Biome Project
May 2013
BIOME:
TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST
Biology HL 11 Pd 2 | Min A Kim
5 ZONES IN TROPICAL DECIDUOUS FOREST (HIGHEST TO LOWEST)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
a tree stratum, 60 -100 feet high a small tree or sapling layer a shrub layer an herb layer of perennial forbs a ground layer of lichens and true mosses
Climograph
Average annual temperature: 50° F
-Relationship between rainfall (mm) and temperature (°C)
Average annual rainfall: 20 to 60 inches or 0.5 to 1.5 meters Average monthly precipitation ranges between 7.6cm and 9.1 cm.
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/ecosystems/deciduous_woodlands_rev1 .shtml)
LOCATION IN THE WORLD Can be found in: • Eastern half of North America • Middle of Europe • Australia • New Zealand [ http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/images/deciduous/deciduous_500.jpg]
Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year
Vegetation: Broadleaf trees, oaks, maples, beeches, shrubs, perennial herbs, and mosses Animal Characteristics:
-Most animals are camouflaged -Adapt to seasonal changes by: Mammals hibernating during winter and being active during other three seasons Birds migrating to warmer places during winter -Use trees as shelter and as food and water supply
Energy Web:
Important Notes:
-‐ Energy transformation is never 100% efficient -‐ Usually energy is only 10% to 20% efficient because not everything is consumed -‐ More than 80% of energy is used for metabolism thorough heat & respiration
Relationships in TDF:
(http://home.adelphi.edu/~ca17518/ForestBiomesrev.html) Energy Pyramid:
Mutualism-‐Bees & Flowers As bees travel from flowers and collect nectar, they pick up pollen grains with their legs. The pollen grains are transferred onto stigma which pollinates plants and permit them to reproduce. Commensalism-‐Tree & Squirrels Squirrels live in existing cavities in trees so they are provided with shelter and do not harm the tree. Parasitism-‐Fungi & Tree Fungus called L. Cincinnatus grows on trees and breaks them down for nutrients, making trees weak and vulnerable. Competition-‐Cougar & Bear They both hunt for fish and deer.
Human Influences & Consequences Deforestation -Less than ¼ of the original size is left -Only regions where farming is impractical are left untouched Urbanization -More land is being used for houses and farms -Disrupts habitats of organisms -Humans try to prevent forest fires which are vital for natural succession of a forest Water Pollution -Water from Great Lakes was polluted (US and Canada) -Environment’s health and wildlife’s health are affected Air Pollution -Pollutants from soil poison the soil
(http://inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/d_fore st/td_forest.htm)
Increased levels of acid rain -Damages leaves and inhibits production of fruits and flowers -Reduces trees’ ability to resist frost, fungi, and deadly diseases and pests Mining -The entire region is destroyed to get to the rock underneath -Plants do not re-grow due to destroyed and depleted soil -Reduces forest’s ability to regenerate Global warming -Temperature rise reduces amount of rainfall -Reduces forest’s ability to regenerate Consequences: -Constant reduction of habitat of organisms -Less regeneration of plants -Species in danger of extinction -Disrupted food chain and food web
Bibliography:
"Deciduous Forest Biome." Blue Planet Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_f orest.htm>.
"Deciduous Woodlands." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geo graphy/ecosystems/deciduous_woodlands_rev1. shtml>.
"Earth Floor: Biomes." Exploring the Environment. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earth sysflr/dforest.html>.
"Temperate Deciduous Forest : Biomes." Earth Observatory. NASA, n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Experiments/ Biome/biotemperate.php>.
"Temperate Deciduous Forest." Marietta College. Marietta College, n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tempd ed.htm>.
the
Shrubland Se Young Lee
Shrubland Around The World
What is Shrubland? Shrubland is a biome in which where the plants are mostly characterized by shrubs, grasses and herbs. They are mostly located in West coastal regions and are usually surrounded by grasslands or desserts.
Temperature/ Precipitation (Climograph) The temperature in Shrubland is temperate and it rains about 200mm to 1000mm per year. During most of the day times, it goes up to 100 Fâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or above and during night times, it cools down until 30 Fâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.
Climograph of Shrubland per Year Temperature ('C)/ Precipitation (mm)
70 60 50
Series2
40
Precipitation
30 Series1
20
Temperature
10 0 Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Months of the Year
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
THE LOREM IPSUMS
SPRING 2016
Vegetation Shrubland contains mostly short trees or bush-like plants. This is because there is not enough precipitation for the tall trees to grow. Since it is an open area, there are grasses growing in between the short plants. Because there is little rain in this area, the plants have mostly needle-like leaves to save water. Some plants have an ability to resist fire and survive from fires that occur frequently during the dry season. There are generally aromatic herbs, shrubs and grasses.
