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The Biosphere
Sum total of places in which organisms live Encompasses the entire earth The distribution of organisms (biogeography) is affected by:
Geologic history Topography Climate Other species

Global Ecology

Distribution of terrestrial biomes

Biomes
A biome is a region of land characterized by habitat conditions and community structure These habitat conditions are strongly affected by climate, which is the average weather condition of a region

Factors that determine climate

Solar radiation Seasonality Air flow Precipitation Ocean currents

The Earths tilt is responsible for seasons

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Milankovitch cycles
1879-1958

Latitudinal impacts on sunlight

The earths tilt is not static. The result is variations in the magnitude of seasonal effects. These have contributed to ice ages in the past.

At high latitudes, a particular ray of sunlight must pass through more atmosphere and is distributed over a wider land area than another ray of sunlight at lower latitude.

The movement of air

Precipitation
Solar radiation and air circulation are responsible for global patterns of precipitation.

The Coriolis Effect

An object travelling in the straight line across a rotating path appears to travel in an arc

The movement of air

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Ocean currents

Conveyor belt hypothesis

Patterns in air circulation drive surface currents.

It takes approximately 1,000 years for water to make its global loop.

Can global warming induce an ice age?

Less saline water is unable to sink.

Coastal wind patterns

Oceans mitigate temperatures Breeze blows in direction of warmer region Direction varies with time of day

Rain shadows
Air rises on the windward side, loses moisture before passing over the mountain

Climate variation determines biomes

Biome: A vegetation type plus its associated fauna.

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Global climate patterns influence organismic distribution

Major Terrestrial Biomes

Tundra Boreal forests Temperate deciduous forests Grasslands Chaparral Deserts Tropical forests

Tundra
Northernmost biome; plants grow in shallow topsoil over a layer of permafrost Brief growing season; winter winds cause tundra plants to be very short

Boreal forests
Also called the Taiga Consists mainly of coniferous forests

Temperate deciduous forests

Grow at middle latitudes with abundant rainfall Trees lose their leaves in the winter

Grasslands
Grows where winters are cold, summers are warm, and rainfall is moderate

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Chaparral
Coastal biome dominated by dense, woody shrubs and trees that resprout after periodic fires
Occurs where winters are mild and wet and summers hot and dry

Deserts
Arid regions with low precipitation

Tropical forests
High temperatures and precipitation Species-rich Nutrient-poor soil

Aquatic biomes
Freshwater
Streams, rivers Lakes

Ocean
Estuaries Coastal Open ocean

Lakes
Bodies of standing water that accumulate in basins Fed by rainfall and streams and rivers that drain surrounding watersheds

Oligotrophic vs. Eutrophic Lakes

Oligotrophic: Low in nutrients, high in oxygen Eutrophic: Rich in nutrients and organic matter

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Pollution can lead to eutrophication

Oceans
Estuaries Intertidal zones Open ocean

Marine zonation

Upwelling

El Nio
Ordinarily, trade winds drive ocean currents to the west, allowing for upwelling to supply nutrients to the eastern oceans In El Nio years, the trade winds weaken, and as a result, warm waters flow from west to east

El Nios cause a decrease in primary productivity

As water moves from west to east, upwelling of nutrientrich water is prevented The lack of upwelling restricts the amount of nutrients available for phytoplankton Results in drought in some locations, flooding in others