Biomes

A Biome is a world region that is characterised by groups of plants and animals adapted to specific conditions

of climate, soils and biotic inter-relationships

7.3 BIOMES – World Regions

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Geoecology

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Characterised by inter-relationships of:Climate• Soils• Plants• Animals• When answering a question on biomes always include:

• Definition• Location• Formation of that biome• Climate (temperature & precipitation)• Soils• Plants• Animals

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7.3 BIOMES – World Climates Types

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions

Deciduous ForestTaig

a

Desert

Grassland

Tropical

Rain Forest

Tundra

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert

Californian•Great Basin•Mohave•Sonoran•Chihuahuan Atacam

aNamib

Sahara

Great Australian Desert

Turkestan

Gobi

Kalahari

Arabian

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert - Formation

Hadley Cells

1. Equator 0o – LP – Air Rises

2. Convectional Rainfall

Moves away from Equator

3. Tropics 30o – HP – Air Sinks

4. Moves towards equator

Compressed Warm air holds moisture – DRY

5. Desert - Sahara

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert - Formation

Rain Shadow Effect

1. Coastal Mountains act as barrier to moist air

2. Forced to rise & cool

3. Precipitation on windward side

4. Leeward Air dry

5. Mountains – Sierra Nevada

6. Desert - Mohave

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert – Formation

Cold Ocean Currents

1. Wind that blows over cold currents are cooled

2. Cannot hold moisture so precipitates

3. On reaching hot land – air is warmed – retains moisture

4. Desert – Namib / Atacama

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert - Climate

Algeria

Belize - Rainfall

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert - Soils

Aridisols

Sandy to Coarse textured

Deep Soils (Basin)

Little organic matter

Light Grey Clour

Intense Evaporation

Alkaline Soil

Calcification

Salinisation

Caliche

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert - Plants

Prickly Pear Cactus

Barrel Cactus

Desert Paintbrush

Mesquite

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7.3 BIOMES – World Regions Desert - Animals

Black Widow

Cactus Wren

Lizard

Dingo

Vulture

Chameleon

Grasshopper

Sand Rat

Gecko

Camel

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7.4 BIOMES – World Regions

EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES-4 effects to be studied

• Early Settlement – Clearing Forests• Felling of Tropical Rain Forests• Intensive Agriculture• Industrial Development

DESERTS

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European ForestsIrish Forests

• Started in Neolithic Age• Mid 1800s almost devoid of forest cover• 1900 only 1% forest cover• 2003 - 9.4%• EU average 31%

7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesEarly Settlement – Clearing Forests

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesEarly Settlement – Clearing Forests

Country Forest Cover (% of land area) 2003

Ireland 9.4 %

Netherlands 9.5 %

Denmark 12.7 %

Belgium 22.4 %

Germany 30.2 %

France 31.6 %

Sweden 73.5 %

Finland 75.5 %Source OECD

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesEarly Settlement – Clearing Forests

Dark Green: > 40 % cover

Mid Green: 10 – 40 % cover

Light Green: woodland, shrubland

bushland

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesClearing ForestsAverage Annual % 1990 - 2000

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesFelling Tropical Rain Forests

Importance of Tropical Rain Forests• Home to Tribal Cultures that have survived for

thousands of years

• Home to 50% of plant and animal species

• Winter home to birds that breed in temperate climates

• Help to reduce Global CO2 levels

• Help to maintain global rain and weather patterns

• Source of pharmaceutical Drugs

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesFelling Tropical Rain Forests

Reasons for Felling• Firewood, charcoal, building materials, furniture

• Conversion to pasture for cattle ranching

• Mining for gold, bauxite (aluminium) etc.

• Cultivation of Cash Crops

• Overpopulation - migration

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesFelling Tropical Rain Forests

Brazil

Source UNEP

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesFelling Tropical Rain Forests

Argentina: Source UNEP

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesFelling Tropical Rain Forests

Bolivia

Source: UNEP

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIntensive Agricultural Practices

Bolivia Source: UNEP

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development - Air Pollution

Trends in Atmospheric Concentrations and

Anthropogenic Emissions of Carbon Dioxide

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Air PollutionWorld Carbon Dioxide Emissions 1999Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent per capita

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Acid Rain

Source: angelfire.com

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Acid Rain

Effects of Acid Rain

Source: angelfire.com

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Water Pollution

Pollution of Rivers and Lakes – Faecal Coliforms

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Water Pollution

Pollution of Rivers and Lakes – pH values

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Water Pollution

Pollution of Coasts and Seas

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesIndustrial Development – Water Pollution

Pollution of Coasts and Seas

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7.4 BIOMES – Human ActivitiesVanishing Wilderness

World Ecosystems Undisturbed

Partially Disturbed

Human Dominated

51.9 % 24.2 % 23.9 %

Adjusted for Rock, Ice & Barren Land

27 % 36.7 % 36.3 %Source Hannah et Al 1994