Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Chapter Overview Questions

What factors the earth’s climate? How does climate determine where the

earth’s major biome’s are found? What are the major types of desert biomes? What are the major types of grassland

biomes?

Chapter Overview Questions (cont’d)

What are the major types of forest and mountain biomes?

How have human activities affected the world’s desert, grassland, forest, and mountain biomes?

Updates Online

The latest references for topics covered in this section can be found at the book companion website. Log in to the book’s e-resources page at www.thomsonedu.com to access InfoTrac articles.

InfoTrac: Of Chicks and Frogs. Steven Pinker. Forbes, August 14, 2006 v178 i3 p40.

InfoTrac: Nice Rats, Nasty Rats: Maybe It's All In the Genes. Nicholas Wade. The New York Times, July 25, 2006 pF1(L).

InfoTrac: Ancient shrub unlocks a clue to Darwin's 'abominable mystery.’ The Christian Science Monitor, May 18, 2006 p02.

The Jane Goodall Institute Natural History Museum: Ancient Birds

Core Case StudyBlowing in the Wind:

A Story of Connections Wind connects

most life on earth. Keeps tropics from

being unbearably hot.

Prevents rest of world from freezing.

Figure 5-1

Wind: Case Study

Wind blows Sahara desert nutrients to Bahamas and Brazil.

Wind blows iron from Gobi Desert to Pacific Ocean which nourishes the phytoplankton

SUVs destroy sand crust and wind blows increased amounts of sediment

Wind transports viruses, molds, bacteria and fungi

CLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Weather

is a local area’s short-term physical conditions such as temperature and precipitation.

Climate is a region’s average weather conditions over a long time. Latitude and elevation help determine climate.

Earth’s Current Climate Zones

Figure 5-2

Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing Heat

FOUR FACTORS that determine global air patterns

Solar Energy and Global Air Circulation: Distributing Heat

Global air circulation is affected by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by solar energy, seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation.

Figure 5-3

Fig. 5-3, p. 102

Spring(sun aims directly

at equator)

Fall(sun aims directly at equator)

Summer(northern hemisphere

tilts toward sun)

Solarradiation

23.5 °Winter

(northern hemispheretilts away from sun)

Coriolis Effect

Global air circulation is affected by the rotation of the earth on its axis.

Figure 5-4

Fig. 5-4, p. 102

Cold deserts

Equator

Cold deserts

Forests

Forests

Hot desertsSoutheast trades

Westerlies

ForestsWesterlies

Hot desertsNortheast trades

Convection Currents

Global air circulation is affected by the properties of air water, and land.

Figure 5-5

Fig. 5-5, p. 103

Warm,dry air

Flows toward low pressure,picks up moisture and heat

Moist surface warmed by sun

HIGHPRESSURE

LOW PRESSURE

Falls, is compressed, warms

Rises, expands, cools

HIGH PRESSUREHeat released

radiates to space

LOWPRESSURE

Condensationand

precipitationCool, dry

air

Hot, wet air

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

Fig. 5-6, p. 103

Cell 3 North

Moist air rises — rain

Cell 2 North

Cool, dryair falls

Cell 1 North

Moist air rises,cools, and releasesMoisture as rain

Cell 1 SouthCool, dryair falls

Cell 2 South

Moist air rises — rain

Cell 3 South

Cold,dry airfalls

Polar cap

Temperate deciduousforest and grassland

Desert

Tropical deciduous forest

Tropicalrain forest

Equator

Tropical deciduous forest

Cold,dry airfalls

Polar capArctic tundra

Evergreenconiferous forestTemperate deciduousforest and grassland

Desert

60°

30°

0°

30°

60°

4 Factors affecting Global Air Circulation

1. Uneven heating of the Earth’s surface1. “Denser” light shines on equator

2. Seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation

3. Rotation of the Earth on its axis1. Equator spins faster than poles creating

Coriolis effect4. Properties of air, water and land

1. Cyclical convection cells created

Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and Nutrients

Ocean currents influence climate by distributing heat from place to place and mixing and distributing nutrients.

