Climate and Terrestrial Biodiversity

Chapter 7

Core Case Study: Connections between Wind, Climate, and Biomes

Wind• Indirect form of solar energy

Circulates• Heat• Moisture• Plant nutrients• Soil particles• Long-lived air pollutants

Dust Blown from West Africa to the Amazonian Rain Forests

7-1 What Factors Influence Climate?

Concept 7-1 An area's climate is determined mostly by solar radiation, the earth’s rotation, global patterns of air and water movement, gases in the atmosphere, and the earth’s surface features.

The Earth Has Many Different Climates (1)

Weather

Climate

Air circulation in lower atmosphere due to• Uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun• Rotation of the earth on its axis• Properties of air, water, and land

The Earth Has Many Different Climates (2)

Currents • Prevailing winds • Earth’s rotation • Redistribution of heat from the sun

Link between air circulation, ocean currents, and biomes

Natural Capital: Generalized Map of the Earth’s Current Climate Zones

Global Air Circulation

Fig. 7-3, p. 142

Cold deserts 60°N

Air cools and descends at lower latitudes.

Westerlies Forests

Northeast tradesHot deserts30°N

Warm air rises and moves toward the poles.

EquatorForests 0° Solar energy

Air cools and descends at lower latitudes.

The highest solar energy input is at the equator.

Southeast trades Hot deserts30°S

Westerlies Forests

Cold deserts 60°S

Energy Transfer by Convection in the Atmosphere

Fig. 7-4, p. 143

Heat released radiates to space

Cool, dry air

Condensation and precipitation

Falls, is compressed, warms

Rises, expands,

cools

Warm, dry air

Hot, wet air

Flows toward low pressure, picks up moisture and heat

HIGH PRESSURE

Moist surface warmed by sun

LOW PRESSURE

LOW PRESSURE

HIGH PRESSURE

Connected Deep and Shallow Ocean Currents

Fig. 7-5, p. 143

Warm, less salty, shallow current

Cold, salty, deep current

Global Air Circulation, Ocean Currents, and Biomes

Fig. 7-6, p. 144

Moist air rises, cools, and releases moisture as rainPolar cap

Arctic tundraEvergreen coniferous forest60°Temperate deciduous forest and grassland

30°Desert

Tropical deciduous forest

Equator 0° Tropical rain forest

30° Desert

60°

Temperate deciduous forest and grassland

Tropical deciduous forest

Polar cap

Greenhouse Gases Warm the Lower Atmosphere

Greenhouse gases• H2O

• CO2

• CH4

• N2O

Greenhouse effect

Human-enhanced global warming

Flow of Energy to and from the Earth

The Earth’s Surface Features Affect Local Climates

Heat absorption by land and water

Effect of• Mountains• Rain shadow effect

• Cities• Microclimates

Rain Shadow Effect

Fig. 7-7, p. 145

Prevailing winds pick up moisture from an ocean.

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

On the leeward side of the mountain range, air descends, warms, and releases little moisture.

Active Figure: Biomes map

Active Figure: Climate and ocean currents map

Animation: El Nino Southern Oscillation

Animation: Air circulation

Animation: Greenhouse effect

Animation: Increasing greenhouse gases

Animation: Coastal breezes

Animation: Seasonal variation

Animation: Upwelling along western coasts

7-2 How Does Climate Affect the Nature and Locations of Biomes?

Concept 7-2 Differences in average annual precipitation and temperature lead to the formation of tropical, temperate, and cold deserts, grasslands, and forests, and largely determine their locations.

Climate Affects Where Organisms Can Live

Major biomes

Latitude and elevation

Annual precipitation

Temperature

The Earth’s Major Biomes

Generalized Effects of Elevation and Latitude on Climate and Biomes

Fig. 7-9, p. 147

ElevationMountain ice and snowTundra (herbs, lichens, mosses)

Coniferous Forest

Deciduous Forest

Latitude

Tropical Forest

Tropical Forest

Deciduous Forest

Coniferous Forest

Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses)

Polar ice and snow

Latitude

Tropical Forest

Deciduous Forest

Coniferous Forest

Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses)

Polar ice and snow

Fig. 7-9, p. 147

ElevationMountain ice and snowTundra (herbs, lichens, mosses)

Coniferous Forest

Deciduous Forest

Tropical Forest

Stepped Art

Natural Capital: Average Precipitation and Average Temperature as Limiting Factors

Fig. 7-10, p. 147

ColdPolar

TundraSubpolar

TemperateConiferous forest

Desert

Deciduous forest

GrasslandChaparral Tropical

Ho

t

DesertW

et Rain forest SavannaTropical

seasonal forest

Dry

Scrubland

Science Focus: Staying Alive in the Desert

Plant adaptations

Animal strategies and adaptations

There Are Three Major Types of Deserts

Tropical deserts

Temperate deserts

Cold deserts

Fragile ecosystem• Slow plant growth• Low species diversity• Slow nutrient recycling• Lack of water

