MILLERSPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT 17 TH Chapter

MILLER/SPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT 17 TH Chapter 7 Climate and Biodiversity

Core Case Study: Different Climates Support Different Life Forms • Climate -- long-term temperature and precipitation patterns – determines which plants and animals can live where • Tropical: equator, intense sunlight • Polar: poles, little sunlight • Temperate: in-between tropical and polar

Three Major Climate Zones Fig. 7 -1, p. 147

7 -1 What Factors Influence Climate? • Concept 7 -1 Key factors that determine an area’s climate are incoming solar energy, 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 • Temperature, precipitation, wind speed, cloud cover • Hours to days • Climate • Area’s general pattern of atmospheric conditions over decades and longer

Natural Capital: Generalized Map of the Earth’s Current Climate Zones Fig. 7 -2, p. 149

Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Antarctic Circle Polar (ice) Warm temperate Subarctic (snow) Dry Cool temperate Tropical Highland Major upwelling zones Warm ocean current River Cold ocean current Fig. 7 -2, p. 149

The Earth Has Many Different Climates (2) • Air circulation in lower atmosphere due to 1. 2. 3. Uneven heating of the earth’s surface by sun Rotation of the earth on its axis Properties of air, water, and land • Ocean currents • • Prevailing winds Earth’s rotation Redistribution of heat from the sun Surface currents and deep currents

Global Air Circulation Fig. 7 -3, p. 149

Moist air rises, cools, and releases moisture as rain Polar cap Cold deserts 60°N The highest solar energy input is at the equator. Solar energy 30°N Westerlies Northeast trades Evergreen coniferous forest Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Hot desert Tropical deciduous forest Equator 0° Tropical rain forest Tropical deciduous forest 30°S Warm air rises and moves toward the poles. Hot desert Southeast trades Westerlies Air cools and descends at lower latitudes. Temperate deciduous forest and grassland Cold deserts Air cools and descends at lower latitudes. 60°S Polar cap Fig. 7 -3, p. 149

LOW PRESSURE Cool, dry air HIGH PRESSURE Heat released radiates to space Falls, is compressed, warms Warm, dry air HIGH PRESSURE Condensation and precipitation Rises, expands, cools Flows toward low pressure, picks up moisture and heat Moist surface warmed by sun Hot, wet air LOW PRESSURE Fig. 7 -4, p. 150

Energy Transfer by Convection in the Atmosphere Fig. 7 -4, p. 150

Connected Deep and Shallow Ocean Currents Fig. 7 -5, p. 150

Warm, less salty, shallow current Cold, salty, deep current Fig. 7 -5, p. 150

The Earth Has Many Different Climates (3) • El Niño-Southern Oscillation • Every few years • Prevailing winds in tropical Pacific Ocean change direction • Affects much of earth’s weather for 1 -2 years • Link between air circulation, ocean currents, and biomes

Normal and El Niño Conditions Figure 4, Supplement 7

Impact of El Nino-Southern Oscillation Figure 5, Supplement 7

Greenhouse Gases Warm the Lower Atmosphere • Greenhouse gases • • H 2 O CO 2 CH 4 N 2 O • Natural greenhouse effect • Gases keep earth habitable • Human-enhanced global warming

Flow of Energy to and from the Earth Fig. 3 -4, p. 57

Earth’s Surface Features Affect Local Climates • Differential heat absorption by land water • Land sea breezes • Rain shadow effect • Most precipitation falls on the windward side of mountain ranges • Deserts leeward • Cities create microclimates

Rain Shadow Effect Fig. 7 -6, p. 152

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, causing rain shadow effect. Fig. 7 -6, p. 152

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 Helps Determine Where Organisms Can Live • Major biomes: large land regions with certain types of climate and dominant plant life • Not uniform • Mosaic of patches • Latitude and elevation • Annual precipitation • Temperature

The Earth’s Major Biomes Fig. 7 -7, p. 153

North America Biomes Figure 3, Supplement 8

Generalized Effects of Elevation and Latitude on Climate and Biomes Fig. 7 -8, p. 153

Elevation Mountain ice and snow Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Coniferous Forest Latitude (south to north) Deciduous Forest Tropical Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Polar ice and snow Fig. 7 -8, p. 153

Elevation Mountain ice and snow Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Coniferous Forest Deciduous Forest Latitude Tropical Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tundra (herbs, lichens, mosses) Polar ice and snow Stepped Art Fig. 7 -8, p. 153

Natural Capital: Average Precipitation and Average Temperature as Limiting Factors Fig. 7 -9, p. 154

Cold Arctic tundra Cold desert Evergreen coniferous forest Temperate desert Temperate deciduous forest Chaparral Hot Wet Temperate grassland Tropical desert Tropical rain forest Dry Tropical grassland (savanna) Fig. 7 -9, p. 154

Global Plant Biodiversity Figure 6, Supplement 8

Tropic of Cancer High mountains Equator Polar ice Arctic tundra (cold grassland) Temperate grassland Tropical grassland (savanna) Chaparral Tropic of Capricorn Coniferous forest Temperate deciduous forest Temperate rain forest Tropical dry forest Desert Fig. 7 -7, p. 153