Figure 5-7

Fig. 5-7, p. 104

(c) As concentrations of greenhouse gases rise, their molecules absorb and emit more infrared radiation, which adds more heat to the lower atmosphere.

(b) The earth's surface absorbsmuch of the incoming solar radiation and degrades it to longer-wavelength infrared (IR) radiation, which rises into the lower atmosphere. Some of this IR radiation escapes into space as heat, and some is absorbed by molecules of greenhouse gases and emitted as even longer-wavelength IR radiation, which warms the lower atmosphere.

(a) Rays of sunlight penetrate the lower atmosphere andwarm the earth's surface.

Ocean Currents: Distributing Heat and Nutrients

Global warming: Considerable scientific evidence and climate

models indicate that large inputs of greenhouse gases from anthropogenic activities into the troposphere can enhance the natural greenhouse effect and change the earth’s climate in your lifetime.

ATMOSPHERE GASES AND CLIMATE Greenhouse gases allows visible light and

UV to pass through, but absorbs some of the returning Infrared light and returns it at a longer wavelength

GREENHOUSE GASES

Water vapor: H2O Carbon Dioxide: CO2

Methane: CH4

Nitrous oxide: N2O

GREENHOUSE GASES

Could result in: change in precipitation patterns shift in cropland rise in sea levels change in areas where some plants and

animals live

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

Fig. 5-8, p. 105

Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean.

Dry habitats

Moist habitats

On the leeward side ofthe mountain range, air descends, warms, and Releases little moisture.

On the windward side of a mountain range,air rises, cools, and releases moisture.

A RAIN SHADOW IS FORMED

Heat and Water

Heat is absorbed and released more slowly by water than by land

This means coastal areas and large lakes have weather moderated by the water.

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.


Figure 5-9

Fig. 5-9, p. 106

Polar ice

Equator

Tropic ofCapricorn

Tropic ofCancer

High mountains

Polar grassland (arctic tundra)Temperate grasslandTropical grassland (savanna)ChaparralConiferous forestTemperate deciduous forestTropical forestDesert

Climate change is part of history

• Change caused by solar output, volcanic eruptions, and continents moving.

• 5,000 years ago part of Saharan Desert was fertile

• 15,000 years ago arid Western US was rainy and contained many lakes

• Evidence that we are changing climate in 50-100 years


Biome type is determined by precipitation, temperature and soil type

Figure 5-10

Fig. 5-10, p. 107

Polar

Rain forestTropical

seasonalforest Scrubland

Savanna Desert

TropicalGrasslandChaparral

DeciduousForest

Coniferous forest

Desert

Temperate

SubpolarTundra

Wet

Cold

Dry

Hot

•Tropical = hot•Temperate = moderate•Polar = cold

Biomes

• Biomes are not uniform• Contain a mosaic of patches with

somewhat different biological communities with similarities unique to the biome


Parallel changes occur in vegetation type occur when we travel from the equator to the poles or from lowlands to mountaintops.

Figure 5-11

Fig. 5-11, p. 108

Mountainice and snow

Elevation

Tundra (herbs,lichens, mosses)

ConiferousForest

DeciduousForest

TropicalForest

TropicalForest

DeciduousForest

ConiferousForest

Tundra (herbs,lichens, mosses)

Polar ice and snow

Latitude

DESERT BIOMES

Deserts are areas where evaporation exceeds precipitation.

Deserts have little precipitation and little vegetation.

Where are they found? Found in tropical, temperate and polar regions.

Desert plants have adaptations that help them stay cool and get enough water.

DESERT BIOMES

Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate and cold deserts.

