation of the earth. Leads to variation in precipitation.
Warm, moist air rises condensation - cool, dry air sinks Heavy rainfall in tropics near equator. Desert formation in subtropics at ca. 30 latitude. Heavy precipitation in temperate regions at ca. 60 latitude.
Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill
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NE & SE tradewinds - Tropics Westerlies - Temperate region Polar easterlies - High latitudes Coriolis effect - phenomenon caused by the rotation of the earth, which causes deection of winds clockwise in Northern Hemisphere and anticlockwise in Southern Hemisphere.
Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill
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Predictable large-scale climatic patterns inuenced by climate, especially temperature and precipitation.
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2. Soil
O A B C
Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill
Soil profile based on vertical layering (soil horizons) that merge into one another at transition zones.
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Soil horizons
O horizon (organic layer) (litter layer) Freshly fallen organic matter + fragmented/partially decomposed organic matter (action of macro/microdecomposers). Absent in? A horizon (mixed mineral/organic matter) (topsoil) Mixture of inorganic matter (minerals, clay, silt and sand) and organic matter (from O horizon; burrowers). B horizon (depositional layer) Distinctive banding from deposition/leaching of materials (e.g., mineral nutrients, humus) from A horizon by water. C horizon (parent material) (deepest layer) Weathered parent material (action of water, frost, roots). Source of smaller fragments from bedrock below.
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Biological activity
plant roots
Major divisions of the terrestrial environment (14) Distinguished by predominant plant formations and soil types. Associated with different climates.
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http://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/cdciw/biomes/research.htm
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http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm
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14 biomes
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Ecoregions
relatively large units of land, containing a distinct assemblage of natural communities and species, with boundaries that approximate the original extent of natural communities prior to major land-use change.
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Helpful , how?
More accurately reects the distribution of species and communities. It provides:
global and regional conservation increase biogeographic literacy illustrate conservation issues around the world strategies and analyses
framework for
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3. Tides
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1. Hydrologic cycle
Cycling of water across the biosphere. Over 71% of the earths surface is covered by water:
Turnover time.
Oceans: 97%. Polar ice caps; glaciers: 2%. Lakes; rivers; streams; ! ground water: <1%.
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How does the West and East Coast of Malaysia differ from each other? What ecosystems dominate in each?
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2.2 Oceans
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Oceans: Structure
Intertidal Zone, then: Distance from shore/continental shelf: Neritic Zone: Coast to edge of continental shelf (up to 200m depth). Oceanic Zone: Beyond continental shelf (beyond 200m depth). Depth beyond continental shelf: Epipelagic (0-200m) Mesopelagic (200-1,000m) Bathypelagic (1,000-4,000m) Abyssal (4,000-6,000m) Hadal (>6,000m) Habitat: Benthic: Habitat on ocean bottom. Pelagic: Habitat off the bottom in water column. Neritic: within the water column
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Oceans
Salinity between 34 ppt to 36.5 ppt; lowest near equator; highest in subtropics. Why? Lower oxygen concentration (cf. aerial environments). Oxygen concentration highest near ocean surface, and decreases with depth to a minimum at < 1,000m. Photosynthetic organisms limited to upper epipelagic zone (euphotic zone).
Chemosynthesis occurs near deep sea hydrothermal vents chemoautotrophic bacteria making use of hydrogen sulphide
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Oceans: Light
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Oceans: Temperature
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Warm surface water oats on top of cooler water below. Thermocline separates the two layers = thermal stratication (300-400 metres). Permanent feature of tropical oceans - seasonal feature of temperate oceans (summer) Temperature variation anr equator = 1C
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Oceanic Circulation
Currents exist throughout the world. Warm equatorial waters transported to the poles E.g. Gulf Stream
Molles, M. C. Jr., 2007. Ecology: concepts and applications, 4th edition. McGraw-Hill
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Warm equatorial waters transported to the poles create moderate climates in temperate areas.
Canada
Gulf Stream
NOAA (Wikipedia)
http://www.welt-atlas.de
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NOAA
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What is the signicance of marine snow to the twilight and midnight zones? What is the signicance of upwelling to sheries and humans?
