...following sere which invaded and colonised the area. They produced humus from leaf fall which provided nutrients for the soil through nutrient recycling and encouraged new growth of the sere. The last sere is the larger trees which are oak and ash which dominate the area and shade out smaller trees. This sere is the climax community in that it is stable and no further succession happens after. The climax community is the deciduous woodland biome we know today. The main characteristics include the location in which they are found, which is in temperate maritime climate such as the UK with four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. The average temperature in the British Isles is 10oC which is the optimum temperature for a temperate deciduous woodland and rainfall is between 30 and 60 inches. Deciduous trees are physically adapted to the climate of the British Isles. A prime example of a deciduous woodland is the New Forest which is situated in the south east of the UK in Hampshire. It has a total area of 17325ha of woodland. It has a variety of deciduous trees for instances maple, beech and oak. The New Forest is dormant during the winter months due to the cold weather. It is too cold for the trees to...
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...Tropical Grassland, the Desert, Temperate Grassland, Temperate Woodland, Temperate Forest, Northwestern Coniferous Forest, Boreal Forest, and the Tundra. They all have a vast amount of differences between all of the biomes, and they will be discussed. Although not discussed in the book, the taiga is the biggest biome. The average temperature of the taiga is 32 degrees fahrenheit with about 12 to 33 inches of precipitation per year. There is little diversity in plant life. A few broad leaf tree species live in the taiga but mostly evergreen trees are the only ones that have adapted to really thrive in this environment. There are some animals that have adapted to live in the cold and snowy environment. A predator called the ermine has a thick coat of dark fur that turns white in the winter. The snowshoe rabbit also has a fur that turns white in the winter. The wolverine is able to mate during ideal conditions by delayed implantation in which they suspend dormant fertilized eggs until the conditions are ideal for bearing their young. Rainforests are the most diverse having more than 15 million species living in the biome. The rainforest biome is sometimes separated into two different biomes. They are referred to as tropical and temperate. The tropical rainforests are located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. More than half are in Latin America and about a third are in Brazil. The rest are in Southeast Asia and West Africa. Temperate rainforests are located along...
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...They currently occur in England as far north as Cheshire, south to Avon and reaching east to Leicester as well as in most of rural wales. They inhabits lowland areas usually below 500m and found in marshes, forest plantations, wooded areas, riverbanks, sea cliffs, and sand dunes. Roe Deer The small elegant Roe Deer is reddish brown in color during summer but becomes grey, pale brown or even black during the summer. The tail is very small and there is a large white rump patch, which becomes less obvious or even absent during winter. Young Roe Deer have spotted coats for the first 6 weeks of life. They can be active throughout the 24-hour period, but the main peaks of activity occur at dawn and dusk. Typically occur in open, deciduous, mixed or coniferous woodlands....
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...MEDITERRANEAN SCRUB Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, as defined by the World Wildlife Federation, is known for dry summers and rainy winters. Summers are typically hot in low-lying inland locations but can be cool near colder seas and oceans. Winters are typically mild to cool in low-lying locations but can be cold in inland and higher locations. The Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome occurs in the world's five Mediterranean climate zones, on the west coast of continents in the mid-latitudes, the Mediterranean Basin, Chilean Mattoral, California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of California and the Baja California Peninsula, Western Cape of South Africa, and last but not least the Southwest Australia corner area. These regions are home to a great amount diversity of habbitats and species. Vegetation types range from forests to woodlands, savannas, shrublands, and grasslands; landscapes are common, where differing vegetation types are interleaved with one another in complicated patterns created by modifications in soil, exposure to wind and sun, and fire history. Much of the woody vegetation in Mediterranean-climate regions is sclerophyll, which means 'hard-leaved' in Greek. Sclerophyll vegetation generally has small, dark leaves covered with a waxy outer skin to retain moisture in the dry summer months. All these ecoregions are extremely distinctive, harboring 10% of the Earth's plant species. This is equivalent to about 40% of...
