Terrestrial Biomes

JOEMAR J. CABRADILLAPh.D Science Education Student

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University

ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Introduction Biomes are the major regional groupings of plants and animals discernible at a global scale.

To understand the nature of biomes one needs to learn

The types of animals (especially vertebrates) characteristic of the biome

Their typical morphological, physiological, and/or behavioral adaptations to the environment

Global distribution pattern1. Where each biome is found and

how each varies geographically2. A given biome may be

composed of different taxa on different continents

The dominant, characteristic, and unique growth forms

1. vertical stratification2. leaf shape, size, and habit3. special adaptations of the

vegetation

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

FOREST occupy approximately one-

third of Earth’s land area account for over two-thirds

of the leaf area of land plants

contain about 70% of carbon present in living things

are major casualties of deforestation, pollution, and industrial usage

forest biomes are classified according to numerous characteristics, with seasonality being the most widely used

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

Location: Found near equator…little variation

in temperatures. No distinct seasonal

changes.

Earth's most complex

land biome

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

Abiotic factors

high biodiversity and biomass

both hot and moist;

ideal for bacteria and other microorganisms; they quickly decompose matter on the forest floor allowing nutrients to be recycled.

<1 cm of topsoil

About 100 in/yr of rainfall

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

Plant Adaptations

Sunlight is a major limiting factor

Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most light)

Shallow, wide roots since soil is so thin and poor in nutrients

Little sun reaches the floor

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

Animal Adaptations

Many animals are specialists and require special

habitat components to

survive.

Camouflage is common Many

symbiotic relationships

Live in different levels

of canopy

Slender Loris

Silvery Gibbon

Wagler’s Pit Viper

Threats to the Tropical Rainforest

Humans strip the rainforests for uses including logging and cattle ranching.

Clearing for agriculture, timber and urban development

Conversion of diverse forest to tree plantations.

Damage from off-roads vehicles.

Pollution of forest streams

Timber and mineral extraction

Transparent Butterfly

Toucan

Red-eyed frog

Tanager

White Faced Monkey

Tropical King Snake

A.Prevention Protect the most diverse and

endangered areas. Educate settlers about sustainable

agriculture and forestry. Subsidize only sustainable forest use Certify sustainable grown timber Reduce Poverty Slow population growth

Sustaining Tropical Forest

B. Restoration Encourage regrowth through

secondary succession Rehabilitate degraded areas Concentrate farming and

ranching in already cleared areas

TEMPERATE

DECIDUOUS FORESTLocation:

found in temperate zone (about 480 North latitude)

Much of the human population lives in

this biome

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

Abiotic factors Well-defined seasons with a

distinct winter characterize this forest biome

Moderate climate and a growing season of 140-200 days during 4-6 frost-free months distinguish temperate forests

Temperature varies from -30° C to 30° C.

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS

FORESTPlant Adaptations

Canopy

Moderately dense Allows light to penetrate Resulting in well-developed

and richly diversified understory vegetation and stratification of animals

Flora is characterized by 3-4 tree species per square kilometer

Trees are distinguished by broad leaves that are lost annually

WillowOak

Beech

Mapple

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS

FORESTAnimal Adaptations

Animals living within this biome must adjust to cold winters and hot summers by hibernating, migrating, or keeping active all winter.

Least Weasel

Raccoon White-tailed Deer

Threats to Temperate Deciduous Forests

Many forests are cleared to provide housing for humans.

Careful use of the resource can provide a renewable system if we don’t take too much habitat away.

Larch Needles

Oak

Hemlock

Maple

TAIGA/NORTHERN CONIFEROUS

FOREST/BOREAL FOREST

Location: Found only in Northern Hemisphere

TAIGAAbiotic Factors

Winters are long and cold

Averages 100 in/yr precipitation—mostly snow

Soil poor in nutrients and very acidic

Growing season is very short

TAIGAPlant Adaptations

Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees are abundant

Roots long to anchor trees

Needles long, thin and waxy

Low sunlight and poor soil keeps plants from growing on forest floor

Fire Weed

Balsam Fir

Dauglas Fir

Black Spruce

Threats to the Taiga

Mining operations can irreparably damage this fragile ecosystem.

