Transcript Biome? - Academic Resources at Missouri Western

Biome
Climax community over a large
geographical area.
Ecological
Reasons for Biomes?
1. Temperature
C. Hart Meriam (1898) eastern USA
“Life Zones” latitude
Arizona & Florida?
Reasons for Biomes?
1. Temperature
2. Moisture
3. Fire
(Complex Set of Factors!)
Biomes of the USA
Biomes of the USA
Mediterranean
Temperate Rain Forest
Desert
Grassland
Eastern Deciduous forest
Semitropical Rainforest
Coniferous Forest
Tundra
Plant Taxonomy
Biomes are referred to as Formations or
Floristic Regions
“Each characterized by numerous
endemic species and by an
unduplicated make-up of species.”
-L. Benson
Floristic Regions of the USA
-L. Benson
Western Woodland and Brush Region
Pacific Northwest
Southwest Desert Region
Plains and Prairie Region
Eastern Forest Region
Subtropical Region
Northern Coniferous Forest Region
Boreal Alpine
Rocky Mt. Region
Floristic Regions of the USA
-L. Benson
Boreal Alpine/Rocky Mt. Region
(Biome/Floristic changes easily observed)
North-South
White Mts.
Rocky Mts.
1000 ft. = 600 miles
Rocky Mts.
Vegetation Zones
Foothills
Montane or Coniferous (Doug firs, Ponderosa
Pines)
Subalpine Forest (Subalpines firs, Spruces)
Hudsonian (scattered, stunted trees)
Alpine Tundra (willows, cushion plants)
Climax Communities/Local Associations
Eastern Deciduous Forest
Beech-Maple
Oak Hickory
Grassland
Tallgrass Prairie
Mixed-grass Prairie
Short-grass Prairie
Grasslands of the USA
(Grasslands/Prairies)
Grasslands of the USA
(Grasslands/Prairies)
Missouri General Land Survey
1815 -1818
Pre-settlement Prairie
in Missouri
Pre-settlement Prairie in
Northwest Missouri > 70%
Pre-settlement Prairie in
Northwest Missouri > 70%
Perenials
Extensive root systems
Warm season growth
Disease and insect resistance
Good coverage for wildlife
Food for wildlife
Forage programs
Re-established natural areas
Precipitation Zones in Missouri
Reasons for Prairies
1. Temperature
2. Precipitation
3. Fire!
Local Associations/Climax Communities
Tend to form if:
Conditions are natural
Proper seed bank is available
If local association (climax
community) is destroyed?
- Series of plant communities
Seral Stages
Natural Succession
Seral Stages
Climax Community
Seral Stages/Secondary Growth
A major part of the natural environment!
Floristic Regions of Missouri
-J. Steyermark
Plant Distribution
and Topography
Natural Divisions of Missouri
- MDC/MDNR
Plant/Animal Distribution, Topography and Geographical
History
Natural Divisions of Missouri
- MDC/MDNR
Plant/Animal Distribution, Topography and Geographical
History