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...Sciurus carolinensis: Eastern Gray Squirrel I. The Introduction A. The scientific name: Sciurus carolinensis. B. The common name(s): Eastern gray squirrel, grey squirrel, cat squirrel, or migratory squirrel (Smithsonian, n.d.). C. The area of residence: North America, New Jersey and Southampton Township for the city. D. The specific biome: The temperate deciduous forest or woodlands. II. The Body A. Background: a. Sciurus carolinensis normally have a narrow, elongated body. Their fur is of a mixture of dark brown, black, and gray covering from head to tail on the backside and all four paws, with a white chest and belly. b. They live in the treetops and travel through them. If they have to swim, it is with the tail flat and...
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...for animals and large mammals can get enough food * Net productivity: produce 40% of NPP of terrestrial ecosystems. Fast rates of decomposition, respiration and photosynthesis. Biomass gain very high, rapid recycling of nutrients * Human activity: more than 50% of world’s human population live in the tropics/subtropics forests exploited e.g. nutrients quickly exhausted by agriculture, commercial logging of timber * Issues: logging, conversion to grazing and to plantations forests exploited for economic development * Examples: Amazon rainforest, Borneo rainforest Desert: * What: dry areas usually hot in the day and cold at night as skies are clear and there is little vegetation to insulate the ground. Tropical, temperate, cold deserts * Where: cover 20-30% of the Earth’s land surface, about 30°N and S of the equator where dry air descends. Most are in the middle of continents * Climate, limiting factors: water limiting, E>P, precipitation irregular, less than 250 mm per year * Structure: few species, low biodiversity. Soils can be rich in nutrients (as they are not washed away). Drought-resistant plants, animals are adapted as well. Reptiles are dominant, small mammals can survive by being nocturnal, few large mammals, slow rate of decomposition * Net productivity: both primary and...
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...chilly, abandon like conditions. The developing season ranges from 50 to 60 days. The normal winter temperature is - 34° C (- 30° F), yet the normal summer temperature is 3-12° C (37-54° F) which empowers this biome to maintain life. Precipitation may change in various areas of the cold. Yearly precipitation including liquefying snow is 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches). Since the atmosphere of the taiga is exceptionally frosty, there is not an extensive assortment of vegetation. The most widely recognized kind of tree found in the taiga is the coniferous trees that have cones. Four sorts of conifers are regular in the taiga. Three of the basic conifers are evergreens; spruce, fir, and pine. The fourth basic conifer is the tamarack, or larch, a deciduous tree. Under specific conditions, broadleaf trees, for example, birch and aspen, can survive the unforgiving atmosphere of the taiga. Soil is shaped gradually, a layer of forever solidified subsoil called permafrost exists comprising generally of rock and better material. At the point...
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...Week 8 212-241 FORESTS -economically valued -timber from coniferous->softwood (important to Canadian economy) -timber from deciduous->hardwood -timber harvested in many ways -clear-cutting -new forestry, sloppy way of clear-cutting to leave trees, mimick natural disturbances -selection systems, some left behind -ecologically valued -NA timber industry focus on fast growing tree species in plantations -plantations more as crop agriculture than ecologically functional forests -maximum sustainable yield, argues for cutting trees shortly after they have gone through their fastest stage of growth -trees may be cut long before grown as large as they would in absence of harvesting -some harvesting seek uneven-aged stands, similar to natural forests -growth of NA fuelled by land clearing and logging -agriculture major cause of conversion of forests and grasslands -many parts of developing world uses slash and burn agriculture -agriculture in many countries supported by govt -Brazillian govt give subsidies to farmers clearing rainforest for farmland -livestock graze ¼ earth surface -possible overgrazing, ruin soil -deforestation proceeding rapidly in developing nations Forest Management Principles -harvesting of material should not occur at rate that exceed capability of resource to replenish -National Forest Strategy -many managers practice ecosystem-based management -attempts to manage harvesting to minimize impact on ecosystems -adaptive management...