Figure 5-12

Deserts

Cover about 30% of the earth’s land surface Found mainly in tropical and subtropical

regions Largest Deserts found in the interiors of

continents, far from moist sea air Or form in Rain Shadows

Deserts not Desserts

Sun bakes ground in day At night, heat radiates quickly from rocks to

atmosphere Without moisture in the soil, the heat is not

stored This allows you to bake in the day, and

freeze during the nights

Fig. 5-12a, p. 109

Tropical Desert

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M

ean monthly precipitation (m

m)

Month

Freezing point

Hot and Dry most of the year. Example: Sahara and Namib

Fig. 5-12b, p. 109

Temperate Desert

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)

Month

Freezing point

Day temps high in summer and low in winter.Example: Mojave desert

Fig. 5-12c, p. 109

Polar Desert

Mean m

onthly precipitation (mm

)

Month

Freezing point

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (°

C)

Cold Deserts: Cold winters, warm summers, sparse vegetation

Example: Gobi Desert in China

DESERT BIOMES

The flora and fauna in desert ecosystems adapt to their environment through their behavior and physiology.

Figure 5-13

Fig. 5-13, p. 110

Producer to primaryconsumer

Primaryto

secondaryconsumer

Secondary to

higher-levelconsumer

All producers andconsumers todecomposers

Kangaroo rat

Diamondback rattlesnake Fungi

Bacteria

DarklingBeetle

Roadrunner

Pricklypearcactus

Agave

Gambel'sQuail

Collaredlizard

Jackrabbit

Yucca

Red-tailed hawk

Deserts

• Evergreen plants conserve water by having wax coated leaves that reduce water loss

• Wildflowers and grasses store much of their biomass in seeds that remain inactive until they receive enough water to germinate

Deserts

• Most animals are small• They hide in cool burrows or rocky

crevices by day and come out at night or early morning

• Others are dormant during extreme heat• Insects and reptiles have thick outer

coverings to minimize water loss– Their wastes are dry or concentrated urine

Deserts are Fragile

• Soils take a long time to heal• Low diversity• Slow nutrient cycling• Slow plant growth• Tank tracks are still visible in the Mojave

desert from 1940s

GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES

Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue).

Figure 5-14

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.

Maintained by seasonal drought, grazing and occasional fires

Fig. 5-14a, p. 112

Tropical grassland (savanna)

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)

Month

Freezing point

Savanna

Overgrazing and use of firewood is converting savannas to deserts

Fig. 5-14b, p. 112

Temperate grassland

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)

Month

Freezing point

Prairies

Netted roots hold mesh of organic material in, unless it is plowed and allowed to blow away

Fires burn top layer of plants, but not the roots

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

Temperate Grasslands• Most have been converted to

cropland• Or raise cattle• Or build towns and cities

Temperate Grasslands

Temperate tall-grass prairie ecosystem in North America.

Figure 5-16

Fig. 5-15, p. 113

Golden eagle

Pronghorn antelope

Grasshopper

PrairieConeflower

Fungi

Bacteria

Prairiedog

Blue stemgrass

GrasshoppersparrowCoyote


Primaryto

secondaryconsumer

Secondary to



Fig. 5-14c, p. 112

Polar grassland (arctic tundra)

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)

Month

Freezing point

Arctic Tundra

Polar Grasslands

Polar grasslands are covered with ice and snow except during a brief summer.

Figure 5-17

Fig. 5-17, p. 114

Moss campion

MountainCranberry

Lemming

DwarfWillow

Willow ptarmigan

Horned lark Arcticfox

Snowy owlMosquito

Grizzly bearLong-tailed jaeger

Caribou


Primaryto

secondaryconsumer

Secondary to



Arctic Tundra

• Treeless• Bitterly cold winters• Frigid winds• Covered by ice and snow• Long, dark winters• Low levels of precipitation

Arctic Tundra

• Thick, spongy mat of low-growing plants– Grasses, mosses, lichens, and dwarf shrubs

• Most Growth occurs in 6-8 weeks of summer

PERMAFROST• Water trapped in soil that stays frozen for

more than 2 years– Prevents summer melt from soaking in and

creates summer lakes, marshes, bogs and ponds

• Insects and migratory birds thrive in summer wetlands

• Global Warming causing parts of permafrost to melt (Alaska)

Tundra Scars

• Short growing season leads to slow recovery

• Arctic exploration and development: oil and diamonds– Leads to scars that will last for centuries

Chaparral

Chaparral has a moderate climate but its dense thickets of spiny shrubs are subject to periodic fires.

