Plant Geography January 10, 2013

Ecosystems and Biogeography Biogeography – Examines the geographical distributions of organisms, their habitats, and the environmental or historical factors that produce them – Biogeography can be subdivided into: Zoogeography – Phytogeography –

Ecosystems are self-sustaining associations of living plants and animals and their nonliving environment Components of Ecosystems: – Communities are subdivisions within an ecosystem. They include all things that are living. Ecosystems and Biogeography

– Habitat – type of environment where an organism resides or is biologically adapted to live – Niche – the function or occupation of a life form in a community – Competitive exclusion principle – Ecosystems and Biogeography

Relationships in Communities Symbiotic – 2 or more species exist together in an overlapping relationship – Mutualistic – – Parasitic –

Climate and Vegetation: The Character and Distribution of Global Biomes Most important factor influencing geographic distribution of vegetation is: Biomes are:

Climate and Vegetation: The Character and Distribution of Global Biomes

Forest Biomes Geographic regions where vegetation is dominated by trees

Forest Biomes Tropical Rainforest Tropical Deciduous Forest and Scrub Midlatitude Deciduous Forest

Forest Biomes Mediterranean Woodland and Shrub Midlatitude Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest

Grassland Biomes Tropical Savanna Midlatitude Grassland

Desert Biomes Hot and Dry Desert Semi-Arid and Cold Desert

Tundra Biomes Arctic Tundra Alpine Tundra

Local and Regional Influences on the Geography of Vegetation

Plant succession refers to the natural changes that occur in a biome over time – Trend is towards more complexity – Occurs when newer communities replace older communities of plants and animals – Primary succession – Secondary succession Plant Succession

Human Interactions: Human Influence on Vegetation Patterns Deforestation The process through which large tracts of land are cleared of trees for commercial use or for agriculture Deforestation

Human Interactions: Human Influence on Vegetation Patterns Agriculture in midlatitude grassland Overgrazing Remote Sensing & the Biosphere