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...Tree Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), a broad-leaved tree European larch (Larix decidua), a coniferous tree Lepidodendron, an extinct lycophyte tree In botany, a tree is a plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, supporting leaves or branches. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants, only plants that are usable as lumber, only plants above a specified height or only perennial species. At its broadest, trees include the taller palms, the tree ferns, bananas and bamboo. A tree typically has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground by the trunk. This trunk typically contains woody tissue for strength, and vascular tissue to carry materials from one part of the tree to another. For most trees it is surrounded by a layer of bark which serves as a protective barrier. Below the ground, the roots branch and spread out widely; they serve to anchor the tree and extract moisture and nutrients from the soil. Above ground, the branches divide into smaller branches and shoots. The shoots typically bear leaves, which capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy by photosynthesis, providing the food needed by the tree for its growth and development. Flowers and fruit may also be present, but some trees such as conifers instead have pollen cones and seed cones, and others such as tree ferns produce spores instead. Trees tend to be long-lived,[1] some reaching several thousand years old. The tallest known specimen on Earth...
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...Forest ecosystem FOREST ECOSYSTEM A forest is more than just the trees. A single forest is a complete, functioning ecosystem that supports innumerable plant and animal species as well as earth, water, and air subsystems. The subsystems provide the essence of life of the forest and are in themselves a byproduct of forest systems, all of which are reciprocal and inter dependent. A forest ecosystem is a complex of living and non-living elements which interrelate. An ecosystem can be small (like your backyard) or large (like the planet earth). It depends on the range of individual species or group of species being discussed (e.g.: a salmon stock or a forest type), geology (e.g.: a mountain range or watershed), and other issues. Different organisms exist within the forest layers. These organisms interact with each other and their surrounds. Echo organism has a role or niche in sustaining the ecosystem. Some provide food for other organisms, other provide shelter or control populations trough predation. NEEDLE LEAF Needle leaf trees fall into two categories based on how they are attached to the twig coming off the branch of the tree. On coastal redwoods and true firs, the needles will be connected directly to the twig, growing off it like leaves off the branch of a common plant. On trees like spruce trees, the individual needles will be connected to the tree via a peg-like stalk, which is also known as a needle peg. Sometimes needles on conifers are bundled together...
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...reduce water loss such as E. lacrimans (4) • Some species have thick, strong bark which acts as protection for the vulnerable heartwood and cambium layers from bush fires (5) SURVIVAL: Antarctic Beech (Nothofagus moorei) ABOUT: • Found in cool temperate forests of NSW and South QLD, from the Barrington Tops to the Springbrook Plateau in disjunct, isolated populations (1) • 25m to 50m tall, and 1m in diameter (1) • Partly deciduous (drops half its leaves in Autumn) (1) SPECIFICS: • Fossil records show the N.moorei was a dominate vegetation type throughout eastern Australia during the mid Tertiary era (2) • Even though Australia was going through a great period of change, N. moorei was able to survive without the need to evolve. There were small areas of the changing ecosystem that N.moorei remained well suited too, and these areas become the N.moorei’s niche (2) EXTINCTION: Dromornithidae ABOUT • Large flightless bird from the late Miocene period, primarily found in the Alcoota region of the Northern Territory (2) • Up to 500kg in weight and stood over 3 meters tall (3) REASONS FOR EXTINCTION • The drying of the Australian content due moving northwards caused a dramatic change in the environment. (1) • The Alcoota region, which was open woodland, became an arid climate. This means that because the Dromornithidae was not suited to this climate, and could not survive. (2) Since the Dromornithidae was a very large, slow moving bird, it would have been very easy to hunt. There have been...
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...Evaluation of the Ecological Restoration Projects at The University of California, Santa Barbara’s Lagoon Authors: Matthew Edmiston Cat Bradley Chris Anderson Abstract: The University of California, Santa Barbara’s lagoon has undergone several ecological restoration projects over the past two decades. Some efforts have proven to be beneficial, while others still need improvement. This paper addresses and evaluates five different locations around the lagoon, the various restoration projects at the sites, and what more could be done at each habitat in order to assess the ecological restoration efforts in the UCSB Campus Lagoon area. The sites addressed are the San Nicolas degraded wetlands, Campus Point, the coastal sage scrub, Manzanita Village and the bioswales. Overall, each of the sites have finished going through extensive restoration, with techniques such as solarization and re-introduction of native species. Most of the ecosystems are now returned to their pre-disturbed state, but continued efforts are needed to preserve the locations. 1.0 Introduction: The term “ecological restoration” is generally defined as “the return of an ecosystem to a close approximation of its condition prior to disturbance” (NRC Report, 1992). Although this term is often oversimplified, it includes a complex web of cultural, social and political aspects as well as environmental aspects. Due to its complexity, and in many cases, the many competing jurisdictions involved, it is often...