5 common plants •
Sagebrush
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Orchid
•
Acacia
•
Oak
•
Grass tree
Animals Since it is an open space in Shrubland and is very easily visible any moving organisms, many animals in Shrubland are adapted to live and survive in this area. Therefore, there are various animals that live on the low-lying floral landscapes.
5 common animals
2
•
Jackrabbit
•
Grey Fox
•
Ground squirrel
•
Coyote
•
Elk
THE LOREM IPSUMS
SPRING 2016
Food Web
Energy Pyramid
Heat energy gets lost to the environment through cell respiration and energy is also loss because of not consumed materials, deaths and excretion. 3
THE LOREM IPSUMS
SPRING 2016
Species Relationships/Interactions Parasitism
Competitive
Parasitism is a relationship between individuals of different species where one individual benefits and the other is harmed. Cuterebrid parasitism interacts with Shrubland mice. The cuterebrid parasitism benefits from hosts because they live inside the mouse and grow and reproduce while the mouse gets harmed and die due to the controlled vital organs by the parasitism.
Competition is a species interaction that occurs when two or more organisms attempt to exploit the same limited resource. A competition exists everywhere, including Shrubland. One example of this interaction is between grass (Stipagrostis brevifolia) and succulent shrub (Ruschia robusta). Because both of the roots of these plants shared similar kind of potential soil, there is always a competition going on, to offspring as much as they can.
Commensalism Commensalism is a relationship between two organisms where one benefits without harming the other. This is found between the Red-winged Blackbird and Torrey Pine because the Red-winged Blackbird feeds from the seeds of Torrey Pine but does not harm nor help the Torrey Pine at all.
Mutualism Mutualism is a relationship between individuals of different species where both work together and benefit. This occurs between the Blue Oak and Sagebrush since they both work together to produce oxygen and help the vegetation growth without harming or overpowering each other.
How humans affect Shrubland Many of Shrublands turn into commercial property or place to grow grains because Shrublands have a good area to make good agricultural farm and croplands. Because of this, many Shrublands disappear and the overall size of this biome shrinks, reducing the habitats where the animals can live and where the plants can grow and disrupts the growth and offspring of many organisms in this area. Many urban growths lead to the interruption of the habitats of many organisms and as a result it accelerates extinction of various species, including plants and animals. The extinction also occurs because of humans hunting the species to extinction or near to extinction and removes many species from the food chain and this also weakens the environmental response of the biome and makes it more susceptible to disasters. If this continues to happen, there will no be enough Shrublands for plants, animals and even humans. People who depend their living on any of the activities like growing crops or hunting will eventually arrive to the end where no organisms are available and loose their jobs. Also because of the interruption of food chains, there will be more competition and many animals will disrupt human habitats and may harm humans for them to survive. 4
THE LOREM IPSUMS
SPRING 2016 Works Cited
"Competitive Interactions between Grass and Succulent Shrubs at the Ecotone between an Arid Grassland and Succulent Shrubland in the Karoo." EBSCO Host. N.p., n.d. Web. "Flickriver: Most Interesting Photos Tagged with Jackrabbit." Flickriver: Most Interesting Photos Tagged with Jackrabbit. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. Lacoma, Tyler. "What Are Environmental Problems in Temperate Shrublands? | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 27 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 May 2013. "Lloyd’s Blog." : Lessons from the Grey Fox. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. "Semidesert Shrublands Life Zones Through the Seasons." Semidesert Shrublands Life Zones Through the Seasons. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. "Shrubland (관목지)." 본바탕으로돌아가라. N.p., n.d. Web. "Shrubland : Mission: Biomes." Shrubland : Mission: Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. "The Shrubland Biome." Smore. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013. "Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand." 1. New Zealand's Shrublands and Scrub – Shrublands –. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2013.
