Ecology and Sustainability

Types of Biomes Tropical Rainforests Hot Deserts Boreal Forests (Taiga) Grasslands Tundra Temperate Deciduous Forests

Tropical Rainforest High biodiversity High biomass Little seasonal change (always warm) VERY WET! (Annual precipitation 78.74 inches! ) Broadleaved evergreen and deciduous trees

Tropical Rainforest Charlotte, NC average rainfall = 44 inches Has Four layers Emergent = Top, Most Sunlight Canopy= Most trees grow to this height Understory = Not much light, dense vegetation Forest Floor = Dark, damp, leaves

Tropical Rainforest Animals Bonobo Anaconda Jaguar Poison dart frog

Human Impact Tropical rainforests are disappearing due to logging and conversion to pasture and croplands. ½ of the tropical rainforest biome has been destroyed Recovery of rainforests is uncertain

Why are Tropical Rainforests called the lungs of the Earth?

Deserts High temperatures, low moisture Sparse vegetation and animal populations Low water availability constrains plant abundance and influences form Deciduous shrubs, grasses, and short-lived annual plants that are active only after a rain

Desert Animals Camel Scorpion Roadrunner Rattlesnake

Desert Plants

Human Impact Humans use deserts for agriculture and livestock grazing

What is unique about desert plants? Deserts What is unique about desert plants?

Boreal Forests (Taiga) Long, severe winters Permafrost (soil that remains frozen year-round) Boreal forests have not been as affected by human activities. Trees are pines, spruces, larches and birches

Boreal Forests (Taiga) Animals Wood Bison Elk Moose Black Bears

Boreal Forest

Human Impact Boreal forests have not been as affected by human activities Logging and oil and gas development occur in some regions

Grasslands Warm, wet summers and cold, dry winters Grasses are the major plant group

Grasslands Animals Gazelles Prairie dog Elephants Lion

Human Impact grazing by domestic animals can exceed capacity for regrowth, leading to grassland degradation and desertification.

Grassland Africa = Savanna Asia = Steppe North America = Prairie South America = Los Llanos

Tundra Cold temperatures, low precipitation No Trees Grasses, low-growing shrubs, lichens, and mosses (no trees)

Tundra Animals Caribou Wolves Polar bears Musk oxen

Human Impact Human settlements are rare This biome has the largest pristine areas on Earth

Tundra What is the main difference between the tundra and the boreal forest (taiga)?

Temperate Deciduous Forests Strong seasonality Leaves fall off of the trees in the fall/winter Species diversity lower than tropical rainforests Fertile soils and climate make this biome good for agriculture

Temperate Deciduous Forest Animals Opossum Cardinals White-tailed Deer Raccoons

Human Impact Agriculture was an issue As agriculture has shifted to the tropics, temperate forests have regrown

Biodiversity The total amount of species living in a given area This includes a range from single celled bacteria to the largest of the top consumers (tertiary consumers)

Biodiversity Higher biodiversities are found in your biomes that have warm temperatures and wetter conditions Examples? Tropical Rainforest Boreal Forest (Taiga)

Biodiversity Lower Biodiversity biomes would be cooler and/or dry Examples? Desert Tundra