1. Land Biomes Determined by Temp and Precipitation 3 Major Zones
Polar, Temperate, Tropical

2. 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

3. Tropical deciduous forest
Cold,
dry air
falls
Cell 3 North
Moist air rises — rain
Polar cap
Cell 2 North
Arctic tundra
Evergreen
coniferous forest
60°
Cool, dry
air falls
Temperate deciduous
forest and grassland
30°
Desert
Cell 1 North
Tropical deciduous forest
Moist air rises,
cools, and releases
Moisture as rain 0°
Equator
Tropical
rain forest
Tropical deciduous forest
30°
Desert
Figure 5.6
Natural capital: global air circulation and biomes. Heat and moisture are distributed over the earth’s surface by vertical currents, which form six giant convection cells at different latitudes. The resulting uneven distribution of heat and moisture over the planet’s surface leads to the forests, grasslands, and deserts that make up the earth’s biomes.
Cell 1 South
Temperate deciduous
forest and grassland
Cool, dry
air falls
60°
Cell 2 South
Polar cap
Cold,
dry air
falls
Moist air rises — rain
Cell 3 South
Fig. 5-6, p. 103

4. Introduction
Biomes are the major regional groupings of plants and animals discernible at a global scale
Know your major biomes along with the dominant plants and animals.

5. Major Biomes Deserts Forests- Tropical, Temperate Grasslands Tundra
Aquatic

6. Elevation Latitude Tropical Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest
Mountain
ice and snow
Tundra (herbs,
lichens, mosses)
Coniferous
Forest
Latitude
Deciduous
Forest
Tropical
Forest
Figure 5.11
Natural capital: generalized effects of elevation (left) and latitude (right) on climate and biomes. Parallel changes in vegetation type occur when we travel from the equator to the poles or from lowlands to mountaintops.
Tropical
Forest
Deciduous
Forest
Coniferous
Forest
Tundra (herbs,
lichens, mosses)
Polar ice
and snow
Fig. 5-11, p. 108

7. 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

8. 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.

9. Earth’s Current Climate Zones
Figure 5-2

10. Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Capricorn High mountains Polar ice
Polar grassland (arctic tundra)
Tropic of
Capricorn
Figure 5.9
Natural capital: the earth’s major biomes—the main types of natural vegetation in various undisturbed land areas—result primarily from differences in climate. Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors. Human ecological footprints (Figures 3 and 4 on pp. S12–S15 in Supplement 4) have removed or altered much of the natural vegetation in some areas for farming, livestock grazing, lumber and fuelwood, mining, and construction.
Temperate grassland
Tropical grassland (savanna)
Chaparral
Coniferous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
Tropical forest
Desert
Fig. 5-9, p. 106

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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

16. Tropical Desert Month Mean monthly temperature (C)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.12
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and cold deserts. Top photo shows a popular but destructive SUV rodeo in Saudi Arabia (tropical desert). Center photo shows saguaro cactus in the United States (temperate desert). Bottom photo shows a Bactrian camel in Mongolia’s Gobi (cold) desert.
Month
Fig. 5-12a, p. 109

17. Temperate Desert Month Mean monthly temperature (C)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.12
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and cold deserts. Top photo shows a popular but destructive SUV rodeo in Saudi Arabia (tropical desert). Center photo shows saguaro cactus in the United States (temperate desert). Bottom photo shows a Bactrian camel in Mongolia’s Gobi (cold) desert.
Month
Fig. 5-12b, p. 109

18. Polar Desert Month Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Freezing point
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Mean monthly temperature (°C)
Figure 5.12
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and cold deserts. Top photo shows a popular but destructive SUV rodeo in Saudi Arabia (tropical desert). Center photo shows saguaro cactus in the United States (temperate desert). Bottom photo shows a Bactrian camel in Mongolia’s Gobi (cold) desert.
Month
Fig. 5-12c, p. 109

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

20. Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer
Red-tailed hawk
Gambel's Quail
Yucca
Agave
Jack
rabbit
Collared
lizard
Prickly
pear
cactus
Roadrunner
Darkling
Beetle
Figure 5.13
Natural capital: some components and interactions in a temperate desert ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals that plants use. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale.
Bacteria
Diamondback rattlesnake
Fungi
Kangaroo rat
Producer
to primary
consumer
Primary
to secondary
consumer
Secondary to
higher-level
consumer
All producers and
consumers to
decomposers
Fig. 5-13, p. 110

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

22. Tropical grassland (savanna)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.14
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar (arctic tundra) grasslands. Top photo shows wildebeests grazing on a savanna in Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, Africa (tropical grassland). Center photo shows wildflowers in bloom on a prairie near East Glacier Park in the U.S. state of Montana (temperate grassland). Bottom photo shows arctic tundra with caribou in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (polar grassland).
Month
Fig. 5-14a, p. 112

23. Temperate grassland Month Mean monthly temperature (C)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.14
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar (arctic tundra) grasslands. Top photo shows wildebeests grazing on a savanna in Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, Africa (tropical grassland). Center photo shows wildflowers in bloom on a prairie near East Glacier Park in the U.S. state of Montana (temperate grassland). Bottom photo shows arctic tundra with caribou in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (polar grassland).
Month
Fig. 5-14b, p. 112

24. Polar grassland (arctic tundra)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.14
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar (arctic tundra) grasslands. Top photo shows wildebeests grazing on a savanna in Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, Africa (tropical grassland). Center photo shows wildflowers in bloom on a prairie near East Glacier Park in the U.S. state of Montana (temperate grassland). Bottom photo shows arctic tundra with caribou in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (polar grassland).
Month
Fig. 5-14c, p. 112

25. 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.