5
Danika Cuglievan
The Tropical Rainforest The tropical rainforests is a region located close to the equator, where tall green trees grow and there is a high temperature every day of the year. A bit more than half rainforests are located in Latin America (Brazil having 1/3 of it). Map showing where the biome is located in the world: Key: Distribution of rainforest in the world
Rainfall and temperature: • The average monthly rainfall in the rainforest varies between 166mm (high) and 145mm as a low rainfall. • The average temperature in the tropical rainforest during the day varies normally between 20 °C and 34°C, however at nigh, the temperature decreases between 16°C and 28°C. Climograph showing the relationship between rainfall and temperature in Costa Rica
Danika Cuglievan Â
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There are 5 different layers in the rainforest vegetation: 5. Emergent layer: Isolated trees, higher than canopy trees. 4. Canopy layer: The predominant trees found in this biome. 3. Understory: Medium height trees 2. Shrub layer: It is the densest plant growth. 1. Forest floor: Lowest layer which receives 2% of sunlight. Common plants: Banana tree, bamboo, seeds, coconut trees and orchids. Animals found in the tropical rainforest: Most animals in the tropical rainforest are mammals and birds, however there are also reptiles, insects and amphibians. Lots of these animals have a tail, such as monkeys that use their tail to hold or grasp from the trees, they also have bright colors and have sharp patterns and eat a variety of fruits. Common animals: Monkeys, insects, macaws, parrots and python. Food web found in the tropical rainforest: Python Parrots
Macaws
Banana tree
Monkeys
Bamboo
Insects
Coconut trees
Orchids
Seeds
Danika Cuglievan
Energy pyramid:
T3- secondary consumer T1- producer
T2- primary consumer
Python
Energy is lost as heat to the environment
Macaw
Coconut trees *Note: When the trophic level changes to a higher trophic level, 10-20% of energy is only available as food. Mutualism: They are very common in this biome. An example is a hummingbird pollinating a flower, therefore the flower benefits and the hummingbird receives nectar in return. This relationship happens so both organisms benefit. Commensalism: Ecitoninae (New World army ants) inhabiting the rainforest floor and antbirds is one of the best examples in this biome. These ants tend to take anything that comes in their path while marching in the floor, however when they are done, the antbirds feed on what is left of the ants share. The antbirds get benefited but the army ants don’t. Parasitism: The best example for this biome is the dependence of phorid fly on leaf-cutter ants. When the ants collect the leaves, the flies attack them laying their eggs in the cervices of the working ant’s head. After the egg hatches, the larvae gets into the ants body and feeds on and this way killing the ant. Here one can see how the flies are benefited from the leaf cutter ants, but the ants have to put up with their dependence. Competitive: Mostly mammals such as monkeys compete for food in the tropical rainforest biome. Gorillas and the lar gibbons are leave, fruit and bark eaters, however the orangutan and spider monkey can live by eating fruits, nuts, seeds and insects.
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Danika Cuglievan Â
Pollution in the tropical rainforest: There are many different factors contributing to having a polluted tropical rainforest. Among these factors, the water and air from this biome is being polluted. Water and air are two essential elements, which maintain humans alive, because without these resources people would not exist. So what are we doing to our biome? Water is being polluted in different ways, either by industrial waste, sewage, man made contaminates among others. This kills vegetation and animals having as a consequence extinction of animals and also food chains broken down. In the future, the tropical rainforest will come to and end; vegetation and animals will be killed because of our lack of taking care of our different biomes. Air pollution is also causing an impact in the tropical rainforest. Acid rain has increased in this biome due to the fact that during these last decades, industrialization has increased therefore affecting the tropical rainforest environment. In the future, illnesses will increase and the death rate in this biome will definitely affect people living near that area. Plants will also suffer consequences because of this human impact.
Danika Cuglievan
Works Cited: Bonintik. Tropical Rainforest Distribution in the World. 2009. Photograph. N.p. "Where Are Rainforests Located?" Where Are Rainforests Located? Missouri Botanical Garden, 2002. Web. 20 May 2013. "Tropical Rainforests :: Close to Mother Nature." Tropical Rainforests :: Close to Mother Nature. N.p., 2006. Web. 22 May 2013. Alvaro Davila Oviedo. "Costa Rica Tropical Rainforest." Costs Rica 21. Costa Rica 21 S.A, 2011. Web. Charles Welch. Earthly Issues. 2013. Photograph. N.p. Michael G. "Rainforest Biomes." Rainforest Biomes. N.p., 2001. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm>. Khan, Dr. Sumaiya. "Symbiotic Relationships in the Rainforest." Buzzle.com. Buzzle.com, 30 Nov. 2010. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/symbiotic-relationships-in-therainforest.html>. "Role of Water in the Rainforest - MyHydros.org | All About Water | What Is Water | Water Quality | Water Pollution." Role of Water in the Rainforest MyHydros.org | All About Water | What Is Water | Water Quality | Water Pollution. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://myhydros.org/featured/roleof-water-in-the-rainforest/>.
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
Temperature & Rainfall
Because of earth's tilt, the taiga is turned away from the sun in the winter. Less of the sun's radiation reaches the ground to warm it up therefore the temperature in the Boreal Forest ( Taiga) for the most part is dominates by cold arctic air from the Arctic Circle: the temperatures fall even more on clear nights when there is no cloud cover. Temperature range : -54 to 21째 C, winter last for around six o seven months while summer is rainy hot and short season in the taiga, fall is the shortest season and spring brings flowers and the frozen ponds melt, animals also come out of hibernation.In winter it may reach up to - 50 C, In summer to around 50째 F while autumn and spring pass rapidly. Fewer than 4 months have an average temperature over 10째 C. The taiga climate has an average annual rainfall of 12 - 33 inches (30 - 84 cm), most of it falls in the summer as rain.
