Tropical Rain Forests

1. Tropical Rain Forests • Warm, wet and humid all year round • Nutrient poor soil-high rate of decomposition • Different layers within the forest create a variety of niches • Emergent, upper and lower canopies, forest floor • Amount of sunlight determines what lives in each layer

2. Tropical Rainforest Organisms • Plants • Bengal bamboo, Strangler Figs, jambu, orchids • Shallow roots systems • Epiphytes (ex. Orchids) will grow on tree branches and tap into the tree with their root systems to obtain nutrients • Fast growers • Animals • New World Monkeys, African Forest Elephants, King Cobra, Vampire Bat, Jambu Fruit Dove, Toco Toucan, Kinkajo • Arboreal-live up in the trees; long arms, prehensile tails, etc. • Camouflage • Strong beaks to break open seeds

3. Tropical Rainforest Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Deforestation • Agriculture, cattle, resources, etc. • Poachers • Hunt and collect animals for exotic pet trades • Biodiversity: high

4. Deciduous Forest • Most decidous forests lie between 30 and 60 degrees north and south latitudes • 4 seasons: our weather patterns • Fertile soil

5. Deciduous Organisms • Plants • Walnut trees, chestnut trees, maple trees, oak trees • Loose leaves during fall • Dormant during winter-saves water • Animals • American Black Bear, Coyote, Duckbill Platypus, Eastern Chipmunk, White-tailed deer • Camouflage, hibernate-fat layer, store food, etc.

6. Deciduous Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Deforestation • Farmland • Urbanization • Resources • Overhunting • Pollution (air, water, land, etc.) • Biodiversity: medium to high

7. Coniferous Forests • Think Canada • 4 Seasons • Colder temps than deciduous • About the same precipitation than deciduous • Acidic soils from the needles from the trees-deter other plants from growing around them

8. Coniferous Organisms • Plants • White Spruce, Balsam Fir, Pine, Cedar, Douglas Fir • Triangular shape • Branches are flexible • Thick bark • Needle-lie leaves to prevent water loss; needles are acidic • Animals • Lynx, Wolverines, Bobcats, Minks, Caribou, Elk, Moose, White Rabbits • Thick fur coat • Camouflage • Hibernate in the winter-protective layer of fat

9. Coniferous Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Deforestation • For homes, roads, resources • Pollution (air, water, land) • Biodiversity-less then tropical or deciduous, more then everything else (medium to high)

10. Chaparral • 4 seasons • Less precip then forests more then desert/tundra • Natural fires are common-rejuvenate land • Windy

11. Chaparral Organisms • Plants: • Coyote bush, common sage brush, chaparral sweetpea, purple needle grass: lots of grasses and bushes-very few trees • Deep roots, fire retardant leaves, waxy coatings on leaves • Animals: • Coyote, rattlesnake, jackrabbit, puma, golden jackal, bezoar goat • Camouflage, nocturnal, go without water for long periods of time

12. Chaparral Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Fire suppression • Urbanization-causes erosion and destruction of habitat • Used for agriculture • Biodiversity • Medium to low

13. Savanna • Hint: think The Lion King • 2 seasons • Wet and dry • Natural fires are common • Windy • Nutrient poor soil

14. Savanna Organisms • Plants • Grasses • Grow in clumps to save water, grow quickly, deep roots • Animals • Elephants, lions, zebras, gazelles, giraffes, etc. • Migrating herbivores • camouflage

15. Savanna Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Overhunting • Overgrazing • Planting non-nonative plants for agriculture • Biodiversity • Medium to low

16. Prairie • Middle of the US • Fertile soil • Windy • Natural fires are common to rejuvenate land

17. Prairie Organisms • Plants • Grasses • Deep root systems • Animals • Badgers, coyotes, prairie dogs, etc. • Burrow-strong front claws • Camouflage

18. Prairie Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Land converted to farmland • Less genetic diversity, more erosion, increased pesticide usage • Fire suppression • Biodiversity: medium to low

19. Deserts • Usually found between 15 and 30 degrees latitude • Usually hot, always dry • Winds shape landscape • Nutrient poor soil

20. Desert Organisms • Plants • Cacti, brittle bush, joshua tree • Sharp spines, fleshy insides, leathery leaves,shallow root systems • Animals • Lizards, desert tortoise, cactus wren, fennec fox, jerboa • Camouflage,estivate: burrow during the day, nocturnal at night, large ears to release heat

21. Desert Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Overgrazing • Excessive off road vehicles usage, nuclear testing sites, etc. • Biodiversity: low

22. Tundra • Cold and dry • Permafrost • 2 seasons: long cold winter and short warm summer • Polar winds

23. Tundra Organisms • Plants • Sedges, arctic willow, arctic moss, lichens, caribou moss • Grow close to the ground, shallow root systems, short hairs • No trees due to high winds and shallow root systems • Animals • Arctic fox, musk oxen, snowy owl, polar bear, caribou, arctic hare, lemmings • Camouflage, thick fur, layers of fat

24. Tundra Environmental Issues and Biodiversity • Environmental Issues • Extraction of nonrenewable resources-oil drilling, building of roads, etc. • Global warming (from the burning of fossil fuels)-thaws permafrost-leads to a positive feedback loop • Biodiversity: low