Forests and Tundra Flashcards
How does solar energy input determine atmospheric circulation patterns?
1) Solar energy= Drives surface air patterns
2) Moist, warm air rises and releases moisture= Precipitation= Tropics where there is high temperatures and high rain fall
3) Cool, dry air descends, absorbing moisture from the atmosphere and surface= Desert
What is a biome?
Environment that is defined by its climatic and geographic attributes and characterised by ecologically similar organisms= Particularly dominant plants
What is the distribution of biomes influenced by?
Annual patterns of temperature and rainfall
Elevation and Latitude
Biomes boundaries are arbitrary= Often one boundary merges into another
What are the different biomes?
Tundra
Temperate deciduous forest (Boreal and temperate)
Tropical rainforest
Where are the tundra biomes found? What are some features of this biome?
High latitudes and high elevations= Arctic and high on mountains
Climate:
-Wet= Water cannot drain through the permafrost
Plants life: Only grow during the short summers= First few cm of permafrost (frozen soil) melt + Can still photosynthesise + Hairy leaves to trap heat
Animal life: Either migrate into area for summer only OR are dormant for most of the year + Thick feathers or fur the may change colour with seasons
Where is the boreal forest biome found? What is the climate like? What is plant life like?
North of deciduous forests (Temperate)
Found below Arctic tundra, elevations below alpine tundra on temperate-zone mountains
Climate: Winters= Very long and very cold, Summers= Short and warm
Plant life: Short summers= Favours trees with evergreen leaves + Only few tree species
Northern Hemisphere: Coniferous evergreen gymnosperms e.g. Pine
Southern Hemisphere: Southern beeches, some are evergreen
Short window in which they can breed and reproduce
Adaptations: Pyramidal growth form= Shed snow
What is the net primary productivity of boreal forest like compared with temperate forests?
Low:
Limited by low nutrients, low temperatures and short growing season
Low inputs from slowly decomposing plant litter
What are the climatic conditions of temperate deciduous forests?
Change with Seasons
1) Temperatures fluctuate dramatically from season to season
2) Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout year
What are the plant and animal life like?
1) Deciduous trees lose their leaves during winter
2) Many more tree species relative to boreal forests
Animal Life:
1) Permanent residents of deciduous forests BUT some may migrate to escape the cold
2) Animals often hibernate or enter diapause
Where is tropical deciduous forests found? What is the climate like?
Found: Hot lowlands, close to equator
Climate: Long summer rain season
What is the plant and animal life like in tropical deciduous forests?
Plants: Shed leaves annually, for 6-8 weeks in summer
Example: Teak, bamboo
Animals: Parrots, Milksnake
Best soils for agriculture in tropics
Where is tropical evergreen forests (rainforests) found? What is the climate like? What is the difference between tropical deciduous and tropical evergreen forests?
Found: Near equator
Climate: Hot, very rainy= >250cm annually
Mean annual precipitation tends to be lower on the leeward side of a mountain range than on the windward side
Difference: Evergreen= More rainfall
What is the animal and plant life like for tropical evergreen forests?
Richest on Earth in both plant and animal species
Plant: Forests are dense, leaves are shed at different times of the year
Animal life: Most live in tree canopy as less sunlight reaches the floor
Examples: Chimpanzees and Orangutans
VERY PRODUCTIVE
What are some other factors influencing biome distribution apart from temperature?
Soil fertility
Fire exert
Australia deserts: Nutrient-poor soils
Leaves in deserts: Difficult to digest by herbivores
Succulent plants: Easily killed by fires= Not found in Australia