*Climograph showing the relationship between rainfall and temperature in the boreal forest (taiga)
Vegetation & Characteristics of Animals •
Conical shape - Promotes shedding of snow and prevents loss of branches.
•
Needleleafs - Narrow leaves decrease surface area reducing the amount of water loss through transpiration (in winter especially since water is frozen). The needles of boreal conifers also have thick waxy coating which prevents dehydration of plant leaves.
•
Evergreen habit - Retention of foliage allows plants to photosynthesize as soon as temperatures permit in spring, rather than having to waste time in the short growing season merely growing leaves. Evergreens in the taiga tend to be thin and grow close together. This gives them protection from the cold and wind.
•
Dark color - the dark green of spruce and fir needles helps the foliage absorb maximum heat from the sun and begin photosynthesis as early as possible.
•
Soil - Podzolization occurs as a result of the acid soil solution produced under needleleaf trees. The main soil order associated with the taiga is spodosol.
•
Animals - Tend to be predators like the lynx and members of the weasel family like wolverines, bobcat, minks and ermine. They hunt herbivores like snowshoe rabbits, red squirrels and voles. Red deer, elk, and moose can be found in regions of the taiga where more deciduous trees grow.
5 common plants: • Balsam Fir • Genus: Abies • Species: balsamea • Needleleaf • Coniferous (gymnosperm) trees. • Tree Lichens • Tree seeds ( Black Spruce seeds) • Berries
*Information taken from: http://www.blueplanetbiom es.org/taiga_animal_page.ht m
5 common animals: • Red Squirrels • Owls • American Black Bear • Genus: Ursus • Specie: Americanus Snow shoe Rabbit • • Genus: Lepus • Specie: Americanus • Bobcat • Genus: felis • Specie: rufus • Red Fox • Genus: Vulpes • Specie: Vulpes
Food web
Tree seeds (Black Spruce)
Berries
Tree Sedges (Plants) Producer Black Bear Tertiary Consumers: Humans, American Bear
T3
3 • Red Squirrels
Secondary Consumers: Owls, Red Fox, Bobcat, Fishers SnowFishers shoe Rabbit T4 -2
10 kJ m yr
-1
10 kJ m-2 yr-1
Primary Consumers: Red Squirrel, Snowshoe Rabbit 3° Consumers T1 • American Black Rabbit Bear Producers: Berries, Lichens Consumers Bobcat Red Fox
-2 -1 Owls 0 kJ m yr
kJ m-2 yr-1 kJ m-2 yr-1 J m-2 yr-1 m-2 yr-1
energy m yr -2
Detritives
-2
2
-1
3° Consumers
T4
yr-1
100 kJ m-2 yr-1
yr-1
T3 2° Consumers
yr-1 yr-1
1° Consumers Producer
1
100 kJ m-2 yr-1 -2
-1
1000 kJ m-2 yr-1 10000 kJ m-2 yr-1
pyramid
T2
r-1 -1
10 kJ m-2 yr-1
T1
1째 C
Tertiary Consumers: Humans, American Black Bear Secondary Consumers: Owls, Red Fox, Bobcat, Fishers Primary Consumers: Red Squirrel, Snowshoe Rabbit Producers: Berries, Lichens
Mutualism: Lichens, composed of fungi and algae. The fungi uses its spongy threads that protect the algae which has chlorophyll which produces the food. Commensalism: Lichens and coniferous tree, Lichens do not harm trees but receive its nutrients from the air and rainfall, they are able of receiving more sunlight by growing on the branches. Parasitism: Bald Eagles and coniferous trees, with the broken branches of trees the bald eagle builds its nests. Competative: Bear, tries to catch as many prays as it can so that it can go into hibernation. ANother example could be in winter when food becomes scarce wolves, lynx and bobcats who have similar diets compete with one to catch their preys.
