Chapter 5 Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Chapter Overview Questions  What factors the earth’s climate?  How does climate determine where the earth’s major biome’s are found?  What are the major types of desert biomes?  What are the major types of grassland biomes?

Chapter Overview Questions (cont’d)  What are the major types of forest and mountain biomes?  How have human activities affected the world’s desert, grassland, forest, and mountain biomes?

Updates Online The latest references for topics covered in this section can be found at the book companion website. Log in to the book’s e-resources page at to access InfoTrac articles.  InfoTrac: Of Chicks and Frogs. Steven Pinker. Forbes, August 14, 2006 v178 i3 p40.  InfoTrac: Nice Rats, Nasty Rats: Maybe It's All In the Genes. Nicholas Wade. The New York Times, July 25, 2006 pF1(L).  InfoTrac: Ancient shrub unlocks a clue to Darwin's 'abominable mystery.’ The Christian Science Monitor, May 18, 2006 p02.  The Jane Goodall Institute  Natural History Museum: Ancient Birds

Core Case Study Blowing in the Wind: A Story of Connections  Wind connects most life on earth. Keeps tropics from being unbearably hot. Keeps tropics from being unbearably hot. Prevents rest of world from freezing. Prevents rest of world from freezing. Figure 5-1

CLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION  Weather is a local area’s short-term physical conditions such as temperature and precipitation.  Climate is a region’s average weather conditions over a long time. Latitude and elevation help determine climate. Latitude and elevation help determine climate.

Earth’s Current Climate Zones Figure 5-2

Animation: Climate and Ocean Currents Map PLAY ANIMATION

Animation: Air Circulation and Climate PLAY ANIMATION

Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing Heat  Global air circulation is affected by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by solar energy, seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation. Figure 5-3

Fig. 5-3, p. 102 Spring (sun aims directly at equator) Fall (sun aims directly at equator) Summer (northern hemisphere tilts toward sun) Solar radiation 23.5 ° Winter (northern hemisphere tilts away from sun)

Video: Seasonal Variation PLAY VIDEO

Coriolis Effect  Global air circulation is affected by the rotation of the earth on its axis. Figure 5-4

Fig. 5-4, p. 102 Cold deserts Equator Cold deserts Forests Hot desertsSoutheast trades Westerlies Forests Westerlies Hot desertsNortheast trades

Convection Currents  Global air circulation is affected by the properties of air water, and land. Figure 5-5

Fig. 5-5, p. 103 Warm, dry air Flows toward low pressure, picks up moisture and heat Moist surface warmed by sun HIGH PRESSURE LOW PRESSURE Falls, is compressed, warms Rises, expands, cools HIGH PRESSURE Heat released radiates to space LOW PRESSURE Condensation and precipitation Cool, dry air Hot, wet air

Convection Cells  Heat and moisture are distributed over the earth’s surface by vertical currents, which form six giant convection cells at different latitudes. Figure 5-6

Fig. 5-6, p. 103 Cell 3 North Moist air rises — rain Cell 2 North Cool, dry air falls Cell 1 North Moist air rises, cools, and releases Moisture as rain Cell 1 South Cool, dry air falls Cell 2 South Moist air rises — rain Cell 3 South Cold, dry air falls Polar cap Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Desert Tropical deciduous forest Tropical rain forest Equator Tropical deciduous forest Cold, dry air falls Polar cap Arctic tundra Evergreen coniferous forest Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Desert 60° 30° 0° 30° 60°

Animation: Air Circulation PLAY ANIMATION

Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and Nutrients  Ocean currents influence climate by distributing heat from place to place and mixing and distributing nutrients. Figure 5-7

Fig. 5-7, p. 104 (c) As concentrations of greenhouse gases rise, their molecules absorb and emit more infrared radiation, which adds more heat to the lower atmosphere. (b) The earth's surface absorbs much of the incoming solar radiation and degrades it to longer-wavelength infrared (IR) radiation, which rises into the lower atmosphere. Some of this IR radiation escapes into space as heat, and some is absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases and emitted as even longer-wavelength IR radiation, which warms the lower atmosphere. (a) Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower atmosphere and warm the earth's surface.

