Comparing Four of Earth's Biomes
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Patterns and Drivers of Recent Disturbances Across the Temperate Forest Biome
ARTICLE DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06788-9 OPEN Patterns and drivers of recent disturbances across the temperate forest biome Andreas Sommerfeld 1, Cornelius Senf 1,2, Brian Buma 3, Anthony W. D’Amato 4, Tiphaine Després 5,6, Ignacio Díaz-Hormazábal7, Shawn Fraver8, Lee E. Frelich 9, Álvaro G. Gutiérrez 7, Sarah J. Hart10, Brian J. Harvey11, Hong S. He12, Tomáš Hlásny5, Andrés Holz 13, Thomas Kitzberger14, Dominik Kulakowski 15, David Lindenmayer 16, Akira S. Mori17, Jörg Müller18,19, Juan Paritsis 14, George L. W. Perry 20, Scott L. Stephens21, Miroslav Svoboda5, Monica G. Turner 22, Thomas T. Veblen23 & Rupert Seidl 1 1234567890():,; Increasing evidence indicates that forest disturbances are changing in response to global change, yet local variability in disturbance remains high. We quantified this considerable variability and analyzed whether recent disturbance episodes around the globe were con- sistently driven by climate, and if human influence modulates patterns of forest disturbance. We combined remote sensing data on recent (2001–2014) disturbances with in-depth local information for 50 protected landscapes and their surroundings across the temperate biome. Disturbance patterns are highly variable, and shaped by variation in disturbance agents and traits of prevailing tree species. However, high disturbance activity is consistently linked to warmer and drier than average conditions across the globe. Disturbances in protected areas are smaller and more complex in shape compared to their surroundings affected by human land use. This signal disappears in areas with high recent natural disturbance activity, underlining the potential of climate-mediated disturbance to transform forest landscapes. 1 University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) Vienna, Institute of Silviculture, Peter Jordan Straße 82, 1190 Wien, Austria. -
Biome-Specific Scaling of Ocean Productivity, Temperature, and Carbon Export Efficiency
UC Irvine UC Irvine Previously Published Works Title Biome-specific scaling of ocean productivity, temperature, and carbon export efficiency Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9vk7r4v9 Journal Geophysical Research Letters, 43(10) ISSN 0094-8276 Authors Britten, GL Primeau, FW Publication Date 2016 DOI 10.1002/2016GL068778 License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 4.0 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California PUBLICATIONS Geophysical Research Letters RESEARCH LETTER Biome-specific scaling of ocean productivity, 10.1002/2016GL068778 temperature, and carbon export efficiency Key Points: Gregory L. Britten1 and François W. Primeau1 • Optimized models predict carbon fi export ef ciency from net primary 1Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, USA production and sea surface temperature • Biome-specific relationships impact global export inferred from Abstract Mass conservation and metabolic theory place constraints on how marine export production (EP) satellite-derived variables scales with net primary productivity (NPP) and sea surface temperature (SST); however, little is empirically • Individual biomes respond differently known about how these relationships vary across ecologically distinct ocean biomes. Here we compiled in to simulated net primary production fi and sea surface temperature changes situ observations of EP, NPP, and SST and used statistical model selection theory to demonstrate signi cant biome-specific scaling relationships among these variables. Multiple statistically similar models yield a À threefold variation in the globally integrated carbon flux (~4–12 Pg C yr 1) when applied to climatological Supporting Information: • Supporting Information S1 satellite-derived NPP and SST. Simulated NPP and SST input variables from a 4×CO2 climate model experiment • Data Set S1 further show that biome-specific scaling alters the predicted response of EP to simulated increases of • Data Set S2 atmospheric CO2. -
One of Five West Coast, Low-Latitude Deserts of the World, the Namib Extends Along the Entire Namibian Coastline in an 80-120 Km Wide Belt
N A M I B I A G 3 E 0 O 9 1 L - O Y G E I V C R A U S L NAMIB DESERT Source: Roadside Geology of Namibia One of five west coast, low-latitude deserts of the world, the Namib extends along the entire Namibian coastline in an 80-120 km wide belt. Its extreme aridity is the result of the cold, upwelling Benguela Current, which flows up the west coast of Africa as far as Angola, and because of its low temperatures induces very little evaporation and rainfall (<50 mm per year). It does, however, create an up to 50 km wide coastal fog belt providing sufficient moisture for the development of a specialist flora and fauna, many of which are endemic to the Namib. In addition, the lagoons at Walvis Bay and Sandwich Harbour are designated wetlands of international importance, because of their unique setting and rich birdlife, including flamingo, white pelican and Damara tern. Larger mammals like the famed desert elephant, black rhino, lion, cheetah and giraffe can be found along the northern rivers traversing the Skeleton Coast National Park. Geomorphologically, the Namib includes a variety of landscapes, including classic sand dunes, extensive gravel plains, locally with gypcrete and calcrete duricrusts, elongated salt pans, ephemeral watercourses forming linear oases, inselbergs and low mountain ranges. Along the coast, wind-swept sandy beaches alternate with rocky stretches, in places carved into striking rock formations (e.g. Bogenfels Arch). Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, the “Namib Sand Sea“ between Lüderitz and the Kuiseb River encompasses such well-known landmarks as Sossusvlei and Sandwich Harbour, while the fabled Skeleton Coast north of the Ugab River is notorious for its numerous ship wrecks. -
