1. Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity
Chapter 7

2. Connections between Wind, Climate, and Biomes
Indirect form of solar energy
Circulates
Heat
Moisture
Plant nutrients
Soil particles (phosphates)
Long-lived air pollutants

3. What Factors Influence Climate?
Concept
An area's climate is determined mostly by
solar radiation
earth’s rotation
global patterns of air and water movement
gases in the atmosphere
earth’s surface features.

4. Different Climates Weather – short lived and localized
Climate – long and broad ranging
Air circulation in lower atmosphere due to
1. Uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun
(equator receives more)
2. Rotation of the earth on its axis
(create prevailing winds due to heat rising)
3. Properties of air, water, and land
(evaporation transfers heat from water to atmosphere)

5. Global Air Circulation
Prevailing winds can direct ocean currents
Global Air Circulation

6. The Earth Has Many Different Climates
Currents
Prevailing winds
Earth’s rotation
Redistribution of heat from the sun
Link between air circulation, ocean currents, and biomes

7. Greenhouse Gases Warm the Lower Atmosphere
(heat lower atmosphere)
H2O water vapor
CO2 carbon dioxide
CH4 methane
N2O nitrous oxide
Greenhouse effect
(natural warming)
Human-enhanced global warming
(burning fossil fuels, agriculture, & clearing forests)

8. The Earth’s Surface Features Affect Local Climates
Heat absorption by land and water
Effect of
Mountains
Rain shadow effect
Cities create microclimates
(bricks, asphalt, tall buildings)
Sierra Nevada Mountains  Mojave Desert

9. How Does Climate Affect the Nature and Locations of Biomes?
Differences in average annual precipitation and temperature lead to the formation of
Tropical
Temperate
Cold deserts this variety creates biodiversity
Grasslands
Forests
and largely determine their locations.

10. Climate Affects Where Organisms Can Live
Major biomes
Latitude and elevation
Annual precipitation
Temperature

11. Staying Alive in the Desert
Plant adaptations
Drop leaves
Store water in fleshy (cactus) areas
Needles protect against being eaten
Transpiration occurs at night
Shallow, spread out roots for fast water absorption
Waxy layer (cuticle)
Animal strategies and adaptations
Small Scales seal in water
Burrow Little urination
Nocturnal

12. Three Major Types of Deserts
Tropical deserts
Temperate deserts
Cold deserts
Fragile ecosystem
Slow plant growth
Low species diversity
Slow nutrient recycling
Lack of water

13. Three Major Types of Grasslands
Tropical Savanna
Grazing / browsing animals
Temperate
Tall-grass prairies
Short-grass prairies
Arctic/Alpine tundra
fragile biome
Small/short plants
Permafrost
Seasonal droughts
Frequent fires
limit trees
3. Herbivores
4. Frozen soil

14. Temperate Shrubland: Nice Climate, Risky Place to Live
Chaparral
Near the sea: nice climate
Prone to fires in the dry season
FOREST FIRES IN CALIFORNIA

15. There Are Three Major Types of Forests (2)
Tropical rain forests NPP
Temperature and moisture
Stratification of specialized plant and animal niches
Little wind: significance
Rapid recycling of scarce soil nutrients
Impact of human activities
Temperate deciduous forests
Broad-leaf trees
Slow rate of decomposition: significance
Evergreen coniferous forests: boreal / taigas
Few species of cone: bearing trees
Slow decomposition: significance
Temperate rain forest

16. Mountains Play Important Ecological Roles
Majority of the world’s forests
Habitats for endemic species
(unique to that area)
Help regulate the earth’s climate
(reflecting heat off snow tops)
Can affect sea levels – glacial ice
Major storehouses of water
(role in hydrologic cycle)

17. Texas is Unique

18. Natural Capital Degradation
--impact by humans