Transcript APES Unit 6 Biogeography

Key Concepts
 Factors influencing weather
 Factors influencing climate
 Effect of climate on distribution of biomes
 Characteristics of major biome types
Biogeography: Climate, Biomes,
and Terrestrial Biodiversity
G. Tyler Miller’s
Living in the Environment
13th Edition
Chapter 6
http://www.waverly-shellrock.k12.ia.us/srhigh/Departments/Science/APES/LivingWorldUnit_files/frame.htm
Continental Shift
• http://education.sdsc.edu/optiputer/flash/pange
a_4.htm
• http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/fl
ash/2_1.swf
• (http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/egeo/f
lash/2_6.swf)
• http://education.sdsc.edu/optiputer/flash/plates
1.htm
• http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_vi
d_plateintro/
Convergent Plate Boundary
• Places where plates
crash or crunch together
are called convergent
boundaries.
• Earthquakes, volcanoes,
and mountains are often
associated with this type
of plate boundary
• Ex) This is how the
Andes formed
Divergent Plate
Boundary
• Places where plates are coming
apart are called divergent
boundaries.
• When Earth's brittle surface layer
(the lithosphere) is pulled apart, it
typically breaks along parallel
faults that tilt slightly outward
from each other. As the plates
separate along the boundary, the
block between the faults cracks
and drops down into the soft,
plastic interior (the
asthenosphere).
• The sinking of the block forms a
central valley called a rift. Magma
(liquid rock) seeps upward to fill
the cracks. In this way, new crust
is formed along the boundary.
Earthquakes occur along the
faults, and volcanoes form where
the magma reaches the surface.
Transform Boundary (Faults)
• Places where plates
slide past each other are
called transform
boundaries.
• The plates on either side
of a transform boundary
are merely sliding past
each other and not
tearing or crunching
each other.
• Ex) San Andreas Fault
Additional Links
• http://education.sdsc.edu/optiputer/flash/plates
2.htm
• Ocean Floor Spreading
• World in 50 Million Years
• http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_int
_tectonic/
• http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_int
_boundaries/
• http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/ess05_vi
d_wegener1/
Weather and Climate: A Brief Introduction
• Weather – current conditions or physical properties in the
Troposphere, the lowest level of atmosphere. Include (1)
temperature, (2) pressure, (3) humidity, (4) precipitation, (5)
sunshine, (6) cloud cover, and (7) wind direction and speed
• Front – boundary between two air masses with different
temperatures and densities
• Warm front – boundary between warm air mass advancing on
cold
• Cold front – leading edge of advancing cold air mass
• High & Low pressure air masses
Fig. 6-2 p. 111
Weather and Climate: A Brief Introduction cont.
• Wind – always blows from high pressure to low
pressure regions
• Wind - regulates global temperatures, transports
nutrients; transports harmful pesticides, toxic
metals, viruses, bacteria, fungi (coral reef killer),
algae (red tides)
Hurricanes (Cyclones)
Hurricanes
 Hurricanes – extreme
tropical storms that occur in
Atlantic ocean. These
storms are called typhoons
in the Pacific ocean and
cyclones in the Indian
ocean.
Rising winds exit
from the storm at
high altitudes.
The calm central
eye usually is about
24 kilometers
(15 miles) wide.
Gales circle the eye at speeds
of up to 320 kilometers
(200 miles) per hour.
Moist surface winds
spiral in towards the
center of the storm
Weather and Climate: A Brief Introduction cont.
Tornadoes – occurs when there are
violent updrafts and downdrafts.
http://esminfo.prenhall.com/scie
nce/geoanimations/animations/Tor
nadoes.html
http://access.ncsa.illinois.edu/Stori
es/supertwister/tornado/tubecone_
popup.htm
Climate
 Climate – general weather
over long period of time
 Average Temperature
 Average Precipitation
 Regional climates are
effected by Global Air
Circulation caused by: (1)
uneven heating of Earth’s
surface, (2) seasonal
changes in T & P, (3)
rotation of the Earth
(coriolis effect), (4) long
term variation in solar
energy, and (5) Properties
of air and water
See Fig. 6-4 p. 124
Fig. 6-6
p. 115
Seasons
http://esminfo.prenhall.com/science/geoanimations/animations/01_
EarthSun_E2.html
 Seasonal variations
affected by tilt of
Earth’s axis
 Long term climate
variations affected
by wobble of
Earth’s axis (22,000
year cycle) and
change in tilt
ranging from 24.5º
to 22.1º every
44,000 years.