Sanderson Et Al., the Human Footprint and the Last of the Wild
Articles The Human Footprint and the Last of the Wild ERICW. SANDERSON,MALANDING JAITEH, MARC A. LEVY,KENT H. REDFORD, ANTOINETTEV. WANNEBO,AND GILLIANWOOLMER n Genesis,God blesses humanbeings and bids us to take dominion over the fish in the sea,the birdsin the air, THE HUMANFOOTPRINT IS A GLOBAL and other We are entreatedto be fruitful every living thing. MAPOF HUMANINFLUENCE ON THE and multiply,to fill the earth,and subdueit (Gen. 1:28).The bad news, and the good news, is that we have almost suc- LANDSURFACE, WHICH SUGGESTSTHAT ceeded. Thereis little debatein scientificcircles about the impor- HUMANBEINGS ARE STEWARDS OF tance of human influenceon ecosystems.According to sci- WE LIKEIT OR NOT entists'reports, we appropriateover 40%of the net primary NATURE,WHETHER productivity(the greenmaterial) produced on Eartheach year (Vitouseket al. 1986,Rojstaczer et al.2001). We consume 35% thislack of appreciationmay be dueto scientists'propensity of the productivityof the oceanicshelf (Pauly and Christensen to expressthemselves in termslike "appropriation of net pri- 1995), and we use 60% of freshwaterrun-off (Postel et al. maryproductivity" or "exponentialpopulation growth," ab- 1996). The unprecedentedescalation in both human popu- stractionsthat require some training to understand.It may lation and consumption in the 20th centuryhas resultedin be dueto historicalassumptions about and habits inherited environmentalcrises never before encountered in the history fromtimes when human beings, as a group,had dramatically of humankindand the world (McNeill2000). E. O. Wilson less influenceon the biosphere.Now the individualdeci- (2002) claims it would now take four Earthsto meet the consumptiondemands of the currenthuman population,if Eric Sanderson(e-mail: [email protected])is associatedirector, and every human consumed at the level of the averageUS in- W. -
Grasslands 4/16/03 3:46 PM
Ecoregion: Grasslands 4/16/03 3:46 PM Grasslands INTRODUCTION About 25% of Earth’s land surface is covered by temperate grassland. These large expanses of flat or hilly country cover much of North America, as well as large areas of Europe, Asia, and South America. Most grasslands are found in the interiors of continents, where there is too little rainfall for a forest but too much rain for a desert. Art Explosion Art Explosion Rolling hills covered with grasses and very few trees A few scattered trees are found on savannas, are typical of North American grassland prairies. tropical grasslands of Africa. Temperate grasslands have subtle differences and different names throughout the world. Prairies and plains of North America are grasslands with tall grasses, while the steppes of Russia are grasslands with short grasses. Veldts are found in South Africa, the puszta in Hungary, and the pampas in Argentina and Uruguay. Savannas are tropical grasslands that support scattered trees and shrubs. They often form a transitional biome file:///Ecoregion/grass/content.html Page 1 of 6 Ecoregion: Grasslands 4/16/03 3:46 PM between deserts and rain forests. Some temperate grasslands are also called savannas. The word savanna comes from the Spanish word zavanna, meaning “treeless plain.” Savannas cover almost half of Africa (mostly central Africa) and large areas of Australia and South America. ABIOTIC DATA The grassland climate is rather dry, averaging about 20 to 100 centimeters (8–40 inches) of precipitation a year. Summers are very hot and may reach 45°C (113°F). Winter temperatures often fall below freezing, which is 0°C (32°F). -
North American Deserts Chihuahuan - Great Basin Desert - Sonoran – Mojave
North American Deserts Chihuahuan - Great Basin Desert - Sonoran – Mojave http://www.desertusa.com/desert.html In most modern classifications, the deserts of the United States and northern Mexico are grouped into four distinct categories. These distinctions are made on the basis of floristic composition and distribution -- the species of plants growing in a particular desert region. Plant communities, in turn, are determined by the geologic history of a region, the soil and mineral conditions, the elevation and the patterns of precipitation. Three of these deserts -- the Chihuahuan, the Sonoran and the Mojave -- are called "hot deserts," because of their high temperatures during the long summer and because the evolutionary affinities of their plant life are largely with the subtropical plant communities to the south. The Great Basin Desert is called a "cold desert" because it is generally cooler and its dominant plant life is not subtropical in origin. Chihuahuan Desert: A small area of southeastern New Mexico and extreme western Texas, extending south into a vast area of Mexico. Great Basin Desert: The northern three-quarters of Nevada, western and southern Utah, to the southern third of Idaho and the southeastern corner of Oregon. According to some, it also includes small portions of western Colorado and southwestern Wyoming. Bordered on the south by the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Mojave Desert: A portion of southern Nevada, extreme southwestern Utah and of eastern California, north of the Sonoran Desert. Sonoran Desert: A relatively small region of extreme south-central California and most of the southern half of Arizona, east to almost the New Mexico line. -
What Is in a Desert?