Animation: Greenhouse Effect PLAY ANIMATION

Animation: Increasing Greenhouse Gases PLAY ANIMATION

Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and Nutrients  Global warming: Considerable scientific evidence and climate models indicate that large inputs of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic activities into the troposphere can enhance the natural greenhouse effect and change the earth’s climate in your lifetime. Considerable scientific evidence and climate models indicate that large inputs of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic activities into the troposphere can enhance the natural greenhouse effect and change the earth’s climate in your lifetime.

Video: Global Warming  This video clip is available in CNN Today Videos for Environmental Science, 2004, Volume VII. Instructors, contact your local sales representative to order this volume, while supplies last.

Animation: El Nino Southern Oscillation PLAY ANIMATION

Topography and Local Climate: Land Matters  Interactions between land and oceans and disruptions of airflows by mountains and cities affect local climates. Figure 5-8

Fig. 5-8, p. 105 Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean. Dry habitats Moist habitats On the leeward side of the mountain range, air descends, warms, and Releases little moisture. On the windward side of a mountain range, air rises, cools, and releases moisture.

Animation: Coastal Breezes PLAY ANIMATION

Animation: Upwelling Along Western Coasts PLAY ANIMATION

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND  Different climates lead to different communities of organisms, especially vegetation. Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals. Biomes – large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals. Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors. Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND Figure 5-9

Fig. 5-9, p. 106 Polar ice Equator Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Cancer High mountains Polar grassland (arctic tundra) Temperate grassland Tropical grassland (savanna) Chaparral Coniferous forest Temperate deciduous forest Tropical forest Desert

Animation: Biomes Map PLAY ANIMATION

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND  Biome type is determined by precipitation, temperature and soil type Figure 5-10

Fig. 5-10, p. 107 Polar Rain forest Tropical seasonal forest Scrubland Savanna Desert Tropical Grassland Chaparral Deciduous Forest Coniferous forest Desert Temperate Subpolar Tundra Wet Cold Dry Hot

BIOMES: CLIMATE AND LIFE ON LAND  Parallel changes occur in vegetation type occur when we travel from the equator to the poles or from lowlands to mountaintops. Figure 5-11

Fig. 5-11, p. 108 Mountain ice and snow Elevation Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Coniferous Forest Deciduous Forest Tropical Forest Tropical Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Polar ice and snow Latitude

DESERT BIOMES  Deserts are areas where evaporation exceeds precipitation.  Deserts have little precipitation and little vegetation. Found in tropical, temperate and polar regions. Found in tropical, temperate and polar regions.  Desert plants have adaptations that help them stay cool and get enough water.

Video: Desertification  This video clip is available in CNN Today Videos for Environmental Science, 2004, Volume VII. Instructors, contact your local sales representative to order this volume, while supplies last.

Video: Desertification in China  From ABC News, Environmental Science in the Headlines, 2005 DVD. PLAY VIDEO

DESERT BIOMES  Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate and cold deserts. Figure 5-12

Fig. 5-12a, p. 109 Tropical Desert Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Fig. 5-12b, p. 109 Temperate Desert Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Fig. 5-12c, p. 109 Polar Desert Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point Mean monthly temperature (°C)

DESERT BIOMES  The flora and fauna in desert ecosystems adapt to their environment through their behavior and physiology. Figure 5-13

Fig. 5-13, p. 110 Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Kangaroo rat Diamondback rattlesnake Fungi Bacteria Darkling Beetle Roadrunner Prickly pear cactus Agave Gambel's Quail Collared lizard Jack rabbit Yucca Red-tailed hawk

GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES  Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue). Figure 5-14

Fig. 5-14a, p. 112 Tropical grassland (savanna) Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Fig. 5-14b, p. 112 Temperate grassland Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Fig. 5-14c, p. 112 Polar grassland (arctic tundra) Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Video: Caribou PLAY VIDEO

Video: Tundra Flyover PLAY VIDEO

GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES  Grasslands (prairies) occur in areas too moist for desert and too dry for forests.  Savannas are tropical grasslands with scattered tree and herds of hoofed animals.

