Ecology #b, Chapter 6

Front 1

Biome

Back 1

*large region characterized by a specific type of climate, and certain types of plants and animals of the community.

Front 2

Biomes and Vegetation

Back 2

*described by their vegetation because the plants that grow in a certain region are the most noticeable in the region.

Front 3

Plants

Back 3

*plants in a particular biome have adaptations that enable them to survive there include:
size, shape and color

Front 4

Biomes and Climate

Back 4

*determines which plats can grow in a certain area.

Front 5

Climate

Back 5

*includes weather conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and winds over a long period of time.

Front 6

Climate
(Continued)

Back 6

*temperature and precipitation are the 2 most important factors that determine a region's climate.

Front 7

Latitude and Altitude

Back 7

*biomes and vegetation vary with latitude and altitude.

Front 8

Latitude

Back 8

* the distance north or south of the equator and is measured in degrees

Front 9

Altitude

Back 9

*is the height of an object above sea level.

Front 10

Tropical Rain Forests

Back 10

** are located in a belt around the earth near the equator
*very humid, warm and get about 200-450 cm of rain per year.
*warm, wet conditions also nourish more species of plants than any other biome.

Front 11

Nutrients in Tropical Rain Forests

Back 11

*most nutrients are within plants, not within the soil.
*organic matter decays quickly in hot, wet conditions.
*decomposers on the rain-forest floor break down organic matter and return the nutrients to the soil, but plants quickly absorb the nutrients.

Front 12

Rainforest Decomposers

Back 12

*saprophytes are the rainforest's decomposers.
*without saprophytes (fungi), the soil of the rain forest would be extremely washed out.
*decomposers, with the humiditiy and heat, can break down dead organisms in less than 24 hours.
*many saprophytes are extremely small and cannot be seen. examples: algae, funi and lichens.

Front 13

Nutrients in Tropical Rain Forests

Back 13

*nutrients are removed so efficiently from the soil in a tropical rain forest that water running out of the soil may be as clear as distilled water!
*many trees form above-ground roots, call buttresses or braces, that grow sideways from the trees and provide them with extra support in the thin soil.

Front 14

Layers of the Rain Forest

Back 14

*Emergent layer
*Upper Canopy
*Lower Canopy
*Understory
*Forest Floor

Front 15

Emergent Layer

Back 15

*consists of the tallest trees which reach heights of 60-70 meters or 196-230 feet.
*the emergent layer is the home to eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.

Front 16

Canopy

Back 16

*this is considered the "primary"layer of the rain forest.
*tall trees form a dense layer that absorbs up to 95%of the sunlight.
*can be split into upper and lower levels. The lower level receives less light
*plants consist of vines, mosses, lichens, and orchids.
*90% of the rainforest's animals live here because they depend on the abundant flowers and fruits that grow there.

Front 17

Epiphytes

Back 17

*plant that uses another plant for support, not for nourishment
*these types of plants take up 1/4 of the plant population.
*epiphytes include ferns, mosses, and cacti
*they absorb water and nutrients that run down the tree after ir rains.

Front 18

Understory

Back 18

*foliage layer that is beneath and shaded by the main canopy of a forest
*trees and shrubs that are adapted to shade grow here.
*less light because the light can't filter very well through the thick leaves of the other trees.
*include young canopy trees, shrubs, and plants
*strong humidity suits the birds, snakes, lizards, jaguars, and boa constrictors.

Front 19

Bromeliads or "air plants"

Back 19

*bromeliads are related to the pineapple and live in the understory
*their leaves are this and shaped like a bowl.
*perfect for absorbing rain fall
*can hold gallons of water
*homes to animals as well as frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, beetles, and mosquito larvae.
*when the animals die, their bodies decomposed and the nutrients are absorbed by the bromeliad

Front 20

Forest Floor

Back 20

*completely shaded, hot and humid
*less then 1% of light filters
*helps fungi, lichens and algae decompose litter into nutrients to be absorbed by the trees
*large animals, such as tigers and jaguars, usually live there.

Front 21

Species diversity in Rain Forests

Back 21

*tropical rain forest is the biome with the greatest amount of specific resources in particular ways
*rain forest animals have adaptations that they use to escape predators or capturing prey.

Front 22

Threats to the Rain Forests

Back 22

*tropical rain forests once covered about 20% of the earths surface.
*today they only cover 7%
*50 million people live in the rain forest
*every minute of every day, 100 acres are cleared for logging operations, agriculture or oil expoloration.

Front 23

Eco-Tourism

Back 23

*there are some countries that have created large preserves to protect their ecological area.
*generate income for their country,
*Costa Rica, India, Kenya have developed ecotourism.

