Chapter 27: Biomes
World Climate
Concepts
Effects of Earth's Tilt
Atmospheric Distribution of Heat
Continental Climate
Oceanic Distribution of Heat
Continental Drift
Present Position of the World's Continents
Past Positions of the World's Continents
Cambrian Period
Middle and Late Paleozoic Era
Mesozoic Era
The Current World Biomes
Moist Temperate Biomes
Temperate Rain Forests
Drier Montane and Subalpine Forests
Temperate Deciduous Forests
Southeastern Evergreen Forests
Dry Temperate Biomes
Grasslands
Shrublands and Woodlands
Botany and Beyond: Measuring Ancient Continental Positions and Climates
Desert
Alpine Tundra
Polar Biomes
Arctic Tundra
Boreal Coniferous Forests
Tropical Biomes
Tropical Rainforests
Tropical Grasslands and Savanna
Biomes: extensive groupings of many ecosystems characterized by the distinctive aspects of the dominant plants
Tundra, grasslands, temperate forests, and tropical rain forests
Continental Drift
23.5 degree tilt
This effects the length of time through out the year
Effects rainfall
Desert islands
rain shadow
Air circulation patterns drive water
trade winds blow across the tropics
regional latitude determines the climate of a region
The ice caps hold millions of gallons of fresh water
South america helps break up the Atlantic and Pacific ocean to affect water currents
Gondwanaland
Laurasia and Pangaea
Laurasia took 400 million years to make
Tethys Sea
Pangaea was 225 million years ago
Was 65 million years ago
giant long-lived conifers
Redwoods of California
northwest coast of united states
Montane Forest
Cascade Mountains and the Sierra Nevada
lower in elevations but holds pine and some oaks
Cold winters and warm (not hot) summers
Rocky Mountains
Evergreen forest
Florida Panhandle
Frequent fires
All of North America
"Prairie"
Oklahoma
Similar to forest except the trees are widely spaced
Savanna if grass grows in-between trees
Chaparral in California
Less than 25 cm/year of rain fall
Arizona and New Mexico
own distinct vegetation
the highest point at which trees survive on a mountain or "Timberline"
4,500 m or if cold 3,500 m
Mt. Washington in New Hampshire
Permafrost
short growing season, less than 3 months
80% of plant's biomass may be below ground
just south of the arctic tundra
Canada
almost exclusively coniferous
Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam
over 200 cm/year
rain everyday
lower rainfall develop as thorn-scrub
Africa
Most trees are flat-tops
Earth's surface propelled by circulation patterns in the mantle
it is possible to discover where the continents have been located in the past
studying the magnetic orientation
the presence of fossilized coral