Climate and Biodiversity Chapter 5 Sections 1-4

Key Concepts Factors influencing the Earth’s climates Effect of climate on Earth’s major biomes Characteristics of major biome types Human impacts on the biosphere

Blowing in the Wind Benefits of wind -distributes heat, transports nutrients Hazards of wind - transports pathogens & toxins, fungi kills coral “Red tides” = red algae blooms in FL. can be caused by iron-rich dust Asian pollution contributes up to 10% of west coast smog Volcanoes and climate- “global cooling” Everything is connected Dust storm- Sahara Desert Fig. 5-1, p. 78

Blowing in the Wind Saharan dust can become soil nutrients in Amazon or FL. air pollutants

Weather and Climate Climate - average temp. & precip over long term (30 yrs) Weather - short term temp, precip, humidity, wind, cloud, .. Major factors determining climate (LAPTOP) latitude, altitude, prevailing winds, topography, ocean currents, proximity to water Major factors determining air circulation 1. Uneven heating of Earth’s surface- equator gets more direct sun 2. Earth’s rotation - equator rotates faster than poles- deflects air movement (Figure 5-3) 3. Properties of air, water, and land- leads to 6 major convection cells

Earth’s Climatic Zones Fig. 5-2, p. 80 Ocean currents redistribute heat

Animation Climate and ocean currents map

Air circulation and climate animation. Study this animation! Available on RHS server: Common: Teachers: Cohen: Apes

Global Air Circulation and Biomes Cell 3 North Cold,dry air falls Moist air rises — rain Polar cap Cell 2 North Arctic tundra Evergreen coniferous forest 60° Cool, dry air falls Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Cell 1 North 30° Desert Moist air rises, cools, and releases moisture as rain Tropical deciduous forest Tropical rain forest 0° Equator Tropical deciduous forest 30° Desert Cell 1 South Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Cool, dry air falls 60° Cell 2 South Polar cap Moist air rises — rain Cold,dry air falls Cell 3 South Fig. 5-4, p. 81

Air circulation interaction. Animation Air circulation interaction.

Effects of Water, Wind, and Land on Climate Ocean currents and wind- re-distribute heat, nutrients Gases in the atmosphere Greenhouse gases and the Greenhouse Effect Topography and local climate- rain-shadow effect Microclimates in urban areas- “heat island” more haze, smog, higher temps, lower wind speeds in urban areas

Coastal breezes interaction Animation Coastal breezes interaction

Animation- Upwelling on Pacific Coast of North America This is IMPORTANT & not covered in your text

Animation - El Niño (ENSO) El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) interaction. Also IMPORTANT & not covered in your text.

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Offshore surface winds weaken Upwelling of cold, deep, nutrient-rich water weakens Surface waters warm off of South America Decrease in nutrients reduces primary productivity If pattern lasts 1 year or longer, it can disrupt plankton, fish and seabirds in upwelling areas and trigger extreme weather changes over much of the globe. Consequences of 1996-1998 El Niño CA- huge waves, torrential rains, flooding & mudslides Peru - floods & mudslides : hundreds dead, 1/4 million homeless Drought Brazil, Indonesia & Australia = wildfires Fewer hurricanes in S.E. USA

Natural Greenhouse Effect (c) As concentrations of green-house 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 wave-length IR radiation, which warms the lower atmosphere. (a) Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower atmosphere and warm the earth's surface. Fig. 5-5, p. 82

Increasing greenhouse gases interaction. Animation Increasing greenhouse gases interaction.

Rain Shadow Effect Fig. 5-6, p. 82 Dry habitats On the leeward side of the mountain range, air descends, warms, and releases little moisture. Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean. On the windward side of a mountain range, air rises, cools, and releases moisture. Dry habitats Moist habitats Fig. 5-6, p. 82

Biomes Climate effects on biomes 12 major biomes Biomes are not uniform (“mosaic of patches”) Effects of latitude and longitude

Earth’s Major Biomes Fig. 5-7, p. 83 Tropic of Cancer Equator Capricorn Arctic tundra (polar grasslands) Desert Semidesert, arid grassland Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen conif forest (e.g., montane coniferous forest) Tropical rain forest, tropical evergreen forest Mountains (complex zonation) Temperate deciduous forest Tropical deciduous forest Ice Temperate grassland Tropical scrub forest Dry woodlands and shrublands (chaparral) Tropical savanna, thorn forest Fig. 5-7, p. 83

Precipitation and Temperature Affects Biome Type Cold Polar Tundra Subpolar temperature Temperate Coniferous forest Decreasing Desert Deciduous forest Grassland Tropical Chaparral Hot Desert Wet Rain forest Savanna Dry Tropical seasonal forest Scrubland Decreasing precipitation Fig. 5-8, p. 84

Effects of Altitude and Latitude on Climate and Biomes Mountain Ice and snow Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Coniferous Forest Deciduous Forest Latitude Tropical Forest Tropical Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Polar ice and snow Fig. 5-9, p. 85

Biomes: Climates and Life Deserts Grassland Forests Mountains Aquatic biomes

Deserts What is a desert? Tropical deserts Temperate deserts Cold deserts Human impacts on deserts

