Biomes Flashcards
1
Q
Biome
A
- subdivision of biosphere based upon similarities in vegetation structure and climate
- similar climates produce similar plant adaptations vegetation structure and growth forms
- families, genera and species may differ
- ecological equivalents
2
Q
plant physiognomy
A
growth form and function
3
Q
plant formation
A
platn communities with similar vegetation structure
4
Q
6 vegetation structural types
A
- forest,
- woodland,
- shrubland,
- grassland,
- scrub,
- desert
5
Q
ecotone
A
transition zone between 2 biomes
6
Q
growth forms
A
- system developed by Dansereau
- trees, shrubs, herbs, bryophytes, epiphytes, lianas
7
Q
life zones
A
- system developed by Merriam
- elevational and latitudinal bands of similar vegetation and climate
- 1 mile increase in elevation equivalent to 800 mile increase in latitude
8
Q
tropical rainforest
A
- annual precipitation more than 1800mm
- dry season less than 3-4 months, monthly precip less than 100mm
- fairly infertile and acidic: years of rainfall eaching out nutrients
- soils, tick bark, drip tip leaves, buttress roots, pollination strategies
- not fire resistant
9
Q
humid evergreen rainforest
A
- westren amazon, >250 tree species per hectre
- complex structure
- 100,000 plant species in global rainforest biome
- 40% of all plant species. on earth
- infertile, red oxisols
- rapid recycling of nutrients
0 30-50 million species of insect
10
Q
seasonally dry tropical forest
A
- semi-deciduous to deciduous
- simpler structure
- more open
- less biodiverse
- more fertile soils
- drought and fire tolerant
- annual precipitation less than 1600mm
- dry season at least 5-6 months, monthly precipitation less than 100mm
11
Q
Savanna biome
A
- Al rich, acidic, poor soils
- well drained soils
- fire adapted trees
- thick corky bark
- sclerophyllous leaves
- evergreen r deciduous
- grass dominated
- long, sever dry season
- annual precipitation 500-1500mm
12
Q
savanna wetland
A
- hydrologically controlled
- seasonally flooded landscape
- poorly drained soils
13
Q
Desert biome
A
- 30% of earths surface
- 20-30oN and S
- <500mm precipitation per year
- aridosols, poorly weathered
- scattered shrubs, herbs or grass
- more bare ground than veg
- veg cover correlated with precipitaiton
- annual plants dominate in hyper-arid areas
- cacti & succulents (CAM photosynthesis)
- drought adaptation or avoidance
14
Q
Mediterranean biome
A
- mosaic of woodland, shrubland, grassland
- warm summers, mild winter
- winter precipitation
- 15-20oC
- 300-100mm annual precipitation
- Terra rosa soils in calcareous areas
- long summer drought, fire, poor soils
- 7000 plat species
15
Q
Temperate grassland biome
A
- mean annual temp 2-3oC to 15oC
- annual precipitation 300-1000mm
- water stress in growing season
- thick , dark bark, nutrient rcih mollisols
- dominated by perennial grasses and short grass
- gallery forest along rivers
- physiognomy due to aridity, fire, grazing
16
Q
Temperate forest biome
A
- mean annual temp 5-20oC
- mean annual precipitation 500-2500mm
- winter frost
- variability in precipitation patterns
- nutrient rick sols with deep litter
- winter deciduous trees in NH
- evergreen trees in SH
17
Q
Temperate rainforest biome
A
- mild climate
- annual temp 5-20oC
- mean annual precipitation 2000-4000mm
- precipitation throughout the year
- nutrient poor, acidic spodosols
- dominated by evergreen species
- simple forest structure
- lower diversity than temperate forest
- moss and fern dominated understorey
18
Q
Boreal forest
A
- 60 degrees latitude
- mean annual temp -5-5oC
- mean annual precipitation 200 to 2000mm
- mean summer temp 10-20oC
- cold winters -50oC
- dominated by evergreen species
- simple forest structure
- high fire frequency
19
Q
Tundra biome
A
- beyond treeline
- mean annual temp < -15oC
- continuous permafrost
- growing season < 3 months
- very simple vegetation structure
- warmer microclimate at ground surface
- perennials
