Lecture 31. Terrestrial Ecosystems: Forests and Grasslands

Question 1

What is the climograph ?

Answer 1

Relationship of climate to biomes

Question 2

What plants grow in 100-200mm ?

Answer 2

Only grasses can survive

Question 3

What plants grow at 300mm ?

Answer 3

Shrubs

Question 4

What plants grow at 400mm ?

Answer 4

Solitary trees

Question 5

What plants can grow over 400mm ?

Answer 5

Dense trees/forests

Question 6

Where is a tropical forest found ?

Answer 6

23.5 latitiude of equator

Question 7

How much rain in a tropical forets per year ?

Answer 7

2500m/year

Question 8

What is a tropical deciduous forest ?

Answer 8

Areas with distinct wet and dry season

Question 9

How much of forests in the tropics does the tropical deciduous forest represent ?

Answer 9

32%

Question 10

How much of forests in the tropics does the tropical rainforest represent ?

Answer 10

25%

Question 11

What is a tropical dry forest /

Answer 11

Lowland area with prolonged dry season and scarce rainfall

Question 12

What is the tropical dry forest characterised by ?

Answer 12

Thorny shrubs and trees and succulents

Question 13

How much of forests in the tropics does the tropical dry forest represent ?

Answer 13

43%

Question 14

What type of plants is there in a tropical deciduous forest ?

Answer 14

Trees and shrubs deciduous

Question 15

What is a tropical rainforest chracterised by ?

Answer 15

Tall, slender trees

Question 16

What perecntage of all plant species in tropical rainforests are trees ?

Answer 16

70%

Question 17

Why is there 70% trees in tropical rainforests ?

Answer 17

Lots of plants and animals species which need trees

Question 18

What are epiphytes ?

Answer 18

Plants that lives on other plants

Question 19

Are epiphytes parasites ?

Answer 19

No

Question 20

What results in rapid nutrient cycling ?

Answer 20

High temperature and rainfall throughout the year

Question 21

How can recycling occur ?

Answer 21

Leaf littering

Question 22

What are the types of temperate and boreal forests ?

Answer 22

1. Temperate deciduous forest

2. Coniferous forest

Question 23

What breaks down litter ?

Answer 23

Detrivores

Question 24

What type of roots do tropical forests have and why?

Answer 24

1. Root mats

2. Prevent washing away by heavy rain

Question 25

What does leaching result in ?

Answer 25

Poor soil development

Question 26

What can deforestation result in soilwise ?

Answer 26

Leaching

Question 27

Where are temperate and boreal forests found ?

Answer 27

Mid latitudes to artic circle

Question 28

What is one key thing about temperate and boreal forests /

Answer 28

Seasonality

Question 29

What is an adaptation to seasonality ?

Answer 29

Perenating bud

Question 30

Describe the seasons of a boreal forest ?

Answer 30

Winter: long and cold Summer: Short and wet (warm)

Question 31

What type of soil is in boreal forest ?

Answer 31

Thin, nutrient poor and acidic

Question 32

What are the principle trees in boreal forests ?

Answer 32

Conifers

Question 33

Why are conifers the principal trees in the boreal forest ?

Answer 33

Can withstand cold, drought and snow

Question 34

What percentage of the worlds forests are temperate?

Answer 34

16%

Question 35

What are two examples of conifer trees ?

Answer 35

1. Spruce | 2. Pine

Question 36

How is spruce adapted to snow ?

Answer 36

Falls of branches

Question 37

What is a common occurence of boreal forests ?

Answer 37

Forest fire

Question 38

How is pine adapted to fire ?

Answer 38

Has tough bark and less resin

Question 39

Where are temperate forests found ?

Answer 39

Mid latitudes where sufficient moisture to support trees

Question 40

What are the seasons in the temperate forest ?

Answer 40

Summer: Warm Winter: Cold

Question 41

What is the growing season in temperate forest ?

Answer 41

6-9 months

Question 42

What is the precipitation in temperate forests ?

Answer 42

Relatively high and throughout year

Question 43

What type of soil do temperate forests have ?

Answer 43

Deep and fertile, thick litter layer

Question 44

What is involved in deciduous habit ?

Answer 44

1. Tree growth 2. Light penetration 3. Hydrological cycle 4. Litter production 5. Soil fertility

Question 45

What is grassland characterised by ?

Answer 45

Long seasonal drought

Question 46

What is the annual rainfall in grassland /

Answer 46

250-750mm/year

Question 47

What is the problem with grasslands ?

Answer 47

1. Too dry for dense woodland | 2. Too wet for desert

Question 48

What are the two types of grassland ?

Answer 48

1. Temperate grassland | 2. Tropical grassland

Question 49

Where does temperate grassland occur ?

Answer 49

Where rainfall is intermediate between desert and temperate forest biomes

Question 50

What type of seasons does temperate grassland have ?

Answer 50

1. Long dry season | 2. Col winters - dormant

Question 51

What are two things that occurs in temperate grasslands ?

Answer 51

1. Grazing | 2. Occasional fires

Question 52

Describe the fertility of temperate grasslands ?

Answer 52

Low rainfall - low leaching - fertile soils

Question 53

What can temperate grasslands be converted to ?

Answer 53

Tillage for corn and wheat crops

Question 54

Where are tropical grasslands ?

Answer 54

Savanna

Question 55

What is the climate of a tropical grassland ?

Answer 55

Warm

Question 56

What is the seasons in the tropical grasslands ?

Answer 56

1. Long dry season - dormant

Question 57

What often happens in tropical grasslands ?

Answer 57

Regular fires

Question 58

What is the difference between tropical and temperate grasslands ?

Answer 58

Tropical have lower nutrient status

Question 59

What are fire and grazing important elements in ?

Answer 59

1. Nutrient cycling | 2. Preventing tree growth

Question 60

How is savanna distribution determined ?

Answer 60

Soil moisture

Question 61

What do savanna soils have ?

Answer 61

High porosity and little mulch

Question 62

What does the high porosity and little mulch of the savanna result in ?

Answer 62

Rapid drainage with loss of nutrients

Question 63

What is savanna tree regeneration determined by ?

Answer 63

Fire and grazing

Question 64

What are some adaptations to grazing ?

Answer 64

1. Basal meristem 2. Tillering 3. Rhizomes 4. Secondary chemical compounds 5. Spines

Question 65

What adaptations to grazing are particularly useful for fire ?

Answer 65

1. Basal meristem 2. Tillering 3. Rhizomes

Question 66

What are agricultural uses of land in ireland ?

Answer 66

1. Pasture 2. Rough grazing 3. Hay/silage 4. Tillage