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Biomes, Landscapes, Restoration, Management. Terrestrial Biomes. Biomes definition - geographic locations on earth that demonstrate similar climate, topography, soil conditions, and communities. TYPES OF TERRESTRIAL BIOMES Deserts Grasslands (Prairies & Savannas) Tundra Conifer Forests
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Terrestrial Biomes • Biomes definition - geographic locations on earth that demonstrate similar climate, topography, soil conditions, and communities
TYPES OF TERRESTRIAL BIOMES • Deserts • Grasslands (Prairies & Savannas) • Tundra • Conifer Forests • Deciduous & Evergreen Forests • Tropical Moist Forests • Tropical Seasonal Forests
Deserts 1. precipitation- very little (2-10 cm/yr) 2. temperature - varies greatly (-10 to 40 C) 3. life forms - uniquely suited to harsh environment (conserve water!)
Grasslands: Prairies and Savannas 1. precipitation- moderate (20-120 cm/yr) 2. temperature - varies moderately (-7 to 22 C) 3. life forms - • abundant grasses and flowering plants (few trees) • very suited to agriculture • wolves, deer, elk, bison, antelope (native) *RICH AGRICULTURAL SOIL
Tundra 1. features- high mountains and northern & southern latitudes (frozen but not all ice) 2. precipitation- moderate (10-100 cm/yr) 3. temperature - hardly varies (-20 to -4 C) 4. arctic tundra - lower altitude, rough soil 5. alpine tundra - higher altitude, less oxygen
Conifer Forests 1. features-”cone bearing” trees; thin needles as leaves to preserve water 2. precipitation- moderate (10-180 cm/yr) 3. temperature - varies moderately (-12 to 20 C) • boreal forest - mixed coniferous and deciduous trees (hemlock, spruce, cedar, firs) • taiga - on border of tundra, starts to become sparse with trees • temperate rain forest - Olympia Park in Washington
Broad-Leaved Deciduous & Evergreen Forests 1. features- “deciduous” trees (drop leaves) 2. precipitation- moderate (50 -200 cm/yr) 3. temperature - varies moderately (-12 to 20 C) • typical trees - oak, maple, birch, beech, elm, ash *RICH AGRICULTURE SOIL
Tropical Moist Forests 1. features- constant temperature and rain 2. precipitation- heavy (>200 cm/yr) 3. temperature - constant (22 - 30 C) • cloud forests - high on mountains in tropics • tropical rain forests - lower in altitude; richest diversity of life forms on earth *MOST PRODUCTIVE AND DIVERSE *POOR AGRICULTURE SOIL
Tropical Seasonal Forests 1. features- rainy (monsoon) and dry seasons 2. precipitation- heavy (150- 220 cm/yr) 3. temperature - constant (22 - 30 C) • vegetation - evergreen and deciduous, giving way the woodlands and savannas
Aquatic Ecosystems • 70% OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE • WATER IS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE • It dissolves nutrients • It distributes and removes substances in & out of cells • It regulates body temperature • It supports structures
Freshwater and Saline Ecosystems 1. freshwater ecosystems- rivers, ponds, lakes • vertical stratification (light, temp, oxygen) • benthos - community on bottom • thermocline - temp gradient going deeper • “salty” lakes - land-locked slat water areas
Estuary & Wetlands: Fresh to Sea 1. estuary- site where river meets ocean • rich in nutrients • great gradient of salt content • delta - broad “fan-like” deposit of soil • wetland - land surface saturated most of year • swamps - wetlands with trees • marshes - wetlands without trees
Shoreline and Barrier Islands 1. shoreline- where ocean meets land • varied and rich forms of life • subject to severe erosion during stormy seasons 2. barrier islands- form off the coastline • protect shoreline (Atlantic and Gulf coasts) 3. coral reefs- skeletons of “corals” over time • actual “living islands” for communities to live
STREAMS RIVERS ESTUARIES
Human Disturbances • Human Disturbances • overuse of terrestrial biomes • agriculture, slash and burn • overcutting of forests for wood products • erosion increase • domination by cities and building • NAME YOUR OWN EXAMPLES !!!!!!!!!!!!
Landscape Ecology • Landscape Ecology 1. defintion- spatial relationships of ecological phenomenon
Restoration Ecology • Restoration Ecology - repair and reconstruction of damaged ecosystems 1. restoration- bring back to former condition 2. rehabilitation- not fully restoring 3. remediation- simply “cleaning up” pollutants 3. reclamation- turning from one use to another
Ecosystem Management • Roles Played by Different Groups • government (local, state, federal) • activist groups (Green Peace, Sierra Club …) • citizens • corporations