Temperate Grasslands  The cold winters and hot dry summers have deep and fertile soil that make them ideal for growing crops and grazing cattle. Figure 5-15

Temperate Grasslands  Temperate tall- grass prairie ecosystem in North America. Figure 5-16

Fig. 5-15, p. 113 Golden eagle Pronghorn antelope Grasshopper Prairie Coneflower Fungi Bacteria Prairie dog Blue stem grass Grasshopper sparrow Coyote Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers

Animation: Prairie Food Web PLAY ANIMATION

Polar Grasslands  Polar grasslands are covered with ice and snow except during a brief summer. Figure 5-17

Fig. 5-17, p. 114 Moss campion Mountain Cranberry Lemming Dwarf Willow Willow ptarmigan Horned lark Arctic fox Snowy owl Mosquito Grizzly bear Long-tailed jaeger Caribou Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers

Chaparral  Chaparral has a moderate climate but its dense thickets of spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires. Figure 5-18

FOREST BIOMES  Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar forests. Figure 5-19

Fig. 5-19a, p. 116 Tropical rain forest Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Fig. 5-19b, p. 116 Temperate deciduous forest Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

Fig. 5-19c, p. 116 Polar evergreen coniferous forest (boreal forest, taiga) Mean monthly temperature (  C) Mean monthly precipitation (mm) Month Freezing point

FOREST BIOMES  Forests have enough precipitation to support stands of trees and are found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions.

Tropical Rain Forest  Tropical rain forests have heavy rainfall and a rich diversity of species. Found near the equator. Found near the equator. Have year-round uniformity warm temperatures and high humidity. Have year-round uniformity warm temperatures and high humidity. Figure 5-20

Fig. 5-20, p. 117 Blue and gold macaw Climbing monstera palm Slaty-tailed trogon Harpy eagle BromeliadBacteria Fungi Ants Tree frog Green tree snake Katydid Squirrel monkeys Ocelot Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers

Animation: Rainforest Food Web PLAY ANIMATION

Tropical Rain Forest  Filling such niches enables species to avoid or minimize competition and coexist Figure 5-21

Fig. 5-21, p. 118 Ground layer Black-crowned antipitta Brazilian tapir Woolly opossum Toco toucan Shrub layer Understory Canopy Emergent layer Height (meters) Harpy eagle

Temperate Deciduous Forest  Most of the trees survive winter by dropping their leaves, which decay and produce a nutrient- rich soil. Figure 5-22

Fig. 5-22, p. 120 Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Wood frog Racer May beetle Bacteria Fungi Long-tailed weasel Shagbark hickory Mountain Winterberry Metallic wood-boring beetle and Larvae White-tailed deer White-footed mouse Gray Squirrel Hairy Woodpecker White oak Broad-winged hawk

Evergreen Coniferous Forests  Consist mostly of cone-bearing evergreen trees that keep their needles year-round to help the trees survive long and cold winters. Figure 5-23

Fig. 5-23, p. 121 Bunchberry Bacteria Starflower Fungi Snowshoe hare Pine sawyer beetle and larvae Bebb willow Wolf White Spruce Moose Marten Great horned owl Blue jay Balsam fir Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers

Video: Sequoias PLAY VIDEO

Temperate Rain Forests  Coastal areas support huge cone-bearing evergreen trees such as redwoods and Douglas fir in a cool moist environment. Figure 5-24

MOUNTAIN BIOMES  High-elevation islands of biodiversity  Often have snow- covered peaks that reflect solar radiation and gradually release water to lower- elevation streams and ecosystems. Figure 5-25

HUMAN IMPACTS ON TERRESTRIAL BIOMES  Human activities have damaged or disturbed more than half of the world’s terrestrial ecosystems.  Humans have had a number of specific harmful effects on the world’s deserts, grasslands, forests, and mountains.

Fig. 5-26, p. 123 Natural Capital Degradation Desert Large desert cities Soil destruction by off-road vehicles Soil salinization from irrigation Depletion of groundwater Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction

Fig. 5-27, p. 123 Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra Overgrazing by livestock Release of CO 2 to atmosphere from grassland burning Conversion to cropland Grasslands Natural Capital Degradation

Fig. 5-28, p. 124 Clearing for agriculture, livestock grazing, timber, and urban development Conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations Damage from off-road vehicles Natural Capital Degradation Forests Pollution of forest streams

Fig. 5-29, p. 124 Natural Capital Degradation Mountains Agriculture Timber extraction Mineral extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism Urban air pollution Increased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletion Soil damage from off-road vehicles

Video: Eagle Fishing PLAY VIDEO

Video: Gopher PLAY VIDEO

Video: Grizzly Bears PLAY VIDEO

Video: Owl Hunting PLAY VIDEO