BIOGEOGRAPHY Flashcards
what is biogeography
study of where species live, examining species distributions through time and space
carl linnaeus
developed binomial nomenclature
alexander von humboldt
explored in Latin America
one of the first to understand Pangea and climate change
alfred russel wallace
helped develop modern theories on biogeography
wondered why there were more species in the tropics
what is a biome
major ecological community spread over a wide geographic area
what is needed for Whittakers biome classifications
temperature and precipitation
what influences biome distribution
temperature, precipitation, topography, soil, and disturbance regimes
climatograms
representation of temperature and precipitation
tropical rainforests
greater than 2000 mm rainfall per year
contains 40-75% of all species
a-seasonal, bad soil
savanna
more distinct precipitation in warmer months
separate wet and dry seasons
about 1500 mm rain, bad soil
lateralized soil
forms from prolonged weathering and leaching
rich in iron and aluminum
wide branching trees with up-ground roots
temperature grasslands
variation in temperature, 200-850 mm rainfall
fire adapted
deserts
seasonal temperatures and < 250 mm rainfall
soil is caliche
caliche
soil particles are cemented together by calcium carbonate
temperate forests
rain is 750-2250 mm, conifer and deciduous trees
soil is relatively fertile