Exploration of oil and the development of natural gas reserves is one of the major threats which we can find in the Taiga region, Deforestation and global warming is included in this. We can clearly see this in places such as in Russia and Canada where just in a century there have been increases of temperature of about 5 to 10째 C, in the boreal forest (taiga) regions. All of this is due to logging, burning of fossil fuels, the greenhouse effect and industrial production without any filters increases global warming, if theses things continue to have such a great effect on the forest then over the next century many trees will begin to die and this will cause the extinction of many animals Sources: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga_animal_page.htm http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/taiga.html
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/serdarbasak/serdarbasak1108/serdarbasak110800166/11035492needle-leaf-pine-tree-detail.jpg
World Climate Organization
Tundra Janice Macarachvili
Location • • • •
The tundra is the world's coldest and driest biome Almost all tundra’s are located in the Northern Hemisphere The tundra covers about 20% of the Earth's surface Tundra has two variations: -Arctic Tundra: which can be found near or north of the Arctic Circle around the North Pole as well as the Northern portions of Canada, Alaska, Greenland and the United States -Alpine tundra: can be found at high altitudes on mountains where trees don’t grow
Climate • • •
•
The tundra has a cold and dry climate The main seasons are winter and summer In the fall, the arctic tundra's sun disappears below the horizon and does not rise for 66 days The average annual temperature is -12° C and -6° C
Winter: • • •
In the tundra, winters are long, cold and dark Nights can last for weeks when the sun barely rises Average annual temperatures range between -57° C and -6° C
Summer: • •
During the summer, the sun shines almost 24 hours a day Temperatures range between 3° C up to 10° C
THE LOREM IPSUMS
INVIERNO 2012
Rainfall • • • •
•
The tundra is like a dessert when involving precipitation Only about 6 - 10 inches of precipitation (mostly snow) fall each year. Precipitation is concentrated in the summer months July receives the most precipitation for inland stations and August for most coastal stations The Alpine tundra gets more rain than the Arctic tundra
Vegetation • • •
Animals • • •
•
• •
•
•
•
•
There is a low biodiversity of species in the tundra There are only 48 species of land mammals are found on the tundra The most common species found in the tundra are polar bears, grizzly bear, arctic fox, snow owls, musk ox, and caribou These animals have a thick fur coat, which serve as protection from cold temperatures and have broad and furry feet, which makes it easier for them to walk on the frozen snow. Most of the animal species either hibernate or migrate during the period of freezing winters Mosquitoes can keep themselves from freezing by replacing the water in their bodies with glycerol which works like an antifreeze and allows them to survive under the snow Some animals have the ability to accumulate thick deposits of fat during the short growing season, which acts as insulation and as a store of energy for use during the winter Birds have a thick insulating cover of feathers or fur and pelage and plumage that turns white in winter, brown in summer Alpine tundra animals also have to be specially 5
• •
•
•
•
There is barely any vegetation in the tundra: about 1,700 different species There are mostly shrubs, sedges, mosses, lichens and grasses There are no trees and about 400 varieties of flowers Tundra plants can grow at temperatures of 15ºC to 20ºC Plants have adapted to survive the extreme cold weather Most plants are small and low because of the lack of nutrients in the soil, and also being close to the dark, warmth, absorbent soil helps to keep them from freezing Some plants are dark which help them absorb solar heat, and also have hairs, which help trap the heat and keep it close to their surface Several plant species have red color pigmentation that helps them in absorbing more sunlight Some plants grow in clumps in order to break harsh winds
THE LOREM IPSUMS
INVIERNO 2012
5 common plants and 5 common animals found in the Tundra Plants Lichen Liverwort Caribou moss Grasses Arctic Willow
Food Web
5
Animals Lemming Caribou Pika Arctic Fox Polar Bear
THE LOREM IPSUMS
INVIERNO 2012
Energy Pyramid T= Trophic Level Polar Bear T4
Tertiary consumer- 1 kJ/m2/yr2
Energy lost as heat through respiration
Arctic Fox T3
Secondary consumer- 10 kJ/m2/yr2 Lemming
T2
Primary consumer- 100 kJ/m2/yr2
Lichen T1
Producer- 1000 kJ/m2/yr2
Arctic Tundra Climograph:
"Arctic Climate." Climate, Vegetation and Scenery. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.scalloway.org.uk/clim5.htm>. 5
Relationships in the Tundra Mutualism Lichen plants Lichen plants are composed of fungus and alga. The alga lives within the hyphae of the fungus and photosynthesize. This way it provides the plant with sugars and oxygen. The fungus provides protection to the alga and collects water and salts for their cells. This way, both organisms rely on one another by providing resources beneficial to each other.
Commensalism Arctic fox and Caribou
Parasitism
The caribou and arctic fox are an example of this type of relationship. The Arctic fox follows the Caribou when searching for food. When the Caribou digs the ground snow to find food, it digs up the soil and exposes some subnivean mammals which whom the Arctic fox eats. This way both organisms benefit, without affecting each other.
Tapeworm and Caribou The liver tapeworm cysts stay and grow in the body of animals such as the Caribou. When the tapeworm is in the larval stage, it lives within the Caribou, feeding on its liver, causing scars and malnutrition in the body of the Caribou. This way, the tapeworm receives benefits from the Caribou, causing damage to it.
Competition Caribou and Musk Ox The Caribou and Musk Ox typically obtain energy from the same source since both feed on lichen, berries, sedges and grasses. If food is scarce, the Musk Ox may begin to compete for food with the caribou. There may also be occasions where both fight for territory.