Temperate Desert Ecosystem Red-tailed hawk Gambel's quail Producer to primary consumer Yucca Agave Jack rabbit Collared lizard Primary to secondary consumer Prickly pear cactus Roadrunner Secondary to higher-level consumer Darkling beetle Bacteria All producers and consumers to decomposers Diamondback rattlesnake Fungi Kangaroo rat Fig. 5-10a, p. 86

Temperate Desert in Nevada, USA Fig. 5-10b, p. 86

Major Human Impacts on Deserts Large desert cities Soil destruction by off-road vehicles and urban development Soil sanitization from irrigation Depletion of underground water supplies Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction Storage of toxic and radioactive wastes Large arrays of solar cells and solar collectors used to produce electricity Fig. 5-11, p. 87

Grasslands Effects of drought, herbivores, and fires Savanna Grazers and browsers Temperate grasslands Prairies Tundra Permafrost

Temperate Tall-grass Prairie Ecosystem Golden eagle Pronghorn antelope Producer to primary consumer Coyote Grasshopper sparrow Primary to secondary consumer Grasshopper Secondary to higher-level consumer Blue stem grass Prairie dog Bacteria All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Prairie coneflower Fig. 5-12, p. 88

Prairie food web interaction. Animation Prairie food web interaction.

Replacing Temperate Grassland with Farms Fig. 5-13, p. 88

Arctic Tundra in Winter and Summer Fig. 5-14, p. 89

Human Impacts on Grasslands Natural Capital Degradation Grasslands Conversion of savanna and temperate grasslands to cropland Release of CO2 to atmosphere from burning and conversion of grassland to cropland Overgrazing of tropical and temperate grasslands by livestock Damage to fragile arctic tundra by oil production, air and water pollution, and off-road vehicles Fig. 5-15, p. 89

Forests Types of forests Tropical rain forests Broadleaf evergreen plants Temperate deciduous forests Broadleaf deciduous forests Evergreen coniferous forests (boreal and taigas) Muskegs Coastal coniferous (temperate rain) forests

Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem Blue and gold macaw Harpy eagle Ocelot Producer to primary consumer Squirrel monkeys Climbing monstera palm Primary to secondary consumer Slaty-tailed trogon Katydid Green tree snake Tree frog Secondary to higher-level consumer Ants Bacteria Bromeliad All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Fig. 5-16, p. 90

Rainforest food web interaction Animation Rainforest food web interaction

Stratification of Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest 45 Emergent layer Harpy eagle 40 35 Toco toucan Canopy 30 Height (meters) 25 20 Understory Wooly opossum 15 10 Brazilian tapir Shrub layer 5 Black-crowned antpitta Ground layer Fig. 5-17, p. 91

Temperate Deciduous Forest Ecosystem Broad-winged hawk Producer to primary consumer Hairy woodpecker Gray squirrel Primary to secondary consumer White oak White-footed mouse Metallic wood- boring beetle and larvae White-tailed deer Secondary to higher-level consumer Mountain winterberry Shagbark hickory May beetle All producers and consumers to decomposers Racer Long-tailed weasel Fungi Bacteria Wood frog Fig. 5-18a, p. 92

Temperate Deciduous Forest in Fall and Winter Fig. 5-18b-c, p. 92

Evergreen Coniferous Forest Ecosystem Blue jay Great horned owl Producer to primary consumer Marten Balsam fir Primary to secondary consumer Moose White spruce Wolf Bebb willow Secondary to higher-level consumer Pine sawyer beetle and larvae Snowshoe hare All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Starflower Bacteria Bunchberry Fig. 5-19a, p. 93

Evergreen Coniferous Forest in Alaska Fig. 5-19b, p. 93

Human Impacts on Forests Natural Capital Degradation Forests Clearing and degradation of tropical forests for agriculture, livestock grazing, and timber harvesting Clearing of temperate deciduous forests in Europe, Asia, and North America for timber, agriculture, and urban development Clearing of evergreen coniferous forests in North America, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Siberia, and Russia Conversion of diverse forests to less biodiverse tree plantations Damage to soils from off-road vehicles Fig. 5-20, p. 94

Mountains What is a mountain? Ecological importance of mountains “Islands of biodiversity” Climate regulation Mountain glaciers and effects on sea level Impact on hydrologic cycle Human impacts on mountains

Forests near Mt. Rainer, Washington Fig. 5-21, p. 94

Human Impacts on Mountains Natural Capital Degradation Mountains Landless poor migrating uphill to survive Timber extraction Mineral resource extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism (such as hiking and skiing) Air pollution from industrial and urban centers Increased ultraviolet radi- ation from ozone depletion Soil damage from off-road vehicles Fig. 5-22, p. 95

Earth’s Rotation and Climate Cold deserts 60ºN Westerlies Forests 30ºN Northeast trades Hot deserts Fig. 5-3, p. 80 Forests 0º Equator Southeast trades Hot deserts 30ºs Westerlies Forests Cold deserts 60ºS Fig. 5-3, p. 80