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http://marine.rutgers.edu/coolroom/education/upwelling.htm
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Rutgers COOL
Normal conditions
Oceans
Salinity between 34 ppt to 36.5 ppt; lowest near equator; highest in subtropics. Why? Lower oxygen concentration (cf. aerial environments). Oxygen concentration highest near ocean surface, and decreases with depth to a minimum at < 1,000m. Photosynthetic organisms limited to upper epipelagic zone (euphotic zone).
Chemosynthesis occurs near deep sea hydrothermal vents - chemoautotrophic bacteria making use of hydrogen sulphide
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Zone: > HHWST Always exposed, i. e. Never covered even by the highest tides.
Littoral (= intertidal) zone: HHWST < Littoral > LLWST Daily exposure (air) and immersion (seawater), 1-2x/day.
Sublittoral Below LLWST mark Always covered by water even during lowest tides.
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Sea shores
Waves and tides affect distribution and abundance of intertidal organisms. Semidiurnal tides: Two periods of low and high tides daily. Diurnal tides: Single low and high tide each day. Intertidal zone organisms adapted to amphibious existence. Differential tolerances to periodicity of air exposure leads to zonation of species.
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Challenging environment: High and uctuating salinity (physiologically dry environment) Unstable and anoxic substratum
Mangrove plants and animal adaptations (structural, physiological, reproductive) Low plant species diversity
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Low plant species diversity Zonation parallel to shoreline, dened by dominant tree species or topography Keystone species:. Mud lobster, Thalassina anomala Keystone species: Sulphur bacteria, Desulfovibrio spp.
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Image: www.freeimages.co.uk
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2.4 Limnology
LSM4264 Freshwater Biology
"Freshwater ecosystems Study of freshwater habitats. have lost a greater proportion of their Lakes species and habitat than Rivers, streams ecosystems on land or in the oceans, Freshwater swamps and they face increasing Peat swamps threats from dams, Freshwater marshes water withdrawals, pollution, invasive Peat bogs species, and overharvesting."
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Littoral zone: Shallows Limnetic zone: Open lake Lakes become thermally stratied as they warm forming
three layers: Epilimnion: Warm surface layers. Uppermost stratum. Oxygen-rich - higher concentration of fauna. Metalimnion: Temperature changes rapidly with depth (=Thermocline). Hypolimnion: Cold dark waters. Lowest stratum. Oxygen-poor - lower concentration of fauna.
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Lake Structure
= (Thermocline)
Molles, M. C. Jr., 2005. Ecology: concepts and applications, 3rd edition. McGraw-Hill
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Classication of Lakes
Classified by trophic (nutrition) state Well nourished = eutrophic (hyper-eutrophic) mesotrophic Lowly nourished = oligotrophic
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Classication of Lakes
Dependent on: Nutrient supply - bedrock geology, soils, vegetation, human
landuse and management
Climate - sunlight, temp, precipitation, turnover Shape of lake basin (morphometry) - depth, vol.,
watershed: lake surface area
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Lakes
Oligotrophic: Nutrient-poor; low Organisms requiring high oxygen
concentrations biological production; well oxygenated. E.g. Lake Toba (rock base)
Lakes
Eutrophic: Nutrient-rich; high
biological production; depleted of oxygen. E.g. Seletar reservoir (mud/clay base)
Organisms tolerant of low oxygen concentrations Warmer, stratied reduced oxygen solubility and concentration;
accumulation of decomposing matter below thermocline consumes oxygen
Lakes
Wind-driven mixing of the water column is ecologically important.
oxygenation of bottom waters replenish nutrients in surface waters
Temperate context:
Summer mixing limited to above thermocline Spring, autumn, winter (if no ice) mixing throughout breakdown of thermal stratication
Sand bar
3. Tides
Plantations
Rocky shore
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0.3m
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What will the tide be like on the Pulau Ubin eld trip?
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Is the tide suitable for a cleanup? The Kranji Mangrove brieng is conducted on the
Saturday one week before the cleanup.
The organisers take a walk through the site and At what time should the brieng be held?
examine the mangrove and must see the conditions of the actual day.
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