Transcript Arizona Biogeography

Biogeography
Arizona Geography
GCU 221
Game Plan:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ecosystems
Adaptations and Niches
Ecotones
Major Ecosystems of Arizona
1. Ecosystem
A system formed by the interaction of a
community of organisms with their
physical environment.
• Variety of interrelated organisms (food web)
• Environment
• Adaptations
1. Ecosystem
1. Ecosystem
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Sun – powered by nuclear energy
Plants – powered by the sun
Herbivores – powered by plants
Omnivores – powered by plants and animals
Carnivores – powered by animals
Climax Species – powered by big animals
Decomposers – powered by dead things
Arizona Activity…
1. Columbian Exchange:
Ecosystem in Flux
1. Different Environments:
more urban
1. Different Environments:
warmer planet
1. Adaptations and Niches
1. Biodiversity: good or bad
• Medea or Gaia
1. Medea: Blue Fin Tuna
1. Gaia: Platypus
2. Ecotones
• Boundaries between ecosystems
• High biodiversity
3. Arizona Major Ecosystems
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Tundra: San Francisco Peaks
Spruce Fir: White Mountains
Ponderosa Pine and Gamble Oak: Mogollon Rim
Pinyon – Juniper: Sedona
Grassland: Sunset Point
Cottonwood and Willow: Verde River
Sonora Desert: Superstition Mountains
Colorado Desert: Yuma
Major
Ecosystems
of Arizona
1
4
5
3
6
7
8
2
1. San Francisco Peaks - Tundra
1. San Francisco Peaks - Tundra
2. White
Mountains
Spruce Fir
3. Mogollon Rim
Ponderosa
Forest / Gamble
Oak
4. Sedona
Pinyon Pine /
Juniper
Cochineal
5. Sunset Point
Savannah
Grasslands
6. Verde River
Willow
Cottonwood
6. Willow
Cottonwood
replaced by
Tamarisk
7. Superstition
Mountains
Sonora Desert
8. Yuma
Colorado Desert
Major
Ecosystems
of Arizona
1
4
5
3
6
7
8
2
Things to know:
• What is an Ecosystem?
• What is the Columbian Exchange
• What does it mean to be Gaian? What
does it mean to be Medean?
• What is an Ecotone and why are they
important?
• Basic understanding of the 8 major
ecosystems of the Arizona (which is hotter
or colder, where plant and animal species
are common, like Cottonwood or Antelope)
Help: Ask Dr. Douglass