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...central and southern Africa. In Ethiopia there are isolated populations that exist around Lake Chad in Mali and Mauritania. Also in Kenya, Rhodesia, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Zaire, and in National parks located in South Africa, as well as several other countries. African Elephants, originally, were found in all of the Sub-Saharan African habitats except desert steppes. Elephants still occupy diverse habitats such as: temperate grassland, tropical savanna and grass lands, temperate forest and rainforest, tropical rainforest, tropical scrub forest, and tropical deciduous forest despite their drastic decline in numbers. However, their migratory patterns and habitat use have changed, due to the fact that they are restricted to protected areas. The elephant can exist in many types of environments but it prefers places that have many trees and bushes, which the elephant needs both for food and shade. They also like warm areas that have plenty of rainfall. This ensures plenty of food, shade, and water. The elephant prefers a habitat of mixed woodland and grassland which gives them an opportunity to eat a variety of vegetation. African Elephants are considered herbivores, they are both browsers and grazers; they will eat rough sticks, stems and leaves of plants as well as grasses, sedges, and fruit. Their favorites are mangoes, berries and coconuts. An...
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...Question 1 Most insects use external sources of heat to achieve their operative temperature range. Heinrich's research on the sphinx moth (Manduca sexta) indicates that some insects can thermoregulate by using their flight muscles and: A. using their blood as a coolant. B. decreasing their metabolic rate. C. possessing an internal respiratory system. D. using a countercurrent heat exchange mechanism. Question 2 The thermal stability of aquatic environments is a result of the: A. high specific heat of water. B. low latent heat of vaporization of water. C. low latent heat of fusion of water. D. All of the choices are correct. Question 3 Animals that rely mainly on external sources of energy for regulating body temperature are called: A. epitherms. B. endotherms. C. ectotherms. D. peritherms. Question 4 In general, reptiles are considered to be a/an: A. poikilotherm. B. homeotherm. C. endotherm. D. heterotherm. Question 5 Mammalian and avian aquatic endotherms use all of the following mechanisms to thermoregulate EXCEPT: A. fat. B. internal respiratory systems. C. fur or feathers. D. concurrent heat exchange. Question 6 The water availability for organisms is determined by: A. internal dissolved ion concentrations. B. external dissolved ion concentrations. C. movement of water down its concentration gradient. D. movement of water...
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...NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK Natural History of New York New York State covers an area of 54,077 square miles (141,229 square km), 87% of which is land. Inland lakes and rivers cover 1,894 square miles (4,908 sq. km) and the State has jurisdiction over 981 sq. miles (2,541 sq. km) of the Atlantic Ocean as well as 3,988 square miles (10,329 sq. km) of the Great Lakes. Climate New York State lies in the humid temperate region of the northeastern United States. Average January temperatures range from 15.8 to 33.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 66.2 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year and most parts of the State receive about 40 inches annually. Variation in topography and proximity to bodies of water causes large climatic variations and these deviations have created distinct ecological zones, which are home to a complex web of biological diversity. The Landscape New York’s land forms were shaped by the recent glacial stage which disappeared not more than 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Thompson (1977) identified nine major land form regions within the state. The Adirondack upland in the northern-most portion of the State includes New York’s highest point, Mt. Marcy, hundreds of glacial lakes, and rich mineral deposits. Other upland regions include the Appalachian upland, which occupies nearly half the state, and the Tug Hill Upland, which is the least settled part of the state due to its poor soils, bad drainage and excessive precipitation...
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