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----------------------------------BIOMES-----------------------------
Defined as climax communities with wide geographic distribution
It is a concept and a generalization and there are variations BUT it is a useful term
In broad terms the general structure of the ecosystem and the kinds of niches and habitats present are
similar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag5ATGEplbU
Type of soil-- sandy will dry out, wet soil favors certain types of species.
Warm near equator and cool toward poles. BUT height above sea level is important because it is
related to temperature.
Climb a mountain and pass through biomes. a very handy sampling of biomes
DESERT
primary factor is LACK OF WATER generally less that 10 inches or 25 cm of water per year
When and how is different for different deserts. either in winter months or wet season OR infrequent
thundershowers
Problems with thundershowers is that rain RUNS OFF and does not sink in.
ALSO rate of EVAPORATION is high ---this means that flowering and growth of plants occurs in wet
season or time.
ALSO desert is WINDY and this leads to drying
We think of deserts and hot and dry and devoid of life HOWEVER deserts are full of life and can be cool
or cold
Sahara and deserts of the southwest of US and Mexico are hot mostly but Gobi desert in Central Asia
can be very cold during winter and have cool summers
winter in gobi desert--note snow.
since low precipitation there is low cloud cover and hence sun is not blocked---very hot
at night there are no clouds to insulate heat from leaving and radiational cooling leads to very cool
temps at night.
animals and plants have special adaptations to survive desert temps, lack of water and drying
examples--small leaves, or lose leaves in winter or like CACTUS will store water in spongy bodies or
roots
seeds will lie dormant and then grow rapidly during rainy season, reproduce and die and then wait for
next rain. could be months
also call prairies or steppes 25-75 cm or 10-30 inches of rain per year
FIRE is important is some areas to prevent trees from growing AND to provide nutrients
animals function to convert grass to dung and to prevent invasion of woody plants by eating
them
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dry grassland has been converted to domesticated grazers like cattle sheep goats
little natural or undisturbed grassland is left and should be preserved for grassland species
that once occupied vast areas of globe
SAVANNA
tropical parts of Africa, South America and Australia--extensive grassland spotted with trees.
20 to 60 inches of rain per year ( 50 to 150 cm) not distributed evenly
Fire is important and trees are fire resistant (not fire proof)
many trees are legumes and nitrogen fixers and provide shade and nesting sites
plants--woody shrubs that can withstand hot dry summer, plants may be dormant in summer
a monsoon climate several months of heavy rain followed by extensive dry period which can range
from a few to 8 months
Plants have adapted to this dry wet cycle, can endure drought,
Dry periods are a very hard time so some trees will drop their leaves during the dry period
locations: parts of Central and South America, Australia, Africa and Asia (India and Myranmar)
plants grow fast due to warm temp and rainfall BUT SOIL USUALLY POOR.
why?---water tends to carry away nutrients that is not immediately taken up by roots
Tree-- extensive root networks associated with fungi (micorhizza) near surface of soil to allow capture
of nutrients before they are carried away.
Most nutrients are tied up in biomass NOT IN SOIL. These area make poor farmland
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Rainfall is a source of nutrients because atmospheric particles and gases dissolve as rain
falls.
Epiphytic plants (plants that live on surface of others plants) can trap many of these particle
before they reach the soil.
Understory vines grow toward sun on supporting trees--why? looking for sun, competition
for sunlight
a few square kilometers have hundreds of species of trees (unlike where we live)
Same species of tree can be a kilometer or more apart (very different from where we live)
Each tree has a community of plants and animals that use it as food shelter and support
THE CANOPY -- a solid wall of leaves between the sun and forest floor. There can be two or
three levels here.
climbing mammals, tree frogs, lizards---insects are food for many animals
Flowers and fruit and available YEAR ROUND lots of nectar and fruit feeding birds and
mammals
Very low light levels during the day and difficult to see during the day due to leaves and
vines and plants so animals communicate often by sounds.
Environmental Pressures
these are often poor countries and try to exploit the rainforest for jobs and money
Forestry can be sustainable but in many cases is not, too rapid exploitation
TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST
There is a winter summer change here and have trees that lose there leaves in winter and
get them back in spring.
location: eastern half of US and parts of central and southeastern Canada, southern Africa,
and many areas of Europe and Asia
each area has certain species of tree that are major producers for the biome
unlike tropical rain forest here there are many fewer species and many forests consist of two
or three dominant species.
animals: many insects which eat leaves and tree wood -- beetles, moth larvae, wasps and
ants are examples
Birds live here but most are MIGRANTS--arrive in spring, reproduce in summer, leave in fall--
the food is the large insect population also fruit seeds.
year round residents: some birds like woodpeckers, grouse, turkey and some finches
amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders) reptiles (snakes and lizards) prey on insects and
other small animals.
small and large mammals: mice ,squirrels, deer, shrews, moles and oppossums
location: southern half of Canada, parts of northern Europe, and much of Russia
climate: short cool summers, long winters with lots of snow, winters are harsh and can last
6 months
soils freezes
very humid due to snow melt in spring and low temperature combine to reduce evaporation
common trees: spruces, firs, and larches adapted to winter and dry??
dry why? moisture fall as snow and stays above soil and melts in spring
needle shaped leaves prevent water loss, larch lose needles in fall, branches flexible to shed
snow in fall, tree shaped like a pyramid
animals: temporarily active in summer, most birds are migratory and feed on insect
population not around in winter
TUNDRA
North of the Taiga is the Tundra
description
Lacks trees
permanently frozen SUBSURFACE soil called PERMAFROST:
temperature: short cool summer, summer temperatures and usually less than 50F or 10C
hence very low evaporation rate
land is waterlogged due to permafrost which does not let water sink into soil many ponds
and pools (shallow)
animals: water attracts waterfowl like ducks and geese (migrate there during spring, raise
young in summer migrate south in fall)
Top few inches will thaw and some plants will grow but be short (less that 8 inches or 20
cm)
plants: grasses, dwarf birch, dwarf willow and lichens like reindeer moss
Hardy mammals live here: musk oxen, caribou (reindeer), arctic hare, and lemmings---these
surivive by eating the vegetation, short grasses and plants
Key point--very short growing season--damage to land will take a long time to heal.
ALPINE TUNDRA -- found on some mountaintops around the world. General appearance is
similar to Tundra although many species of animals and and plants are different. Also many
animals will migrate to alpine tundra in summer and return to lower elevations in winter