Pollution left behind can also put animals and plants at risk.

MooseGreat Grey Owl

Hemlock

Lynx

GRASSLANDCharacterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees.

Largest land animals are present due to huge vegetation.Grasslands are big open spaces. There are not many bushes in the grassland. Trees are found only by rivers and streams.

Wheat Grass Coneflower Kangaroo Paws Tumble Weed

TROPICAL SAVANNA

Always found in warm or hot climates where the annual rainfall is from about 50.8 to 127 cm (20-50 inches) per year

Characterized by a continuous cover of perennial grasses, often 3 to 6 feet tall at maturity

Many plants have thorns and sharp leaves to protect against predation.

Reproduce during rainy season—ensures more young survive

Whistling ThornChacma Baboon

Threats to Tropical Savanna

Invasive species

Changes in fire management

Because of their low elevation, some savannas are threatened by minor rises in sea level associated with global climate change

Elephant

Koala Bear

TEMPERATE

GRASSLAND

Summer temperatures can be well over 38° C (100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Winter temperatures can be as low as -40° C (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).

Deep and dark, with fertile upper layers

Seasonal drought, occasional fires, and grazing by large mammals all prevent woody shrubs and trees from invading and becoming established

Asters

Clovers

Sunflowera

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Overgrazing…nomadic tribes have started to spend more time in one location,

Infrastructure development (roads, buildings, etc)

Unmanaged hunting and poaching is destroying herds of animals

Lynx

Corsac Fox

Praire Dogs

bobcat Wild Goat

King Protea

TUNDRA Coldest of all the

biomes Comes from the

Finnish word tunturia, meaning treeless plain

Frost-molded landscapes

Extremely low temperatures

Little precipitation Poor nutrients

Average winter temperature is -34° C (-30° F)

Average summer temperature is 3-12° C (37-54° F) which enables this biome to sustain life.

yearly precipitation, including melting snow, is 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches)

Adaptations of Organisms

Morphological adaptations Large, compact bodiesA thick insulating cover of

feathers or fur Pelage and plumage that turns

white in winter, brown in summer

Physiological adaptations Ability to accumulate thick

deposits of fat during the short growing season

Insulation and as a store of energy for use during the winter, when animal species remain active

Population adaptations Cyclical fluctuations in

population size.

Arctic Fox

Polar Bear

Snowy Owl

Caribou

Yellow Tundra Flower

DESERT

Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth’s surface and occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year.

Most deserts occur at low latitudes

Most deserts have a considerable amount of specialized vegetation, as well as specialized vertebrate and invertebrate animals.

DESERTAbiotic Factors

Less than 10 in./year of rain

Little to no topsoil due to high winds.

Minerals not deep in soil.

Too dry for decay

While there are many types of deserts, they all share one characteristic: They are the driest places on Earth!

DESERTPlant/Animal Adaptations

Spines Succulents Thick, waxy

cuticle Shallow,

broad roots

Get water from food

Thick outer coat

Burrow during day

Large earsSmaller

animals means less surface area

BarrelCactus

Ocotillo

Sonoran Desert

Bobcate

Javelina

Armadillo Lizard

Threats to World Desert

Residential development

Off road recreational activities destroy habitat for plants and animals.

Some plants are removed by collectors, endangering the population.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Thorny Devil

Saguaro Cactus

Cactus Wren

References:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.htmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/marsh/freshwater.shtml http://mbgnet.mobot.org/ http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/intro.htmlhttp://archive.globe.gov/sda-bin/wt/ghp/tg+L(en)+P(seasons/Miniinvestigation)http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/global200/pages/home.htm

JOEMAR J. CABRADILLAStudent

Ph.D Science Education

DR. GERTRUDES BERNARDOProfessor

Environmental Planning and Management for Sustainable

Development