Why are natural ecosystems important Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Resources Text book page 98 -100 Worksheet grids to complete Main skills • Visual literacy – describing the global distribution of these biomes • Interpreting & explaining a climate graph Links to the spec • 4. 1 Understand the concept of an ecosystem being the interdependence of climate, soil, water, plants and animals • 4. 1 Understanding the global distribution of these two biomes and an overview of the climate, flora and fauna within these ecosystems A Act SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Understanding the features of the world’s tropical grasslands & temperate grasslands. Learning Objectives: • To describe and explain the distribution and characteristics (flora & fauna) of the world’s tropical grasslands ecosystems • To describe and explain the distribution and characteristics (flora & fauna) of the world’s temperate grasslands ecosystems SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Review - with your neighbour Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Around the equator – in • Describe the global location of tropical Amazonia, Congo, Indonesia. rainforests Very hot and very wet (humid) all year round. • Describe the general climate of the Overhead sun, high rainforest evaporation rates, convection • Explain why they are located there currents, daily rain. • Name the 4 layers of the rainforest Emergents, canopy, under canopy, shrub layer. ecosystem Hard wood • Describe the typical flora & fauna found in trees, epiphytes, lianas, insects + many more. the rainforest. A living rock (exoskeleton) – • What is coral? formed around polyps. • What conditions are needed for coral to Clear, warm, shallow water. form? CL • Why are coral reef ecosystems described Because they are so productive and diverse. as the ‘rainforest of the oceans’? Criteria for Learning SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Tropical grassland ecosystem aka - savannah SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Why are natural ecosystems important? Where are tropical grasslands located? Venezuela Brazilian Highlands Central Africa Parts of north Australia Tasks: • Mark on your map the location of the world’s tropical grasslands. • Draw a line to show the position of the Equator & label. SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, • Describe the distribution of tropical grasslands. temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Example. Tropical grasslands (savannah) are found between latitudes 5 and 30 north and south of the equator. The main regions of the world are parts of central Africa surrounding the Congo Basin, parts of Venezuela, the Brazilian Highlands and parts of northern Australia. SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands What is the climate like? With your neighbour – identify the distinctive features of this climate? Minimum temp is still very warm (20) Long dry season (Low rainfall & drought October to May) Two ‘peaks’ of high temperature Short wet season (heavy rain June to Sept. Task: Describe the tropical grassland climate. Refer to temperature max, min, range and amount of rainfall. SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Why does the tropical grassland have this climate? The pattern of seasonal rain is all to do with the movement of the overhead sun. The sun does not remain over the equator all year. It migrates north to the Tropic of Cancer (overhead on 21 June), back to the equator and south to the Tropic of Capricorn (overhead on 21 December). The overhead sun brings low pressure. This is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) or heat equator and brings heavy rain. Therefore places north of the equator will have rain in May to Sept and a dry season for the rest of the year when the sun has migrated to the southern hemisphere. Take it further Task: Explain why tropical grasslands have a short rainy season and a long 19/01/2022 SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, dry drought, herbivore, carnivore, season. temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes
Sustainable Ecosystems What flora and fauna are found in. Understanding tropical grasslands? tropical grasslands and Why are natural ecosystems important? temperate grasslands Flora: Plants have to adapt to the short rainy season and to the long dry season. The Baobab Tree This means they have to store water when available and be resistant to drought (xerophytic) and high Very few branches temperatures. and spikey leaves to An example is the baobab tree. reduce moisture loss Thick trunk and bark, to store and retain moisture Very long roots, to access water deep in the ground Fauna: The grasslands are home to many plant eaters (herbivores) and carnivores. 19/01/2022 SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, Task: Choose one plant e. g. baobab and explain how it has adapted to the climate. temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Temperate grassland ecosystem aka - savannah SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Why are natural ecosystems important? Where are temperate grasslands located? The prairies of N. America Steppes of Asia Argentine Pampas Veldt of S. Africa Tasks: Mark on your map the location of the world’s temperate grasslands. • Describe distribution of temperate SPG temperate, ITCZ, the heat equator, savannah, drought, grasslands. herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands What is the climate like? With your neighbour – identify the distinctive features of this climate? Most rain in summer Very high summer temperature Winter precipitation may be snow Very cold winter temperature (below freezing) Task: Describe the climate of temperate grasslands. Refer to temperature max, min, range and amount of rainfall. SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands Why do temperate grasslands have this climate? Despite the name ‘temperate’, these grasslands tend to have a more extreme climate. Winters are cold and summers are hot. Why? The main reason is that these biomes are inland, away from the moderating influence of the sea. In summer the land warms up and temperature become very high. In winter the land cools down and temperature tend to fall below freezing. This is typical of a ‘continental’ type climate Task: Explain why temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes 19/01/2022
Why are natural ecosystems important? Sustainable Ecosystems Understanding tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands What flora and fauna are found in temperate grasslands? Flora: The growing season is limited to summer. Grasses will not be as tall as those in tropical climates. Fauna: The grasses provide a habitat for herbivores such as – kangaroo (Australia), bison (N. America) and antelope (S. Africa) Carnivores include coyotes, wolves and large birds such as eagles and hawks. https: //www. youtube. com/watc h? v=9 FM 7 TXwg. Vs. I 19/01/2022 SPG temperate, ITCZ, heat equator, savannah, drought, herbivore, carnivore, Task: Explain why tropical grasslands have a short rainy season and a long dry season. temperate, prairies, veldt, pampas, steppes
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