Large scale ecosystems are found in different parts of the world

What are the distributions and the characteristics of the worlds large-scale ecosystems.

Tundra

Climate:

Canada

Fauna and Flora:

  • Animals that live here have adapted in different ways. e.g. Brown bears eat in the summer and store food in insulating layer for winter.
  • Plants species which have shallow root systems and are low to ground to cope with harsh climate
  • Short growing seasons about 60 days.
  • Total annual rainfall 200mm, much of which falls as snow.
  • temperature between -34C and 12C.

Boreal forest

Russia

Climate:

  • Temperature range between -10C and 15C.
  • Total annual rainfall 500mm

Fauna and flora:

  • Evergreen trees, which allow growth to start when the weather warms up.
  • Shallow roof systems because of shallow soil and frozen ground.
  • Trees such as pine and fir
  • Animals such as red foxes and black bears

Temperate forests

Tropical forests

What are the distributions and the characteristics of the worlds large-scale ecosystems continued....

USA

Climate:

  • Temperature range between 4C and 17C
  • Total anual rainfall 1,000 mm

Temperate grasslands

Fauna and Flora:

  • Trees lose their leaves in winter to reduce transpiration
  • Vegetation is in 4 layers; canopy, sub-canopy, herb and ground. Manny are dominated by 1 tree species e.g. oak

Animals e.g. rabbits and deer

Climate:

  • Temperature range between 27C and 30C.

Brazil

  • Total annual rainfall 2,200mm

Fauna and Flora:

  • Lianas wind their way up trees
  • Vegetation is in 4 layers; emergents, canopy, under-canopy, shrub/forest floor
  • Animals e.g. Sloth and howler monkeys

Climate:

Argentina

  • Temperature range of 10C and 18C.
  • Total annual rainfall 500mm, most falling in the summer months

Fauna and Flora

  • Trees are generally not found in these areas
  • Grasses e.g. purple needle-grass and buffalo grass grow in these areas

Tropical grassland

Climate:

  • Temperature range 25C to 30C
  • Total annual rainfall 1,000mm
  • Rain is concentrated in 6 to 8 months a year; the rest of the year is drought

Kenya

Fauna and Flora:

  • Animals reproduce during wet season when there is plentiful food and water. a.g. giraffes.
  • Grasses grow very tall 2m, but die off in dry season

Deserts

Climate:

  • Temperature range between 30C and 35C
  • Big temperature differences at night, -18C
  • Very unpredictable rainfall

Australia

Fauna and Flora

  • The only plants are short shrubs
  • Animals which live in the deserts, such as camels, store fat in their humps which can change into water when its needed.