How humans have influenced the environment Unwise development The tundra is a very fragile environment since plants and animals have a hard time managing the extremely cold temperatures and extra disturbances such as human development, which drastically affects the environment. People have constructed buildings and roads, which put pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt, and the fragile soil composition to ruin, which takes decades to recover. The melting of the permafrost causes changes in species’ timing of breeding as well as prey availability, and as a consequence, some animal’s movements to feeding have been disrupted and even in some cases, animals have starved. Additionally, when animals try to pass through a town, they are often scared away or shot. Plants are also damaged from buildings and without plant cover, the tundra’s soil washes away. Without plant life to contain the soil, the tundra's land cannot support life and the entire biome will be destroyed. Present studies report the effect on building of roads in the tundra vegetation. “Vegetation data collected on the 2001 and 2002 ice road traces showed significant impacts from physical and thermal (freezing) damage to grasses, shrubs, forbs, and bryophytes, with the most significant impacts occurring to cotton grass (Eriophorum vaginatum)”
Social Impact Native people inhabit Arctic regions and depend on plants and animals to survive since they feed off of lemmings, caribou, herbs, seals, salt and freshwater fish, whales, berries, and walrus. If the food chain is disrupted, and animals suffer from starving or are killed, native people won’t have possible food sources to survive and their population will reduce. Building on permafrost can incur a significant cost for the future. This is why people will have to reduce physical disturbance to the environment by limiting road and building constructions, mining activities, and the building of pipelines. Other possible actions will be to establish protected areas to restrict human influence. Oil and natural gas are present in this biome, which is important for human development. Furthermore, the tundra plays a vital role in keeping global temperatures stable by absorbing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This biome is a winter home for many animals and if they disappear from the food chain, other species would be greatly affected. Due to this, humans need to take consideration and protect the environment in order to have stable global temperatures in the near future and global biodiversity.
Works Cited "Alpine Biome." Alpine Biome. Blue Planet, n.d. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm>. "Arctic Climate." Climate, Vegetation and Scenery. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013. <http://www.scalloway.org.uk/clim5.htm>. "[Biomes." ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/text/impact/impact.tundra.html>. "Food Chain on the Arctic Tundra." Food Chain on the Arctic Tundra. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://umdrive.memphis.edu/g-sig/www/foodchain-arctictundra.htm>. Glossmanz, Carrie. "Parasitism in the Tundra | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 27 Jan. 2010. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/facts_5924575_parasitism-tundra.html>. "Tundra Animals." Tundra Animals. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://www.tundraanimals.net/>. "Tundra." Biomes of the World. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2013. <https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=89>. "Tundra Food Pyramid." Tutorvista.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2013. <http://www.tutorvista.com/biology/tundra-food-pyramid>.
Biome Project – The Tropical Rainforest Map showing where the tropical rainforest biome can be found on Earth:
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Rainforests occupy only 6% of the land on Earth and are located in tropical regions, namely regions close to the equator.
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The average temperature found in rainforests is 26°C, although it can range from a low of 16°C (night) to a high of 34°C (day) while maintaining between 77% 88% humidity.
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Rainforests experience precipitation throughout the year (over 100 inches per year) and experience very short dry seasons or seasons in which the average amount of rainfall decreases.
Average monthly temperature (째C) and rainfall (mm/month) found in rainforests: Temperature (째C) High
Low
Day
34
20
Night
28
16
Rainfall (mm/month) High
Low
167
145
Relationship between rainfall and temperature of a rainforest (Iquitos, Peru):
The flora and fauna found in this region varies greatly. Angiosperms, bryophytes, vines, fungi, buttresses and epiphytes can all be found within the rainforest, creating extremely diverse and dense vegetation. This is possible due to the abundance of water (from rain) and availability of fertile soil on which the vegetation can thrive. All of these plants are leafy and green and are those which are suitably adapted to hot and humid conditions Typically, the flora in rainforests form several layers such as the upper canopy, understory and forest floor. The different plants found at different levels are all adapted such that they can compete with other organisms for nutrients, water and sunlight. A variety of animals including various types of mammals (big cats, monkeys, etc.), reptiles (snakes, caimans, crocodiles), amphibians (frogs), arthropods (insects such as butterflies, ants, etc.) and birds can be found in the rainforest too. Much like the flora, the fauna of this biome is also well suited to warm and humid conditions.
Common plants and animals found in rainforests: Common Plants Banana Trees Papaya Trees Bamboo Coconut Trees Orchids
Common Animals Wild Boar Jaguars Millipedes Monkeys Macaws Jaguar
Wild Boar
Monkey
Coconut Trees
Bamboo
Millipedes
Orchids
Papaya Trees
Macaw
Banana Trees
At T1, the Energy pyramid starts with a certain amount of energy, for example 2 x 103 KJ/m2/y (as shown above). As the energy moves to each consecutive tropic level, approximately 90% is lost through factors such as cell respiration and heat via feces, etc. Therefore only approximately10% is passed on through each tropic level.
