Distribution, climatic and biomass char of Ecosys Flashcards
(18 cards)
Biome
large scale global ecosystem that occupies a distinct region across the Earth
Ecosystem
community of plants and animals interacting with eachother and the environment in which they live
Tropical Rainforest Distribution
10 N and S Equator
Much of South America incl 7mil km2 Amazon in Brazil
Western Africa - Congo rf
SEA Rf oldest on planet
Tropical Grassland Distribution
5 and 20 N S
Wide expanse across Africa, S America an parts of India & Australia
-23% Aus land
Los Llanos Columbia and Venezuela
Brazilian Campos grasslands
-unique ecosystems
Largest across Africa
Desert Distribution
15 30 N S
1/3 Earths Surface
Usually from western coast inland.
N. America - Great Basin Desert 92,000km2 Cali, Nevada & Utah
Aus - Great Victoria, W and S Aus
Middle East- Arabian and Syrian
Sahara largest covering 9mil km2
Tropical RF climate
Temp
consistently high through year
sun always high in sky
small temp range
Manaus, Brazil 26 - 26.7 range 1.7
Rainfall
Usually exceeds 2000mm (Manaus 2180)
Slightly less in Summer
Each day warm air forced to rise quickly - convergence of trade winds at ITCZ = convection currents push up warm unstable air forming towering cumulonimbus clouds - thunder lightning afternoon
Manaus exp rainfall at least 265 days/year
Tropical Grassland Climate
Temp
consistently high
sun always high
temp range small
Kununurra W Australia 30.1 - 38.9 range 8.8
Rainfall
unpredictable
Rainy seasons last over 5 months in summer
Winter drought usually
Kununurra 830mm
Kununurra drought April - September
Rainy season Oct - Mar with maximum at Feb
Desert Climate
Temp
very high most of year and peak at very high level throughout
Sun high in sky summer
Shuwaikh Kuwait 15 Jan - 39 July
14hr day 10hr night
Diurnal Range wide - temp day reach 40 but night clear skies = rapid cooling
Rainfall
very low
Shuwaikh 78mm
Area classed as desert if annual total falls below 250mm
North Hemi usual for any rain to occur through summer months
Productivity
rate at which any biome can produce material
Primary productivity
rate at which producers will build the amount of bbiomass
Tropical Rainforest Biomass Veg
high rf and high temp mean rich diversity in vegetation
40% global vegetation
75% all biotic species
2/3 all flowering plants
High temp, High amt solar rad and heavy rf create balmy conditions - high rate of decay and recycling of nutrients
Most trees hardwood and evergreen (mahogany, rubber, ebony)
Emergent trees reach 50m - break through various layers of canopy - max amt sunlight
Many trees covered in epiphytes that use tree for support
Under canopy levels - nearly continous vegetation cover - relatively little light through layers
Tallest trees develop buttress roots for support
Trunks usually branchless under canopy layer - no light for ps
most energy focused on pushing tree crown toward sunlight
Tropical RF Biomass Animals
600 speciies mammal
2000 bird
2000 amphibians and fish
countless insects and microorganisms
Some of larger are endangered
Some adapted to live in trees
Others live on ground and exist by collecting seeds and fruit that fall from canopy layers
Tropical Grassland Biomass Veg
Vegetation quite varied
RF amounts high but very seasonal
Enough rf to support deciduous and thorn scrub forest veg
grasses up to 3.5m - long root systems - reach deep water
Many trees and plants adapt drought-resisting features
e.g baobab trees store water in trunk to help survive dry season
Both grass and trees deciduous and will lose leaves in dry season
Tropical Grassland Biomass Animal
Many worlds largest animals - graze on veg easily
Biodiversity lower than TRF
e.g. Tanzania: 375 mammal 1000 bird 800 reptile amph and fish
Supports huge no. of burrowing rodent animals
great annual migrations - animals forced to look for water during dry seasons
Desert Biomass
Biomass sig lower
vegetation sparse and scattered - not enough rainfall and moisture
Individual plants dev drought-resistant features:
-seeds that will germinate quickly when rain falls
-thick waxy leaves that can be shed in drought conditions
-ability to store water in stems like cacti
-very long roots that can delve deep to find any water available
Animal
relatively few mammals able to survive
most hide during day - largely nocturnal
Insects and reptiles more common - waterproof skins
Hadley Cell Formation
Part of tricellular model
Direct solar heating at equator
Heat transfered to air above
Air rises and cools
Rising air leaves low pressure at surface - ITCZ
Rising air diverges and flows towards poles before sinking again at 30 N S
Air diverted back towards equator - much lower level
Some air moves towards mid latitudes to redress global heat imbalance
Weather with Hadley cell
NE and SE trade winds blow from sub-tropical HP and meet around equator - winds converge - heated by solar radiation - rise and condense to form clouds
Convectional rainfall bring large amount heavy precip and thunderstorms
Sinking air causes HP at surface - clear skies and conditions stable
Little or no precip
Hot desert climates found here
Sinking air causes sub tropical HP belt which creates trade winds and forces air back towards equator
Most deserts found on western edge continents duet to impact cold ocean currents have on land mass
ITCZ
movement of ITCZ huge impact on climate char of tropical grassland
Winter
Jan ITCZ move south leaving some North Hemisphere tropical gland areas under HParea
not receive much rain
Dry season
Summer
July ITCZ moves north brings LP over TGL in North Hemi
LP overhead - heavy rainfall
Area HP also pulled North - allows more rainfall due to impact of Southwesterlies and Northwesterlies
