Unit 3 Part 3 Ecosystems of the world

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Unit 3 Part 3 Ecosystems of the world

• p. 101 - 109

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Define climax vegetation p. 102

• Climax vegetation is stable/dominant vegetation
• in balance with the climatic AND soil conditions
• It should change very little if left undisturbed.
• Best suited!!!
• Each ecosystem has its own climax vegetation.

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Example The climax vegetation in boreal /
coniferous forest. P. 102

• Evergreen trees
• Needle like leaves
• Thick bark
• Conical shape
• Dense growing which blocks sun

Coniferous forests
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World Ecosystems
Different Animals
Different Vegetation
Ecosystems
Different Soil
Different Climate (Temp. Precip.)
Climate Zones
Different Locations
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Ecosystems
Climate zones
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Ecosystems AND climatic regions p.104

• Ecosystems of the world are largely defined by
  their climax vegetation.
• Examples!!! tropical rain forest, grasslands,
  boreal forests, cacti, etc.
• Climax Vegetation is determined by climate (and
  soils).
• Therefore, ecosystems match-up with climate
  zones

Ecosystem zones
Climate zones
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Altitudinal succession vs. latitudinal succession
p. 104
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Altitudinal succession vs. latitudinal succession

• The changes in ecosystems vegetation that occur
  as one moves from the equator to the poles

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Altitudinal succession vs. latitudinal succession
Altitudinal succession vs. latitudinal succession

• The changes in ecosystems vegetation that occur
  as one moves from the base of an tropical
  mountain to the summit.

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Altitudinal succession vs. latitudinal succession
Altitudinal succession vs. latitudinal succession

• The changes in ecosystems vegetation that occur
  as one moves from the equator to the poles is
  very similar to the changes in ecosystems
  vegetation seen moving from the base of an
  tropical mountain to the summit.

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World Ecosystems
Different Animals
ADAPTATIONS
Different Vegetation
Different Soil
Different Climate (Temp. Precip.)
Different Locations
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Ecosystems Adaptation

• A specific or unique feature that enables an
  organism to become better suited to its
  habitat/environment.
• The change in an organism that allows it to live
  successfully/survive in its environment.

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Grasses, Shrubs and low plants

• Shallow roots
• Fast reproduction / flowering cycle

• 1-3 meters below the surface the ground is
  completely frozen
• growing season is very short, 1-2 months

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Animals

• Sleep right though the cold months under a thick
  blanket of snow and not freeze.
• Move further south to warmer climates to avoid
  the cold and obtain food.
• Some animals have extra fur or fat to help hold
  in heat so they dont freeze.

• Hibernation (Bears)
• Migration (Birds)
• Insulating features

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Animals

• Camouflage (snowshoe hare, ptarmigan, bear)
• Feet (ptarmigan)
• Feet (snowshoe hare / polar bear)

• Hides from prey or protects from predators.
• Feet enlarge in the fall for walking on snow
• Snow shoe hare develop a covering of hair. Polar
  bear bristles.

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Trees Conifers (Evergreens)

• Needle-like leaves
• Thick bark
• Conical shape

• Less surface area on the leaves means less
  transpiration (Winter all water is frozen).
• The thicker the bark the less water that will
  escape.
• Heavy snow during the winter will fall off
  reliving the pressure on the branches.

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Trees Deciduous

• Shed their leaves when winter comes. (Birch,
  maple, aspen

• Since the water is frozen during winter they shed
  their leaves so no water is lost via
  transpiration.

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Grasses

• Shallow roots
• Small water requirement

• Little rain falls, doesnt seep far in the
  ground, roots near the surface will catch all the
  water.
• Little water, they have little need for water,
  only once in a while. Also small in size, so they
  dont need a lot of water. .

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Analyze world ecosystem map. P. 102

1. Boreal Forest tundra are wide spread in high
   latitudes
2. Tropical Rain Forests occur in low latitudes
3. Tropical Rain forest is most predominant in South
   America.
4. South America, Africa, Australia and Antarctica
   do not have tundra.
5. Coniferous/Boreal forest is our ecosystem