Relationships formed between organisms Mutualism – In the rainforest, mutualism is noticed between ants and certain species of fungi in a relationship known as Ant-Fungal mutualism. Here, ants cultivate fungus and also cut leaves from other trees and plants on which the fungi feed. In return for this protection and food provision, the fungus will provide the ants with nutrients. Parasitism – Fig trees are commonly found in rainforests. A particular species known as the strangler fig acts as a parasite upon other trees by growing on their branches. The roots of this tree penetrate deep into the ground and around the roots of the host tree, thus stealing it’s water and nutrient sources and killing the roots of the host. Commensalism – Bromeliads are angiosperms that are commonly found in rainforests. These grow and live on plants as well as on frogs. Through this, the frog receives shelter. However, this does not benefit the bromeliad. Human influence on Tropical Rainforests The rainforest has been used by humans for centuries as a habitat and for obtaining several essential resources that are used in medicines and that make cash crops. However, over time, humans have severely depleted this biome through excess use, deforestation and pollution caused by industrialism. The excess exploitation of rainforest resources has led to a fall in the availability of these resources (this is true for various herbs and tree species) such that they are not easily available anymore. Human beings have failed to sustain the environment to ensure that it is preserved and is available for future generations. With an increase in demand for these resources from the forest and in order to commercialize, much of the rainforest is being overexploited and deforestation (clearing of trees and other vegetation) had been occurring. This had negative consequences on the fauna in the biome as their natural habitat is being destroyed. Over time, various species that do not have the ability to easily adapt may become extinct or competition for living space increases, leading to the death of the weaker species. Moreover, with the destruction of plants, the carbon dioxide levels on the planet increase as there are not as many plants converting the carbon dioxide into oxygen. This, in turn, leads to an enhanced greenhouse gas effect, which once again has negative consequences on living organisms, and increases the chance of the spread of infection and disease. The increased industrialism and increase in worldwide pollution levels has also led to depletion of the nutrients available in the soil in this biome. Because of this, the flora found in the rainforest does not thrive as well as it once used to. Due to the intricate food webs that all begin with these producers; all subsequent members of the web (primary, secondary and tertiary consumers) are also negatively affected. Moreover, pollution of water (high levels of mercury and other toxins) has had a devastating effect on organisms living in the water and on humans that depend on fish for food.
Temperate grasslands Where are temperate grasslands located in the world? Temperate grasslands are usually located in the centers of continents, 30 degrees North and South from equator. Maps: In the first map below one can • North America see where the temperate grasslands o Prairies of the Central Lowlands and High Plains are located in the world, represented found in the United States and Canada by the color yellow. In the second map one can see where the grasslands are • In Eurasia o Steppes found in Ukraine, Russia and Mongolia located in the world in relation to the other biomes as well as where they • South America are in regards with the equator. o Pampas of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil • Veldts of South Africa • Pustzas of Hungary
Climate… •
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Temperature: o Summer can exceed 100 F o Winter as low as -‐40 F Precipitation: o Average of 20-‐35 inches of rainfall a year o 50 -‐150 mm per month o Some seasons have less rainfall and thus suffer from droughts which is the main reason for which grasses remain dominant in this biome rather than larger trees. Light: Around 14 – 18 hours each day
The map to the left shows different climographs for different temperate grasslands around the world showing the relationship between their temperatures and rainfall. As can be seen in the picture, both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, as temperature rises, so does the amount of precipitation. However, the seasons are opposite in the Southern hemisphere than in the Northern hemisphere, as when temperature rises in the temperate grasslands in the North, it drops in
Vegetation and animal characteristics… Plants: Since there are low levels of precipitation annually in temperate grasslands, it is difficult for large trees o grow and thus, it is dominated by grass. Grasses are dominant since they have adapted to the low levels of rainfall and can withstand droughts and fires. Their deep root systems help them hold on to the soil, reducing erosion and helping to conserve water. Depending on the amount of water a particular are may receive, the vegetation be tall or short. Areas which are warmer and receive more may precipitation usually have taller grasses than those with colder climates and less rainfall. Examples: buffalo grass, blue gamma grass, fleabane, indian grass, june grass.
Food Web…
Animals: Like the vegetation in temperate grasslands, its wildlife also varies depending on its location. American grasslands are different from those in South America or Europe. The wildlife which can be found in the temperate grasslands have a low diversity compared to other biomes but a high abundance. Examples: Black-‐ footed ferret, black-‐tailed prairie dog, coyote, bison and whitetail
Energy Pyramid…
The energy pyramid which is shown above shows how energy is passed from one trophic level to the other in a food chain. As can be seen, it starts very big in the first level and it starts to decrease in size as you go up. Energy flows from the sun to the ecosystem and then to plants which are the producers this is why they have the most energy and therefore are the largest part n the pyramid. This energy then flows to the next trophic level and so on. However, only 10 to 20% of the energy passes to the next trophic level since the rest is lost as heat loss, respiration, excretion and in some cases death. As the trophic level reaches the top consumers, a lot of energy has already been lost. This is why the pyramid is narrower in the top, where the tertiary consumer is.