Fig. 6-8 p. 116
Air Circulation – Hadley Cells
Fig. 6-9 b & c p. 117
Fig. 6-11 p. 118
AP Env. Sci. October 19
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1) Turn in Plate Tectonics Lab
2) Finish Notes on Weather
3) Climatograph Activity – Use Computers
4) Research Biomes Project
5) HW: Quiz on Weather and Plate Tectonics
6) Return test on Units 3 & 4
AP Env. Sci. October 20
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1) Turn in Plate Tectonics Lab
2) Finish Notes on Weather
3) Review Climograph Activities
4) Video on Biomes
5) HW: Quiz on Weather and Plate Tectonics
6) Test Corrections – Units 1 & 2 (in class only)
Short-Term Climate Changes: ENSO
 El Nino-Southern Oscillation: 1) prevailing westerly winds
weaken, 2) surface water along N. and S. American coasts
becomes warmer, 3) upwellings suppressed causing sharp decline
in some fish species; causes major weather changes that can
impact an area for several years, 4) E. to W. currents slow and
sometimes reverse to W. to E.
Fig. 6-14 p. 119
La Nina
 La Nina: cooling counterpart to El Nino; More hurricanes,
colder winters in Canada/N.E., warmer/drier winters in S.E and
S.W., wetter winters in Pacific N.W., torrential rains in S.E. Asia,
lower wheat yields Argentina, more wildfires Florida
.
Temperature/Change (°F)
+3
+2
1982–83
El Niño conditions
La Niña conditions
1997–98
+1
0
-1
-2
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
Year
1980
1985
1990
Fig.
6-14 2000
p. 119 2005
1995
AP Env. Sci. October 21
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1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Quiz on Weather, Climate, & Atmosphere
Video on Owls
Begin Notes on Biomes
Test Corrections – Units 1 & 2 (in class only)
Tomorrow: Owl Pellet Lab
Animation
• http://esminfo.prenhall.com/science/geoanimat
ions/animations/26_NinoNina.html
Greenhouse Effect
 UV converted to IR (heat) by H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, and CFCs;
natural effect enhanced by humans. Alters precipitation
patterns, shifts crop areas, raises average sea levels, shifts
habitats.
Fig. 6-17 p. 121
Rain Shadow Effect
Microclimates
Fig. 6-19 p. 122
Biomes: Climate and Life on Land
 Relationship between latitude and altitude
 Succulent plants
 Evergreen plants
 Deciduous plants
 Coniferous plants
Biomes: Latitude and Altitude
Fig. 6-22 p. 124
Refer to Fig. 6-20 p. 123
Chapter 6
Major Ecosystems of the World
Good Website for Biomes
• http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes
/index.php
Desert Biomes
Forest Biomes
 Tropical deserts
 Temperate Deserts
 Cold Deserts




Refer to Fig. 6-25 p. 127
Grassland, Tundra, and
Chaparral Biomes
 Tropical grasslands
 Temperate grasslands
 Polar grasslands (Arctic
tundra)
 Permafrost
 Alpine tundra
 Chaparral
Refer to Figs. 6-29, 6-30, and 6-32 pp.
130-133
Tropical rainforest
Tropical deciduous forest
Temperate deciduous forest
Evergreen coniferous forest
(boreal forest)
 Temperate rain forest
Refer to Figs. 6-34, 6-37, 6-38, and 6-40
pp. 135-140
Mountain Biomes
 Mimic latitude
 Snow line
 Islands of biodiversity
Overview of Chapter 6
• Earth’s Major Biomes
– Tundra, Boreal Forests, Temperate Rainforest, Temperate
Deciduous Forests, Grasslands, Chaparral, Deserts,
Savanna, & Tropical Rainforests
– Vertical Zonation
• Aquatic Ecosystems
– Freshwater ecosystems
– Estuaries
• Marine Ecosystems
• Interaction of Life Zones and Humans
Earth’s Major Biomes
http://daac.ornl.gov/NPP/npp_home.shtml#
• Biome
– A large, relatively distinct terrestrial region with a similar
climate soil, plants, and animals, regardless of where it
occurs in the world
– Nine major biomes
• Location of each biome is primarily determined by:
– Temperature (varies with both latitude and elevation)
– Precipitation
• Biomes can also be defined by
– Winds, rapid temperature changes, fires, floods, etc.
