The Earth’s Natural Regions

The Earth’s Natural Regions

EARTH'S NATURAL REGIONS Tundra Taiga Taiga Temperate Forest The Earth supports a wide diversity of biomes: tundra, taiga, temperate forest, grasslands, savanna, desert, montane, tropical dry forest, tropical rain forest, and islands. Grasslands Tropical Montane Montane Rain Tropical Tropical Forest Dry Savanna Dry Forest Forest Savanna Desert Islands

Definitions - Biome An ecosystem dominated by a large vegetation formation, whose boundaries are largely determined by the climate. (Krough) A major type of ecosystem that covers a large geographic region. (Campbell) A complex of ecological communities characterized by a distinctive type of vegetation, as determined by the climate. (Wallace) One of several types of terrestrial ecosystems. (Lewis)

Our Definition of Biome A biome is an ecosystem complex defined by its vegetation and comprising a geographic region.

Definition - Ecosystem A community of living things and the physical environment with which they interact. (Krough) All the organisms in a given area, along with the non-living (abiotic) factors with which they interact; a biological community and its physical environment. (Campbell) The biotic and abiotic factors of an ecological community considered together. Wallace) All organisms and their non-living environment in an area. (Lewis)

Abiotic Characteristics Those non-living features or characteristics that influence or otherwise impact the living organisms in an area. Water e p e a p h a s h d s n d a n a a e r a ss a e n r l Beed o i a a n t t l B o drroocck a i o a ee t t t T m a a o r t T o m m i a f r l o C m k e i f l v i C e t v c i t e o t o y t t P Prroottec oxiim i y t i m r x P o r P n o i n t o a i t z Wind i a n z Wind i F a n b Fiirree r a u b r u

Keogh Campbell Wallace Lewis Aquatic Chaparral X X X Coniferous forest Desert X x X X X Freshwater X (Ecosystem) Marine X (Ecosystem) Mountains X X Polar Ice X Savanna X Taiga (Northern, Boreal Forests) X X X X X X Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate forest X Temperate Grassland Prairie, steppes, pampas, veldt) X X X X Tropical Forest Tropical rainforest X Tropical Savanna X Tundra X Grassland / Savanna Woodland X X X X X X X Tropical Dry Forest X Other X Montane

Aquatic – Freshwater and Marine Desert Grasslands – Savanna, prairie, steppe, and pampas Forests – Coniferous, northern boreal, deciduous, and tropical Mountain / Montane Tundra Islands? - Mountain? Aquatic?

Tundra

THE FROZEN PRAIRIE This biome circles the globe at the highest northern latitudes and often has temperatures of -50F. This frigid biome circles the globe at the highest northern latitudes, between the taiga (to its south) and the permanent ice circling the North Pole. Tundra covers about one-fifth of the Earth's land surface; and winter temperatures are so cold, often dipping to -50F, that trees find it impossible to grow. For this reason, some people comment that the tundra looks like a frozen prairie.

In many regions of the tundra the deeper layers of soil remain frozen throughout the year – a condition called permafrost -- and only the surface thaws during the brief summer. This tough combination of harsh climate, lack of nutrients, and sparse soil team up to make it very hard for plants to grow.

Bare rock and scoured soils are everywhere in areas exposed by the withdrawal of massive glaciers after the last Ice Age.

Montane

Montane

Desert

Grasslands and Savanna

Temperate Forest

The temperate forest biome Northern hemisphere Mid-latitudes in eastern North America, western Europe, and eastern Asia. Southern hemisphere South America, southern Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Temperate forests are highly seasonal, trees are mostly deciduous -- dropping their leaves in the fall Lower latitudes, where more broad-leaved evergreen species thrive, look somewhat like the tropical dry forest. To the north, temperate forests blend into the pines and firs of

Tropical Forest (Rainforests and Dry Tropical)

STRUCTURE AND FERTILITY Tropical rain forests are layered Adapted to survive on poor soils. Tree growth is luxuriant in this biome Canopy trees reaching 100 – 200 feet

Definitions - Biosphere The interactive collection of all the world’s ecosystems. Also, that portion of the Earth that supports life. (Keogh) The global ecosystem; that portion of the Earth that is alive; all of life and where it lives. (Campbell) The entire part of the Earth’s land, soil, waters, and the atmosphere in which living organisms are found. (Wallace) The ecosystem of the entire planet. (Lewis)

Biosphere

Definition - Habitat The surroundings in which individuals of a species are normally found. (Keogh) A place where an organism lives; an environmental situation in which an organism lives (Campbell) The physical place where an organism lives (Lewis)

References and Resources http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/bi ome/tundra.html#alp http://www.pbs.org/kteh/cadillacdesert/home.html Cadillac Deserts – PBS http://www.miragemall.com/desertjpegs/imagesf.h tm Images