26. 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

27. Temperate Grasslands
Temperate tall-grass prairie ecosystem in North America.
Figure 5-16

28. Golden eagle Pronghorn antelope Coyote Grasshopper sparrow Grasshopper
Blue stem
grass
Prairie
dog
Figure 5.15
Natural capital: some components and interactions in a temperate tall-grass prairie ecosystem in North America. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals that plants can use. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale.
Bacteria
Fungi
Prairie
Coneflower
Producer
to primary
consumer
Primary
to secondary
consumer
Secondary to
higher-level
consumer
All producers and
consumers to
decomposers
Fig. 5-15, p. 113

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

30. Long-tailed jaeger Grizzly bear Caribou Mosquito Snowy owl Arctic
fox
Horned lark
Willow ptarmigan
Dwarf
Willow
Figure 5.17
Natural capital: some components and interactions in an arctic tundra (polar grassland) ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals that plants use. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale.
Lemming
Mountain
Cranberry
Moss campion
Producer
to primary
consumer
Primary
to secondary
consumer
Secondary to
higher-level
consumer
All producers and
consumers to
decomposers
Fig. 5-17, p. 114

31. Chaparral
Chaparral has a moderate climate but its dense thickets of spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires.
Figure 5-18

32. FOREST BIOMES
Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar forests.
Figure 5-19

33. Tropical rain forest Month Mean monthly temperature (C)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.19
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar (cold) forests. Top photo shows the closed canopy of a tropical rain forest in the western Congo Basin of Gabon, Africa. Middle photo shows a temperate deciduous forest in the U.S. state of Rhode Island during the fall. Photo 9 in the Detailed Contents shows this same area of forest during winter. Bottom photo shows a northern coniferous forest in the Malheur National Forest and Strawberry Mountain Wilderness in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Month
Fig. 5-19a, p. 116

34. Temperate deciduous forest
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.19
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar (cold) forests. Top photo shows the closed canopy of a tropical rain forest in the western Congo Basin of Gabon, Africa. Middle photo shows a temperate deciduous forest in the U.S. state of Rhode Island during the fall. Photo 9 in the Detailed Contents shows this same area of forest during winter. Bottom photo shows a northern coniferous forest in the Malheur National Forest and Strawberry Mountain Wilderness in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Month
Fig. 5-19b, p. 116

35. Polar evergreen coniferous forest
(boreal forest, taiga)
Freezing point
Mean monthly temperature (C)
Mean monthly precipitation (mm)
Figure 5.19
Natural capital: climate graphs showing typical variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar (cold) forests. Top photo shows the closed canopy of a tropical rain forest in the western Congo Basin of Gabon, Africa. Middle photo shows a temperate deciduous forest in the U.S. state of Rhode Island during the fall. Photo 9 in the Detailed Contents shows this same area of forest during winter. Bottom photo shows a northern coniferous forest in the Malheur National Forest and Strawberry Mountain Wilderness in the U.S. state of Oregon.
Month
Fig. 5-19c, p. 116

36. FOREST BIOMES
Forests have enough precipitation to support stands of trees and are found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions.

37. 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

38. Ocelot Harpy eagle Blue and gold macaw Squirrel monkeys Climbing
monstera palm
Katydid
Slaty-tailed
trogon
Green tree snake
Tree frog
Figure 5.20
Natural capital: some components and interactions in a tropical rain forest ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals that plants use. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale.
Ants
Bacteria
Bromeliad
Fungi
Producer
to primary
consumer
Primary
to secondary
consumer
Secondary to
higher-level
consumer
All producers and
consumers to
decomposers
Fig. 5-20, p. 117

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

40. Emergent layer Harpy eagle Toco toucan Canopy Height (meters)
Understory
Woolly
opossum
Figure 5.21
Natural capital: stratification of specialized plant and animal niches in a tropical rain forest. Filling such specialized niches enables species to avoid or minimize competition for resources and results in the coexistence of a great variety of species.
Shrub
layer
Brazilian
tapir
Ground
layer
Black-crowned
antipitta
Fig. 5-21, p. 118

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

42. Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer
Broad-winged
hawk
Hairy
Woodpecker
Gray
Squirrel
White oak
White-footed
mouse
Metallic
wood-boring
beetle and
Larvae
White-tailed
deer
Mountain
Winterberry
Shagbark hickory
Figure 5.22
Natural capital: some components and interactions in a temperate deciduous forest ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals that plants use. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale.
May beetle
Racer
Long-tailed
weasel
Fungi
Bacteria
Wood frog
Producer
to primary
consumer
Primary
to secondary
consumer
Secondary to
higher-level
consumer
All producers and
consumers to
decomposers
Fig. 5-22, p. 120

43. 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

44. Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer
Blue jay
Great
horned
owl
Marten
Balsam fir
Moose
White
Spruce
Wolf
Bebb
willow
Pine sawyer
beetle
and larvae
Snowshoe
hare
Figure 5.23
Natural capital: some components and interactions in an evergreen coniferous (boreal or taiga) forest ecosystem. When these organisms die, decomposers break down their organic matter into minerals that plants use. Colored arrows indicate transfers of matter and energy between producers, primary consumers (herbivores), secondary or higher-level consumers (carnivores), and decomposers. Organisms are not drawn to scale.
Fungi
Starflower
Bunchberry
Bacteria
Producer
to primary
consumer
Primary
to secondary
consumer
Secondary to
higher-level
consumer
All producers and
consumers to
decomposers
Fig. 5-23, p. 121

45. 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

46. 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

47. 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.

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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

51. 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