Map of Biomes
Tundra
• Treeless biome in the far north with harsh, cold
winters and extremely short summers
• Precipitation
– 10-25 cm/yr
• Temperature
– Short growing season
– 50-160 days
Tundra
• Nutrient poor soils with little organic material
– Permafrost present
• Low species richness
– Veg is mostly grasses
and sedges
– Very simple food web
• Low primary
productivity
Boreal Forests (Taiga)
• A region of coniferous forests in the northern
hemisphere
– Just south of tundra
• Covers 11% of earth’s
land
• Growing Season
– A little longer than
tundra
• Precipitation
– ~ 50 cm/yr
Boreal Forests (Taiga)
• Soils are acidic and mineral poor
• Vegetation comprised of drought resistant
conifers
– White spruce
– Balsam fir
– Eastern larch
• Mostly small animals
and migrating birds
• Some large animals are
present
– Wolves, bear, moose
Temperate Rainforest
• Coniferous biome with cool weather, dense fog
and high precipitation
– Ex: Northwest US
• Precipitation
– > 127 cm/yr
– Heaviest in winter
• Temperature
– Winters are mild
– Summers are cool
Temperate Rainforest
• Soils are nutrient-poor, but high in organic material
(dropped needles)
– Cool temperatures slow decomposition
• Dominant Vegetation
– Large evergreen trees
– Old-growth forest
• Variety of cool
climate animal life
• Very high species
richness
• Heavily logged
Temperature Deciduous
Forests
• Forest biome that occurs
in temperate areas with a
moderate amount of
precipitation
• Precipitation
– 75-150 cm/yr
• Temperature
– Seasonality
– Hot summers and cold
winters
Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Topsoil is rich in organic material and underlain
by clay
• Vegetation is primarily
deciduous
– Oak, maple, beech
• Animals
– Deer, bear and small animals
• Most of this biome land area
has been regenerated after
farming & timber harvest
Grassland
• Grasslands with hot summers,
cold winters and too little
precipitation to support trees
• Precipitation
– 25-75 cm/yr
• Tall grass prairies
• Short grass prairies
• 90% of this biome has been lost
to farmland
Grassland
• Soil has thick,
organic
material
rich organic
horizon
• Periodic fires
keep the dominant vegetation grasses
• Animals
– Once covered with bison- no longer true
– Smaller animals
Chaparral
• Also called a
Mediterranean Climate
– Ex: Southern California
– Ex: Greece
• Temperature
– Mild, moist winters
– Hot, dry summers
• Frequent fires
Chaparral
• Soil is thin and often
not fertile
• Vegetation
– Dense growth of
evergreen shrubs
– Lush during the
growing season
• Animals
– Mule deer,
chipmunks, many
species of birds
Deserts
• Biome where lack of
precipitation limits plant
growth
• Temperature
– Can very greatly in 24-hr
period, as well as yearly
(based on location)
• Precipitation
– < 25 cm/yr
Deserts
• Soils low in nutrients and high in salts
• Vegetation sparse
– cactus and sagebrush
• Animals are very small to regulate temperature
Savanna
• Tropical grassland with
widely scattered trees
• Temperature
– Varies little throughout the
year
• Precipitation
– Seasons regulated by
precipitation, not
temperature
– 76-150 cm/yr
Savanna
• Soil low in nutrients due to leaching
• Vegetation
– Wide expanses of grass
– Occasional Acacia trees
– Have fire adaptive
characteristics
• Animals
– Herds of hoofed
animals
– Large predatorslions, hyenas, etc.
Tropical Rainforest
• Lush, species-rich biome
that occurs where
climate is warm and
moist throughout the
year
• Precipitation
– 200-450 cm/yr
• Very productive biome
• Most species-rich biome
Tropical Rainforest
• Ancient, weathered,
nutrient-poor soil
– Nutrients tied up in
vegetation, not soil
• Vegetation
– 3 distinct canopy layers
• Animals
– Most abundant insect,
reptiles and amphibians on
earth