Ecosystems III

1. Ecosystems III Terrestrial (Land) Biomes Mrs. Tamasy FYI : Remember Land Biomes are Characterized by these traits. However you can find species native to these regions that don’t fit the following descriptions…. Special Thanks to Former Ecology Students 2009 – 2011 and Google Images

2. Tropical Rain Forest-Locations • Belt around equator • 25˚ N and 25˚ S • Amazon, Congo

4. TRF - Climate • Warm • Humid • Strong Sunlight Year-round • Wet Season – Short Dry Season • Poor Soil **** • >100 in rain per year

5. TRF - Plants • Most plant species here • Thin, Smooth Bark • Quickly pull nutrients from soil • Buttress roots for support • Large, flat leaves • Drip Tips • Epiphytes (ex. Lianas) • Seedlings grow quickly to compete

6. Buttress Roots

8. TRF – Plants Con’t • Layers (1 m = 3 ft) • Emergent 60-70 m • Canopy 30 m • Understory • Forest Floor – 3.5 m

9. TRF - Animals • Specialize to avoid competition! • Feed in layers • Camouflage • Bright Colors • Poisonous skin

11. TRF - Threats • 20% ------> 7% • 100 acres lost/minute-deforestation • Habitat Destruction • Loss of species – incl. humans • Exotic pet trading • 40% of O2 • ¼ of all Rx

12. Before and After

13. Temperate Deciduous Forests-Locations • Here! • 30-50˚North • Eastern N. America • Europe • Asia

14. TDF - Climate • 4 seasons • 4-6 mo growing season • 75-125 cm precip (all kinds) (30-60 in) • Rich, Deep Soil

15. TDF - Plants • Deciduous Trees • Shed Leaves & survive frosts • Maples – Oaks – Birch – Beech • Underground Stems, Roots & Bulbs • Dormant in winter – return in spring

16. TDF - Layers • Tall Trees • Canopy • Understory • sm trees/shrubs • Herb Layer • ferns, mosses, grasses

17. TDF - Animals • Birds Migrate • Mammals reduce activity (hibernate) • Feed in Layers • Squirrels – nuts, seeds, fruits • Bears – leaves, berries • Deer – Trees, shrubs • Grasshoppers – throughout

18. black bear deer squirrel cardinal rabbit

19. TDF - Threats • Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) • Clear Cutting • Forest Fires • Acid Rain

20. Taiga - Locations • Aka Coniferous Forest, Boreal Forest • 50 – 60˚ N • Broad band across N.Hemis, below the Arctic Circle

22. Taiga - Climate • -65° F to 70°F • 6-10 month winters • Mild summers – nearly constant daylight • <50 day growing season • 20-40 inches, mostly snow in winter • Soil- low nutrients, very acidic, slow decomp. • Low humidity in winter w/ lots of snow

23. Taiga - Plants • Conifers – seeds in cones, do not shed needles • Dark green leaves/needles • Waxy coat – retains water • Thick bark • Upside down cone shape • Pine – Fir – Spruce – Balsam – Evergreens • Blueberries – Ferns – Mosses

26. Taiga - Animals • Warm coats of fur • Thick fat layer • Birds migrate • Burrowing – shrews, rodents • Snowshoe hare – sheds brown fur • Camouflage

28. Northern Lynx • Endangered

29. Taiga - Threats Natural • Wildfires caused by lightning Human • Clear cutting • Pesticides • Mining - Oil & Gas exploration • Road Building • Poaching

30. Savannas - Locations • Btwn rain forests & deserts • 0-30˚N and S • Africa – India – Australia – S.America • In U.S. – the Everglades

31. Savanna - Climate • Aka – the “tropics” • Distinct Wet and Dry Seasons • Heavy Rainfall ----- Drought • Little precip overall – not many trees

32. Savanna - Plants • Lots of grasses • Scattered trees & shrubs • Horizontal Root systems • Deep Tap Roots • Lose leaves • Thorns/ Sharp Leaves • Acacia – Baobab

33. Baobab Tree Acacia Tree Grasses

35. Savanna - Animals • Grazers & their predators • Migrate w/rain • Give birth in rainy season • Eat in layers • Gazelles – grasses • Rhinos – shrubs • Giraffes – trees • Travel in Herds

37. Savanna - Threats • Grass fires in dry season • But, restores soil nutrients • Poaching • Overgrazing / farming • Flooding

38. Temperate Grasslands - Locations • Interiors of continents • 35-50˚N and 25 – 30˚S • Prairies, meadows • Pampas, Veld, Downs, Puszta

39. Temp Grass - Climate • Hot summers, cold winters • Moderate Rain 50-88 cm (20-35 in) • **Most fertile soil of any biome • 4-6 month growing season

40. Temp Grass - Plants • Perennial Grasses • Few natural plants remain • Now – corn, soybeans, wheat • Few Trees • Dense Root Systems • Grasses grow from base, not tip

41. Temp Grass - Animals • Grazers – lg, flat back teeth • Underground Burrowers • fire, weather, predators • Sharp claws • Long legs • Herds • Lighter colors - bison

42. Temp Grass - Threats • Non – native species • Grass Fires / Droughts • Farming / Overgrazing = Soil Erosion • Tornados

43. Invasive Species Why do invasive species have to be so Pretty?! • Queen Anne's Lace Big Blue-stem Grass Blazing Star Indian Grass

44. Chaparral - Locations • Aka – temperate woodland? • Hollywood • 30˚N & S • Coastal areas w/ Mediterranean Climates

45. Chaparral

46. Chaparral - Climate • Fairly dry, more rain that desert • 10-17 in • Warm, drier summers • Mild, wet winters

47. Chaparral - Plants • Leathery leaves • Broadleaf shrubs – sage brush • Scattered trees – conifers • pinon pines, junipers

48. Chaparral - Animals • Camouflage • Colors to blend in • Quail, lizards, chipmunks, mule deer • Burrowing • Large Ears • Nocturnal

49. Chaparral - Threats • Human Development • Commercial • Residential – due to mild weather • Wild fires

50. Deserts - Locations • 1/7 of the earth’s land • 15 -35˚N • In the shadows of large mountain ranges • Sahara – N. Africa – World’s Largest