Biomes, Landscapes, Biomes, Landscapes, Restoration, ManagementRestoration, Management

Terrestrial Biomes

Biomesdefinition - 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

Climograph of some major Ecosystems

Deserts1. 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 Savannas1. 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

Tundra1. 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 Forests1. features -”cone bearing” trees; thin needles as

leaves to preserve water2. 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 Forests1. features - constant temperature and rain2. 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 Forests1. features - rainy (monsoon) and dry seasons2. precipitation - heavy (150- 220 cm/yr)

3. temperature - constant (22 - 30 C) vegetation - evergreen and deciduous, giving way

the woodlands and savannas

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

Aquatic Ecosystems

Freshwater and Saline Ecosystems1. 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 Sea1. 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 Islands1. 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

LAKES

                                                                                                                                                               

STREAMSRIVERS

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 Ecology1. defintion- spatial relationships of ecological

phenomenon

Restoration Ecology

Restoration Ecology - repair and reconstruction of damaged ecosystems1. restoration - bring back to former condition2. rehabilitation - not fully restoring3. remediation - simply “cleaning up” pollutants3. 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