• What is the relationship between climate and the types of vegetation throughout the world?

What are the major patterns of vegetation found on

Earth?

Are similar vegetation patterns found in different parts of the

world?

What animals are associated with the different vegetation

patterns?

What type of adaptations are selected for in different biomes?

Do climates change over time?

What influences the climate of a particular region?

What influences the climate of a particular region?

1. Altitude - altitude, temperature2. Latitude – sun’s radiation is less direct as

you move N or S from equator Proximity to large body of water (moderates

temperature)Proximity to mountainsAlbedo (albedo = reflection = temperatureHumidity

Temperature and Precipitation Patterns

Humidity: Amount of water vapour in air (reported as % water that air can hold at a specific temperature).

Humidity as temperature Humidex = combines temperature and precipitation to give an indication of what the air “feels like” to people

HUMIDEX CHART

Temperature and Precipitation Patterns

When air cools, thermal energy is removed from water vapor in the air, changes from gas to liquid (Hvap)

The temperature when water vapor in air condenses is called DEW POINT.

PrecipitationRain (mm), snow (cm) 1 cm snow = 10 mm

rain

Biomes

Major geographic regions with similar environmental conditions

Examples????

Taiga (boreal), desert, tropical rainforest, grasslands, fresh water, oceans, temperate deciduous, tundra…..

EcosystemA community of living organisms

that interact with each other and with the non-living (abiotic), physical environment.

Examples?

HabitatWhere an animal or plant lives (home)

Examples?

Match animal to its habitat

Adaptations3 types

1) physiological – occurs inside organism

Examples?

Cold blooded vs. warm blooded

Cold-blooded vs. warm- bloodedGizzard in bird, 4 stomachs in cows

(digestion)Venom (snakes)

Blue-ringed octopus

Poison dart frog

Black widow spider

2. Structural Adaptations

Physical features on outside

Examples?

Claws, teeth, camouflage, spines and thorns on cactus and plants

3. Behavioral Adaptations

What an organism does

Examples?

Migration, hibernation, nocturnal behaviors, mating behaviors and dances, broken wing behavior in birds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UCKnC1L_Rc