Figure 5-18

Temperate Shrubland: Chaparral

Dense growth of low-growing evergreen shrubs and occasional small trees with leathery leaves Soil is thin and not very fertile Characterized by Manzanita bushes

• Red bark that peels off (look for it on the hike) Found in certain coastal areas (SB and LA

too) Long, dry summers lead to flammable

conditions

You are on your own for the forest biomes

Don’t forget to study about all of the biodiversity

FOREST BIOMES

Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue) in tropical, temperate, and polar forests.

Figure 5-19

Fig. 5-19a, p. 116

Tropical rain forest

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)Month

Freezing point

Fig. 5-19b, p. 116

Temperate deciduous forest

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)Month

Freezing point

Fig. 5-19c, p. 116

Polar evergreen coniferous forest(boreal forest, taiga)

Mea

n m

onth

ly te

mpe

ratu

re (

C) M


m)

Month

Freezing point

FOREST BIOMES

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

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

Fig. 5-20, p. 117

Blue andgold macaw

Climbingmonstera palm

Slaty-tailedtrogon

Harpyeagle

BromeliadBacteria

Fungi

Ants

Tree frog

Green tree snakeKatydid

Squirrelmonkeys

Ocelot


Primaryto

secondaryconsumer

Secondary to



Tropical Rain Forest

Filling such niches enables species to avoid or minimize competition and coexist

Figure 5-21

Fig. 5-21, p. 118

GroundlayerBlack-crowned

antipitta

Brazilian tapir

Woolly opossum

Tocotoucan

Shrublayer

Understory

Canopy

Emergent layer

Hei

ght (

met

ers)

Harpy eagle

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Most of the trees survive winter by dropping their leaves, which decay and produce a nutrient-rich soil.

Figure 5-22

Fig. 5-22, p. 120


Primaryto

secondaryconsumer

Secondary to



Wood frog

RacerMay beetle

Bacteria

FungiLong-tailedweasel

Shagbark hickory

MountainWinterberry

Metallic wood-boringbeetle andLarvae

White-taileddeer

White-footedmouse

GraySquirrel

HairyWoodpecker

White oak

Broad-wingedhawk

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

Fig. 5-23, p. 121

Bunchberry Bacteria

Starflower

Fungi

Snowshoehare

Pine sawyerbeetleand larvae

Bebbwillow

Wolf

WhiteSpruce

Moose

Marten

Greathornedowl

Blue jay

Balsam fir


Primaryto secondary

consumer

Secondary tohigher-levelconsumer


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

Temperate Rain Forest

Mendocino and Humboldt County Many beautiful redwoods It is worth your time to visit the area Jedediah Smith Park with the Smith River is

one of my favorites I used to live in Richardson Grove State Park

on Highway 1 at the south end of Humboldt

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

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.

Human Impacts

Estimated that we use, waste or destroy about 10-55% of net primary productivity or terrestrial ecosystems

Producers determine the number of consumers

60% of terrestrial ecosystems are being degraded or used unsustainably

Fig. 5-26, p. 123

Natural Capital Degradation

Desert

Large desert cities

Soil destruction by off-road vehicles

Soil salinization from irrigation

Depletion of groundwater

Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction

Fig. 5-27, p. 123

Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra

Overgrazing by livestock

Release of CO2 to atmosphere from grassland burning

Conversion to cropland

Grasslands


Fig. 5-28, p. 124

Clearing for agriculture, livestock grazing, timber, and urban development

Conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations

Damage from off-road vehicles


Forests

Pollution of forest streams

Fig. 5-29, p. 124


Mountains

Agriculture

Timber extraction

Mineral extraction

Hydroelectric dams and reservoirsIncreasing tourism

Urban air pollution

Increased ultraviolet radiationfrom ozone depletion

Soil damage from off-roadvehicles

Tentative Homework learn pg 123-124

• Critical Thinking • #2 (will help you identify items in a system)• #4 (similar to FRQ on the exam)• #6 (helps you apply the information that

you read)• Projects #1 (knowing about your

environment can help you answer questions on the FRQ section

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