Front 24

Temperate Rain Forests

Back 24

*occur in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
*large amount of preceipitation, high humidity, and moderate temperatures.
*only temperate rain forest in North America is in the Pacific Northwest.
*pacific's oceran's wind meets the coastal mountains a large amount of rainfall is produced.

Front 25

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Back 25

*characterized by trees that shed their leaves in the fall.
*temperatures in these forests can be extreme, and growing season lasts between 4-6 months
*temperatures range from freezing to 95 degrees
*the soil contains more organic matter and nutrients than the soil in a tropical rain forest.

Front 26

Plants of Temperate Deciduous Forests

Back 26

*deciduous forests grow in layers
*tall trees like maple, oak and birch dominate the forest canopy
*small trees and shrubs cover the understory
*forest floor gets more light than in the rain forest, so mosses, ferns and herbs can grow.
*fall, most deciduous trees loose their leaves

Front 27

Taiga

Back 27

*the northern coniferous forest that stretches in a broad band across the Northern Hemisphere just below the Artic Circle
*the Russian word for "forest" and is the largest biome in the world.
*winters are very cold with only snowfall, temps are -65 to 30 F
*summer are warm, rainy, and humid. Temperatures range from 20-70.

Front 28

Plants of the Tiaga

Back 28

*coniferous trees are known as evergreens.
*long thin, waxy needles.
*the eax gives them protection from freezing temperatures and drying out
*many wildfires, trees adapted by growing thick bark

Front 29

Animals of the Tiaga

Back 29

*animals tend to be predators like the lynx, and members of the weasel family like wolverines, bobcat, minks and ermine.
*many insects birds come to the tiaga to breed.
*some omnivorous birds like crows stay all year long.

Front 30

Savanna

Back 30

*warm temperatures year round.
*2 different season, winter: very long and dry and summer: is wet

Front 31

Plants of the Savanna

Back 31

*plants must be able to survive long periods without water.
*many plants have large horizontal root systems so they can draw water from a large area.
*grasses have vertical leaves that expose less of their surface to the hot sun which conserves water.
*some tree lose their leaves during the dry season.
*most tree and shrubs have thorns.

Front 32

Animals of the Savanna

Back 32

*most of the animals on the savanna have long legs or wings to be able to go on long migrations.
*many burrow under ground to aboid the heat or raise their young
*perfect place for birds of prey like hawks and buzzards.
*animals do not sweat to lose body heat, they pant
*over 40 different species of hoofed animals

Front 33

savanna

Back 33

*a tropical biome dominated by grasses, shrubs, and small trees.
*located in parts of Africa, western India, Northern Australia, and some parts of South America

Front 34

Weather in Savanna

Back 34

*warm temperatures year round.
*actually 2 different season in savanna, winter is long and dry, summer is very wet

Front 35

Plants of the Savanna

Back 35

*plants must be able to survive prolonged periods without water.
*many plants have a large horizontal root system so they can draw water from a large area
*

Front 36

Temperate Grasslands

Back 36

*covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall, but still too little for trees to grow

Front 37

Temperate Grasslands

Back 37

*covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall, but still too little for trees to grow

Front 38

Animals of the Temperate Grasslands

Back 38

*grazing animals, such as antelope and bison have large, flat back teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
*common grassland predators include coyotes, eagles, bobcats, the gray wolf, wild turkey, geese, and the dung beetle

Front 39

Animals of the Temperate Grasslands

Back 39

*grazing animals, such as antelope and bison have large, flat back teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
*common grassland predators include coyotes, eagles, bobcats, the gray wolf, wild turkey, geese, and the dung beetle

Front 40

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Back 40

*Farming and overgrazing have changed the grasslands
*when grasses are constantly eaten or trampled by grazing animals they cannot regenerate
*constant use can change grasslands into less productive desert-like biomes

Front 41

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Back 41

*Farming and overgrazing have changed the grasslands
*when grasses are constantly eaten or trampled by grazing animals they cannot regenerate
*constant use can change grasslands into less productive desert-like biomes

Front 42

Chapparral

Back 42

*temperate shrubland biome that is found in all 5 parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate
*west coast of the United States, west coast of S. America, the Cape Town area S. Africa,
*dry moderately coastal climates with little or no rain in the summer.

Front 43

Chapparral

Back 43

*temperate shrubland biome that is found in all 5 parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate
*west coast of the United States, west coast of S. America, the Cape Town area S. Africa,
*dry moderately coastal climates with little or no rain in the summer.