What is in a Desert? A Kindergarten Field Trip to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area Las Vegas, Nevada What is in a Desert? Overview: Students will use a variety of senses and activities to learn about what makes a desert. Animals, plants, rocks, and cultural relationships will be explored using the Visitor Center at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Students will also use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive. Duration: 25-minute session for pre-activity 1 day for field trip and reflection 30-minute session for post-activity Grade: Kindergarten Next Generation Science Standards: Field Trip Theme: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers a great opportunity to see the diverse collection of plants, animals, and rocks found in the Mojave Desert. During this field trip, students will use their senses and make observations on the plants, animals, and rocks of Red Rock Canyon. Objectives: Students will: ▪ identify at least two desert animals. ▪ identify at least two desert plants. ▪ identify at least two types of rocks. ▪ use their senses to explore the elements that make up a desert. ▪ describe various ways that desert animals find what they need to survive in the desert. ▪ use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals need to survive. Background Information: Although at first glance the Mojave Desert may seem an unlikely place for animals and plants to thrive or even exist, it actually contains sizeable populations of a diverse number of species. Because desert species have adapted to their environment, these are the habitats in which they thrive. -
The Impact of ENSO in the Atacama Desert and Australian Arid Zone: Exploratory Time-Series Analysis of Archaeological Records
Chungara, Revista de Antropología Chilena ISSN: 0716-1182 [email protected] Universidad de Tarapacá Chile Williams, Alan; Santoro, Calogero M.; Smith, Michael A.; Latorre, Claudio The impact of ENSO in the Atacama desert and Australian arid zone: exploratory time-series analysis of archaeological records Chungara, Revista de Antropología Chilena, vol. 40, 2008, pp. 245-259 Universidad de Tarapacá Arica, Chile Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=32609903 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative The impact of ENSO in the Atacama Desert and Australian arid zone:Volumen Exploratory 40 Número time-series Especial, analysis… 2008. Páginas 245-259245 Chungara, Revista de Antropología Chilena THE IMPACT OF ENSO IN THE ATACAMA DESERT AND AUSTRALIAN ARID ZONE: EXPLORATORY TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORDS1 EL IMPACTO DE ENSO EN EL DESIERTO DE ATACAMA Y LA ZONA ÁRIDA DE AUSTRALIA: ANÁLISIS EXPLORATORIOS DE SERIES TEMPORALES ARQUEOLÓGICAS Alan Williams2, Calogero M. Santoro3, Michael A. Smith4, and Claudio Latorre5 A comparison of archaeological data in the Atacama Desert and Australian arid zone shows the impact of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) over the last 5,000 years. Using a dataset of > 1400 radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites across the two regions as a proxy for population change, we develop radiocarbon density plots, which are then used to explore the responses of these prehistoric populations to ENSO climatic variability. -
The Ecology of Large Herbivores Native to the Coastal Lowlands of the Fynbos Biome in the Western Cape, South Africa
The ecology of large herbivores native to the coastal lowlands of the Fynbos Biome in the Western Cape, South Africa by Frans Gustav Theodor Radloff Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Science (Botany) at Stellenbosh University Promoter: Prof. L. Mucina Co-Promoter: Prof. W. J. Bond December 2008 DECLARATION By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the owner of the copyright thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated) and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: 24 November 2008 Copyright © 2008 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii ABSTRACT The south-western Cape is a unique region of southern Africa with regards to generally low soil nutrient status, winter rainfall and unusually species-rich temperate vegetation. This region supported a diverse large herbivore (> 20 kg) assemblage at the time of permanent European settlement (1652). The lowlands to the west and east of the Kogelberg supported populations of African elephant, black rhino, hippopotamus, eland, Cape mountain and plain zebra, ostrich, red hartebeest, and grey rhebuck. The eastern lowlands also supported three additional ruminant grazer species - the African buffalo, bontebok, and blue antelope. The fate of these herbivores changed rapidly after European settlement. Today the few remaining species are restricted to a few reserves scattered across the lowlands. This is, however, changing with a rapid growth in the wildlife industry that is accompanied by the reintroduction of wild animals into endangered and fragmented lowland areas. -
The Riparian Zone