Relationships… Type of relationship:
Organism example:
Explanation:
Mutualism
Bees and flowers
Commensalism
Buffalo and killbird
Mutalism is a relationship between organisms in which both organisms benefit from each other. In this case, bees help pollinate flowers which helps the reproduction of the plant. However, it also benefits itself since it gains energy from the flower. Here, both organisms live together and in harmony. Commensalism is a type of relationship between two organisms in which one is benefited from the other without causing any harm. In this case, the killdeer bird rests on top of the buffalo. Here, the buffalo is not harmed in any way. However, the killbird benefits from the relationship since it the buffalo protects it.
Parasitism
Competitive
Coyotes and fleas
Parasitism is a type of relationship between two organisms in which only one benefits from the other organism and causes harm to it. In the case of coyotes and fleas, fleas benefit from coyotes as they suck their blood and live on their bodies. Bison and Black-‐tailed prairie dog A competitive relationship between organisms is one in which different species are competing for the use of the same resources. In this case, the bison and the black tailed prairie dog have a competitive relationship since they both feed on buffalo grass.
Human influence… Human activity on grasslands: • Used for cereal crops • Used by indegineous people for grazing • Livestock farming • Dairy farming • Wheat-‐sheep farming • Hunting of wildlife Bison slaughter in the 1800’s In the 1800’s there was a big trade for the fur, skin, and meat of the American Bison. The United States government started to encourage the further slaughter of this animal as a way to remove Native American p opulations that relied on the bison for food. However, the American Bison population decreased to less than 1000 by 1890, b ecoming an endangered species. Luckily, laws were then set to prevent their extinction and currently there are around 500,000 bison in America. At the time in which their population decreased, this was a huge influence on the environment. Food chains were disturbed as their main food source started to have fewer consumers. The plants they fed on started to increase in quantity allowing for other consumer’s population to increase as well. Apart from the effects on other plants and wildlife, humans, the Native Americans in the areas who depended on the buffalo as a food source were also affected. Since laws have n ow been set and the bison population has been re established, humans nowadays aren’t affected by this. However, this serves as a lesson which might h elp prevent similar incidents in the
The human activity in grasslands listed to the left has many n egative effects for the biome. Since grasslands are characterized for having rich soil and flat and open land, humans find it a convenient place for farming and growing crops. However even though this may be beneficial for humans economically and in terms of food production, it does have some negative effects on the biome. Today, around 47% of grasslands have already been turned into agricultural development. As humans move into grasslands and convert them into farmlands, they clear out all the pre existing vegetation, replacing it for specific types of agricultural plants such as white. As this happens, vegetation is destroyed and animals lose their home and are forced to migrate or are purposely exterminated by farmers. This leads to disruptions in the ecosystem in which the food webs are altered. This issue presents a problem for humans in the future since it is a threat to biodiversity as plants and animals may go extinct, especially as this 47% begins to increase as time goes by. Furthermore, the grasslands used for livestock farming increase the release of green house gasses which presents a threat to climate
Diego Carpio 5/26/13 Biology P.3 Biome Project Desert Biome
Map where desert biome is located around the world The average temperature of the Desert Biome (Alice Springs, Australia)
The average rainfall of the Desert Biome (Alice Springs, Australia)
Common Animals Armadillo Lizard Desert Snake Scorpion Rabbit Eagle
Common Plants Barrel Cactus Desert Ironwood Jumping Cholla Brittle Bush Soap tree Yucca
Climograph Of Alice Springs, Australia (Desert Biome)
Parasitism: Sandalwood and the entire host, which are the trees Commensalism: Lichen growing on the tree bark Mutualism: Barrel Cactus and its mycorhizae Competitors: Rattlesnakes and Eagles Both compete for the same food source (birds)
Animal Adaptations: In order to survive the desert animals have various of methods on how to stay alive in their environment. The most common one is staying in shade of plants or rocks or by burrowing underground in the heat of the day. Other animals get all moisture they need from insects, plants and also from the seeds they eat and this results in that they do not to drink any water. Also these animals don't have any sweat glands and pass only small amounts of concentrated urine. Energy Pyramid:
Human relation with Desert Biome: There are many human activity’s that can make a great impact in the Desert Biome. One way that impacts the biome is mining or residential use is another way, as it would be diverting the water supplies for agricultural use elsewhere. Humans also make an impact in the ecosystem an a unwise fashion
Off road riding such as dirt bikes can damage desert plants and also it pollutes the soil as well affects the wildlife. This diverts water supplies, which are already in rare conditions prevent rainfall from reaching the plant in the ecosystem. Killing rodents or predators and which will also affect the food chain as well.