There Are Three Major Types of Deserts 1. Tropical deserts 2. Temperate deserts 3. 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 -10, p. 155

Stepped Art Fig. 7 -10, p. 155

Temperate Desert Ecosystem in North America Figure 1, Supplement 6

Science Focus: Staying Alive in the Desert • Beat the heat/every drop of water counts • Plant adaptations • Succulents • Deep tap roots • Animal strategies and adaptations • Physiology and anatomy • Behavior

Wildflowers Bloom after Rain in Arizona Fig. 7 -A, p. 156

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (1) 1. Tropical 2. Temperate 3. Cold (arctic tundra)

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Grasslands Fig. 7 -11, p. 157

Stepped Art Fig. 7 -11, p. 157

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (2) • Tropical • Savanna • Grazing animals • Browsing animals • Temperate • • Cold winters and hot and dry summers Tall-grass prairies Short-grass prairies Often converted to farmland

Temperate Tall-Grass Prairie Ecosystem in North America Figure 2, Supplement 6

There Are Three Major Types of Grasslands (3) • Arctic tundra: fragile biome • • Plants close to ground to conserve heat Most growth in short summer Animals have thick fur Permafrost • Underground soil that stays frozen • Alpine tundra: above tree line in mountains

Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically Diverse Temperate Grassland Fig. 7 -12, p. 158

Temperate Shrubland: Nice Climate, Risky Place to Live • Chaparral • Near the sea: nice climate • Prone to fires in the dry season

There Are Three Major Types of Forests (1) 1. Tropical 2. Temperate 3. Cold • Northern coniferous and boreal

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Forests Fig. 7 -13, p. 160

Stepped Art Fig. 7 -13, p. 160

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

Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystem Fig. 7 -14, p. 161

Blue and gold macaw Ocelot Harpy eagle Climbing monstera palm Slaty-tailed trogon Squirrel monkeys Katydid Tree frog Green tree snake Snail Ants Bacteria Bromeliad Fungi Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fig. 7 -14, p. 161

Niche Stratification in a Tropical Rain Forest Fig. 7 -15, p. 162

45 Emergent layer Harpy eagle 40 35 Toco toucan Canopy Height (meters) 30 25 20 Understory Wooly opossum 15 10 Brazilian tapir 5 0 Black-crowned antpitta Shrub layer Ground layer Fig. 7 -15, p. 162

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

Temperate Deciduous Forest Ecosystem in North America Figure 4, Supplement 6

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

Evergreen Coniferous Forest Ecosystem in North America Figure 5, Supplement 6

Temperate Rain Forest in Washington State Fig. 7 -16, p. 163

Mountains Play Important Ecological Roles • Majority of the world’s forests • Islands of biodiversity • Habitats for endemic species • Help regulate the earth’s climate • Major storehouses of water • Role in hydrologic cycle

Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State Fig. 7 -17, p. 163

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 -18, p. 165

Natural Capital Degradation Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems Deserts Large desert cities Grasslands Conversion to cropland Forests Clearing for agriculture, livestock Destruction of soil and grazing, timber, and underground habitat by Release of CO 2 to urban development off-road vehicles atmosphere from burning grassland Conversion of diverse Soil salinization from forests to tree irrigation Overgrazing by plantations livestock Depletion of Damage from offgroundwater Oil production and road vehicles off-road vehicles Land disturbance and Pollution of forest in arctic tundra pollution from mineral streams extraction Mountains Agriculture Timber and mineral extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism Air pollution blowing in from urban areas and power plants Soil damage from off-road vehicles Water supplies threatened by glacial melting Fig. 7 -18, p. 165

NATURAL CAPITAL DEGRADATION Major Human Impacts on Terrestrial Ecosystems Deserts Grasslands Forests Large desert cities Conversion to Clearing for agriculture, cropland Soil destruction by off Release of CO 2 livestock grazing, -road vehicles to atmosphere timber, and urban from burning development Soil salinization grassland Conversion of from irrigation diverse forests to Overgrazing tree plantations Depletion of by livestock groundwater Damage from off. Oil production road vehicles Land disturbance and off-road and pollution from vehicles in Pollution of mineral extraction arctic tundra forest streams Mountains Agriculture Timber extraction Mineral extraction Hydroelectric dams and reservoirs Increasing tourism Urban air pollution Increased ultraviolet radiation from ozone depletion Soil damage from off-road vehicles Stepped Art Fig. 7 -18, p. 165

Three Big Ideas 1. Differences in climate, based mostly on long-term differences in average temperature and precipitation, largely determine the types and locations of the earth’s deserts, grasslands, and forests. 2. The earth’s terrestrial systems provide important ecological and economic services.

Three Big Ideas 3. Human activities are degrading and disrupting many of the ecological and economic services provided by the earth’s terrestrial ecosystems.