Temporal Scale
time
- fine scale = millisecond
- course scale = centuries
- fine and course scale need different methods of study
MacArthur Study
Studied Warblers in zones of conifer trees
- predicted species with the same ecological requirements can’t coexist due to competition
- identified warblers have specific feeding areas on trees
Schlindler’s Study
Large scale study on eutrophication in lakes
Eutrophication = too much nutrients in aquatic lands due to pollution, causing a lack of O2
Added phosphorus in Lake Erie to stimulate nutrient pollution
Found water quality in phosphorus lakes was poor dur to surplus of algae harming ecosystem
Vegetation pollen records
- Pollen near lakes falls into water, becoming trapped in sediment and eventually a historic record
- Large temporal change
- Pollen displays history of vegetation
- As climate changes, plants change geographical distributions and undergo evolutionary adaptations
Spatial Pattern Detection
Used to study large marine environments with spectral analysis
Also used on land
Effects of tilt of Earth, temperature, and precipitation patterns on Atmospheric circulation
- Earth is unevenly heated due to its tilt, this causes predictable latitudinal/seasonal variation in climate
- The equator is warmest
- warm air rises
- cools and condenses
- cooler, dry air falls back to surface
Coriolis Effect
- Earth’s rotation affects movement of objects across it’s surface
- Earth turn’s W>E and the equator moves the fastest
- Northern hemisphere = objects deflected right
Southern hemisphere = objects deflected left
Deflection is stronger at poles
Soil type
Horizon O
- Composed of organic material
Horizon A
- Composed of mineral material (clay, slit, sand) incorporated with organic material
- Burrowing animals
- Lots of nutrients
- Fe, Al, silicates, humus
Horizon B
- Contains clay, slit, humus and other materials transported from A
- Decomposition of material gives B a distinct colour
Horizon C
- Deepest layer
- Weathered plant material from frost/water but less weathered than other soils
Microclimates
Dramatic influences on biome distribution
Rain shadow effect
Dry microclimate caused by mountain terrain near oceans
- warm/moist air from water loses moisture by the time it reaches the leeward side
Why biodiversity is important for soil
- Carbon nutrients cycle
- Soil respiration
- Nutrient transfer
- Climate change
- Invasive species
biodiversity = micro/macro fauna, fungi, bacteria, byrophytes
Biomes
- Tundra
- Taiga
- Temporal Forest
- Temporal Grassland
- Woodland and Shrubland
- Desert
- Tropical Savanna
- Tropical Dry Forest
- Tropical Rain Forest
Tundra
- N of artic circle = 66 degrees
- 200-600mm rain
- Low decomp rates = poor soil
Climate:
Cold and dry with short summers.
Precipitation>Evaporation rate due to low temp
Summers = short and soggy
Soil:
Soil building slow due to slow decomp of organic matter
Surface soils thaw in summer, permafrost layer stays below
Soilification: Annual freezing/thawing on surface soil along with gravity causes slow soil movement in tundra
Biology:
Dominated by herbaceous plants, eaten by reindeer
Human Influence;
Oil, airborn pesticides, Hg accumalation
Taiga
- 50-60 degrees latitude
- 200-600mm precip
Climate:
- low evaporation bc long winters
Soil:
- thin and acidic soil = low fertility
Biology:
- dominated by conifers
- trees pollinate via wind
Temperate Forests
- 40-50 latitude
- 650-3000mm precip
- fertile soil
Climate:
- temperatures not extreme
- precip mostly in winter
- winter = 3-4 months
- summer dry and drought
Soil:
- fertile
- slow/conservative nutrient movement
neutral/slightly acidic
- rich in organic and inorganic material
Biology:
- high biodiversity
- lots of fungi, bacteria, etc consuming forest floor
Temperate Grassland
- 30-50 latitude
- 300-1000m precip
- periodic drought
Climate:
- cold winters hot summers
- periodic drought = prone to fires
Soil:
- lots of organic matter
- fertile
- lots of parent material
Biology:
- fires exclude woody vegetation
- many herbavoura
Woodland/Shrubland
- 30-40 latitude
- occurs on all continents
Climate:
- fall/winter/spring = moist
- summer hot and dry
- ideal condition for intense fires due to dense vegetation and dryness
Soil:
- moderate fertility
- erosion can be severe
Biology:
- Diverse and show adaptions to drought
- Trees/shrubs have tough leaves to resist water evaporation
- nitrogen fixing mutualistic microbes
- decomp slows in summer
- fire resistant bark on trees
- herbaceous plants die in summer
Desert
- 30 latitude
- waterloss>precip
- low organic material
- animal abundance low, diversity high
Climate:
- waterloss due to evaporation/transpiration by plants exceeds precip
- drought for all months
Soil:
- low fertility
- Lithosols - stone/mineral soil low in organic matter
- salt conditions high in poorly drained valleys = high aridity making it hard for plants to extract water
- Caliche - calcium-carbonate-rich hard pan horizon forms in aged soils
Biology:
- Plants protect photosynthetic surfaces from excessive sunlight w/ hairs
- small or no leaves
- some plants remain dormant until wet periods
Tropical Savanna
- 10-20 latitude N and S of tropical dry forest
- Climate = wet/dry
- wildfires from drought
Climate:
- alternates dry and wet seasons
- rain in beginning of wet season
causes lightning = fires
- fires maintain scattered tree landscape
Soil:
- layers w/ low permeability to help savannas persist in wet areas
- Keeps soil waterlogged in wet seasons
Biology:
- lots of activity, particularly in ground level
Tropical Dry Forest
- 10-25 latitude
- more seasonal than rainforest
- heavy agriculture due to high soil nutrients and prone to erosion
Climate:
- dry season=6-7 months
- rainfal=5-6 months
Soils:
- tends to be very aged and slightly acidic
- nutrient dense
- vulnerable to erosion due to rain quantity
Biology
- forest height correlated w/ precip rate
- tall trees in wet areas
- plants pollinate w/ fruit and wind
Tropical Rain Forest
- 10 latitude
- little temp variation
- 2000-4000mm precip
- organisms add vertical dimensions
- harbor medicine and food
Climate:
- year-round warm temp = 25-27C
- lots of rain
Soil:
- Heavy rains cause soil nutrients
- organic matter low bc or rapid decomp
- soil nutrient poor and acidic
Biology:
- tree domination
- primary production highest of all biomes
- plants rely on micorrhizae
Soilification
Annual freezing/thawing on surface soil along with gravity causes slow soil movement in tundra
Lithosols
- Lithosols - stone/mineral soil low in organic matter
- in deserts
Caliche
- Caliche - calcium-carbonate-rich hard pan horizon forms in aged soils
- in desers