Climate Graphs of Three Types of Deserts

Fig. 7-11, p. 149

Stepped Art

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (1)

Tropical

Temperate

Cold (arctic tundra)

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (2)

Tropical• Savanna• Grazing animals• Browsing animals

Temperate• Tall-grass prairies• Short-grass prairies

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (3)

Arctic tundra: fragile biome

Adaptations of plants and animals

Permafrost

Alpine tundra

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Grasslands

Fig. 7-12, p. 151

Stepped Art

Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically Diverse Temperate Grassland

Temperate Shrubland: Nice Climate, Risky Place to Live

Chaparral

Near the sea: nice climate

Prone to fires in the dry season

Chaparral Vegetation in Utah, U.S.

Fig. 7-14, p. 152

Stepped Art

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (1)

Tropical

Temperate

Cold• Northern coniferous and boreal

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (2)

Tropical rain forests• Temperature and moisture• Stratification of specialized plant and animal

niches• Little wind: significance• Rapid recycling of scarce soil nutrients• Impact of human activities

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (3)

Temperate deciduous forests• Temperature and moisture• Broad-leaf trees• Slow rate of decomposition: significance• Impact of human activities

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (4)

Evergreen coniferous forests: boreal and taigas• Temperature and moisture• Few species of cone: bearing trees• Slow decomposition: significance

Coastal coniferous forest

Temperate rain forests

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Forests

Fig. 7-15, p. 154

Stepped Art

Some Components and Interactions in a Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem

Fig. 7-16, p. 155

Blue and gold macaw

Harpy eagle

Ocelot

Squirrel monkeys

Climbing monstera palm

KatydidSlaty-tailed trogon

Green tree snake

Tree frog

Ants

Bacteria Bromeliad

Fungi

Producer to primary consumer

Primary to secondary consumer

Secondary to higher-level consumer

All producers and consumers to decomposers

Stratification of Specialized Plant and Animal Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest

Fig. 7-17, p. 156

45

Harpy eagle

Emergent layer

40

35 Toco toucan

30 Canopy

25

Hei

gh

t (m

eter

s)

20

Wooly opossum

Under story

15

10

Brazilian tapir

Shrub layer5

Black-crowned antpitta

Ground layer0

Temperate Rain Forest in Washington State, U.S.

Mountains Play Important Ecological Roles

Majority of the world’s forests

Habitats for endemic species

Help regulate the earth’s climate

Can affect sea levels

Major storehouses of water• Role in hydrologic cycle

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, U.S.

Video: Caribou on tundra

Video: Desertification in China

Video: Eagle fishing

Animation: Prairie food web

Active Figure: Rainforest food web

Video: Sequoias

Video: Tundra flyover

7-3 How Have We Affected the Word’s Terrestrial Ecosystems?

Concept 7-3 In many areas, human activities are impairing ecological and economic services provided by the earth’s deserts, grasslands, forests, and mountains.

Humans Have Disturbed Most of the Earth’s Lands

Deserts

Grasslands

Forests

Mountains

Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Fig. 7-20, p. 158

NATURAL CAPITAL DEGRADATION

Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Deserts Grasslands Forests Mountains

Large desert cities Conversion to cropland

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

Agriculture

Soil destruction by off-road vehicles

Timber extractionRelease of CO2 to atmosphere from burning grassland Conversion of

diverse forests to tree plantations

Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs

Mineral extraction

Soil salinization from irrigation Increasing tourism

Overgrazing by livestockDepletion of

groundwaterDamage from off-road vehicles

Urban air pollutionIncreased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletionLand disturbance

and pollution from mineral extraction

Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra

Pollution of forest streams

Soil damage from off-road vehicles

Mountains

AgricultureTimber extraction

Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs

Mineral extraction

Increasing tourismUrban air pollutionIncreased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletionSoil damage from off-road vehicles

Forests

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

Conversion of diverse forests to tree plantations

Damage from off-road vehicles

Pollution of forest streams

Fig. 7-20, p. 158

Large desert cities

Soil destruction by off-road vehicles

Deserts

Soil salinization from irrigation

Depletion of groundwater

Land disturbance and pollution from mineral extraction

Grasslands

Conversion to cropland

Release of CO2 to atmosphere from burning grassland

Overgrazing by livestock

Oil production and off-road vehicles in arctic tundra Stepped Art

NATURAL CAPITAL DEGRADATION

Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems

Video: Gopher

Video: Grizzly bears

Video: Owl hunting