Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity 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 www.thomsonedu.com 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. 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.

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

Video: Seasonal Variation PLAY VIDEO

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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. 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

Animation: Biomes Map PLAY ANIMATION

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

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

DESERT BIOMES Deserts are areas where evaporation exceeds precipitation. Deserts have little precipitation and little vegetation. 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 PLAY VIDEO From ABC News, Environmental Science in the Headlines, 2005 DVD.

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

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

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

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

Animation: Prairie Food Web PLAY ANIMATION

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

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

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. Have year-round uniformity warm temperatures and high humidity. Figure 5-20

Animation: Rainforest Food Web PLAY ANIMATION

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

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

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

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.

Natural Capital Degradation Desert Large desert cities Soil destruction by off-road vehicles Soil salinization from irrigation Figure 5.26 Natural capital degradation: major human impacts on the world’s deserts. QUESTION: What are three direct and three indirect harmful effects of your lifestyle on deserts? Depletion of groundwater Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction Fig. 5-26, p. 123

Natural Capital Degradation Grasslands Conversion to cropland Release of CO2 to atmosphere from grassland burning Overgrazing by livestock Figure 5.27 Natural capital degradation: major human impacts on the world’s grasslands. Some 70% of Brazil’s tropical savanna—once the size of the Amazon—has been cleared and converted to the world’s biggest grain growing area. QUESTION: What are three direct and three indirect harmful effects of your lifestyle on grasslands? Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra Fig. 5-27, p. 123

Natural Capital Degradation Forests Clearing for agriculture, livestock grazing, timber, and urban development Conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations Damage from off-road vehicles Figure 5.28 Natural capital degradation: major human impacts on the world’s forests. QUESTION: What are three direct and three indirect effects of your lifestyle on forests? Pollution of forest streams Fig. 5-28, p. 124

Natural Capital Degradation Mountains Agriculture Timber extraction Mineral extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism Urban air pollution Figure 5.29 Natural capital degradation: major human impacts on the world’s mountains. QUESTION: What are three direct and three indirect harmful effects of your lifestyle on mountains? Increased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletion Soil damage from off-road vehicles Fig. 5-29, p. 124

Video: Eagle Fishing PLAY VIDEO

Video: Gopher PLAY VIDEO

Video: Grizzly Bears PLAY VIDEO

Video: Owl Hunting PLAY VIDEO