Front 44

Plants of the Chaparral

Back 44

*most plants are low lying, evergreen shrubs and small trees that tend to grow in dense patches
*small, leathery leaves that retain water. Leaves promote burning which is an advantage because natural fires destroy trees that compete with chaparral plants for light and space.
*A

Front 45

Plants of the Chaparral

Back 45

*most plants are low lying, evergreen shrubs and small trees that tend to grow in dense patches
*small, leathery leaves that retain water. Leaves promote burning which is an advantage because natural fires destroy trees that compete with chaparral plants for light and space.
*A

Front 46

Temperate Grasslands

Back 46

*covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall, but still too little for trees to grow

Front 47

Temperate Grasslands

Back 47

*covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall, but still too little for trees to grow

Front 48

Temperate Grasslands

Back 48

*covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall, but still too little for trees to grow

Front 49

Animals of the Temperate Grasslands

Back 49

*grazing animals, such as antelope and bison have large, flat back teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
*common grassland predators include coyotes, eagles, bobcats, the gray wolf, wild turkey, geese, and the dung beetle

Front 50

Animals of the Temperate Grasslands

Back 50

*grazing animals, such as antelope and bison have large, flat back teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
*common grassland predators include coyotes, eagles, bobcats, the gray wolf, wild turkey, geese, and the dung beetle

Front 51

Animals of the Temperate Grasslands

Back 51

*grazing animals, such as antelope and bison have large, flat back teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
*common grassland predators include coyotes, eagles, bobcats, the gray wolf, wild turkey, geese, and the dung beetle

Front 52

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Back 52

*Farming and overgrazing have changed the grasslands
*when grasses are constantly eaten or trampled by grazing animals they cannot regenerate
*constant use can change grasslands into less productive desert-like biomes

Front 53

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Back 53

*Farming and overgrazing have changed the grasslands
*when grasses are constantly eaten or trampled by grazing animals they cannot regenerate
*constant use can change grasslands into less productive desert-like biomes

Front 54

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Back 54

*Farming and overgrazing have changed the grasslands
*when grasses are constantly eaten or trampled by grazing animals they cannot regenerate
*constant use can change grasslands into less productive desert-like biomes

Front 55

Chapparral

Back 55

*temperate shrubland biome that is found in all 5 parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate
*west coast of the United States, west coast of S. America, the Cape Town area S. Africa,
*dry moderately coastal climates with little or no rain in the summer.

Front 56

Chapparral

Back 56

*temperate shrubland biome that is found in all 5 parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate
*west coast of the United States, west coast of S. America, the Cape Town area S. Africa,
*dry moderately coastal climates with little or no rain in the summer.

Front 57

Chapparral

Back 57

*temperate shrubland biome that is found in all 5 parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate
*west coast of the United States, west coast of S. America, the Cape Town area S. Africa,
*dry moderately coastal climates with little or no rain in the summer.

Front 58

Plants of the Chaparral

Back 58

*most plants are low lying, evergreen shrubs and small trees that tend to grow in dense patches
*small, leathery leaves that retain water. Leaves promote burning which is an advantage because natural fires destroy trees that compete with chaparral plants for light and space.

Front 59

Plants of the Chaparral

Back 59

*most plants are low lying, evergreen shrubs and small trees that tend to grow in dense patches
*small, leathery leaves that retain water. Leaves promote burning which is an advantage because natural fires destroy trees that compete with chaparral plants for light and space.
*A

Front 60

Plants of the Chaparral

Back 60

*most plants are low lying, evergreen shrubs and small trees that tend to grow in dense patches
*small, leathery leaves that retain water. Leaves promote burning which is an advantage because natural fires destroy trees that compete with chaparral plants for light and space.

Front 61

Temperate Grasslands

Back 61

*covers large areas of the interior of continents, where there is moderate rainfall, but still too little for trees to grow

Front 62

Animals of the Temperate Grasslands

Back 62

*grazing animals, such as antelope and bison have large, flat back teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
*common grassland predators include coyotes, eagles, bobcats, the gray wolf, wild turkey, geese, and the dung beetle

Front 63

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

Back 63

*Farming and overgrazing have changed the grasslands
*when grasses are constantly eaten or trampled by grazing animals they cannot regenerate
*constant use can change grasslands into less productive desert-like biomes

Front 64

Chapparral

Back 64

*temperate shrubland biome that is found in all 5 parts of the world with a Mediterranean climate
*west coast of the United States, west coast of S. America, the Cape Town area S. Africa,
*dry moderately coastal climates with little or no rain in the summer.

Front 65

Plants of the Chaparral

Back 65

*most plants are low lying, evergreen shrubs and small trees that tend to grow in dense patches
*small, leathery leaves that retain water. Leaves promote burning which is an advantage because natural fires destroy trees that compete with chaparral plants for light and space.

Front 66

Deserts

Back 66

*area that widely scattered vegetation and receive very little rain.
*cover at 1/5 of the earth's land surface.