Land-Water Interactions: The Riparian Zone F J. Swanson, S. V Gregory, J. R. Sedell,and A. G.Campbell INTRODUCTION The interface between aquatic and terrestrial environments in coniferous structure, composition, and function of the riparian zone had received little consideration in ecosystem level research, because this zone forms the interface between scientific disci- plines as well as ecosystem components. In some climate-vegetation zones particular aspects of riparian zones have received much study. ñparinpiant communities in arid lands have been studied extensive!y, primar- ily in terms o TdfeTbiiatJohnson and Jones 1977 Thomas et al 1979) Research on riparian 'egetation along major rivers has dealt mainly with forest composition and dynamics (for example, Lindsey et al. 1961; Sigafoos 1964; Bell 1974; Johnson et al. 1976). Riparian vegetation research has been largely neglected in forested mountain land, where it tends to have smaller areal extent and economic value than upslope vegetation. yre!pian zone is an integral part of the forest/stream ecosystem complex. This chapter synthesizes general concepts about the riparian zone in north- west coniferous forests and the results of coniferous forest biome research on: (1) structure and composition of riparian vegetation and its variation in time and space; and (2) functional aspects of the riparian zone in terms of physical, biological, and chemical terrestrial/aquatic interactions. We emphasize condi- tions observed in mountain streams and small rivers. The riparian zone may be defined in a variety of ways, based on factors such as vegetation type, groundwater and surface water hydrology, topogra- phy, and ecosystem function. These factors have so many complex interactions that defining the riparian zone in one sense integrates elements of the other factors. -
Asia-Pacific's Ecological Footprint
ASIA-PACIFIC 2005 The Ecological Footprint and Natural Wealth ountries in Asia and the Pacific have made a firm nor extended worldwide without causing additional consumed like an average American or European?” We commitment to sustainable development. We want life-threatening damage to the global environment have only one planet, yet all people want, and have the Ca better quality of life for all, while safeguarding the and increasing social inequity. right to, fulfilling lives. The challenge for high income Earth’s capacity to support life in all its diversity and This report is a call for action, not just for the policy countries is to radically reduce footprint while maintaining respecting the limits of the planet’s natural resources. How community, but for the scientific and business com- quality of life. For lasting improvements in their quality of can we achieve this in the face of growing populations and munities as well. It echoes what the Millennium Ecosystem life, lower income countries are facing the complementary changing consumption patterns, both within the region Assessment found: that the health of natural systems has challenge of finding new paths to development that can and the world? a profound impact on our quality of life, but 60 percent of provide best living conditions without liquidating their As a first step to answering this question, we need to the ecosystem services that support life on Earth are being ecological wealth. know where we are today. How does the Asia-Pacific degraded or used unsustainably. This report provides a The Asia-Pacific region is in a unique position to shape region’s current demand for ecological resources compare frank assessment of what is at stake for Asia and the the development model for the whole world in the coming to the region’s (and the planet’s) supply? How does it Pacific and for the rest of the world. -
Sensitivity of Mangrove Range Limits to Climate Variability Kyle C
University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln USGS Staff -- ubP lished Research US Geological Survey 4-28-2017 Sensitivity of mangrove range limits to climate variability Kyle C. Cavanaugh Department of Geography, University of California, [email protected] Michael J. Osland U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center Remi Bardou Department of Geography, University of California Gustavo Hinojosa-Arango Academia de Biodiversidad, Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigacion para el Desarrollo Integral Regional Unidad Oaxaca (CIIDIR-IPN) Juan M. Lopez-Vivas Programa de Investigacion en Botanica Marina, Departamento Academico de Ciencias Marinas y Costeras, Universidad See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub Part of the Geology Commons, Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons, Other Earth Sciences Commons, and the Other Environmental Sciences Commons Cavanaugh, Kyle C.; Osland, Michael J.; Bardou, Remi; Hinojosa-Arango, Gustavo; Lopez-Vivas, Juan M.; Parker, John D.; and Rovai, Andre S., "Sensitivity of mangrove range limits to climate variability" (2017). USGS Staff -- Published Research. 1041. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/1041 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in USGS Staff -- ubP lished Research by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Authors Kyle C. Cavanaugh, Michael J. Osland, Remi Bardou, Gustavo Hinojosa-Arango, Juan M. Lopez-Vivas, John D. Parker, and Andre S. Rovai This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgsstaffpub/1041 Received: 28 April 2017 | Revised: 5 March 2018 | Accepted: 14 March 2018 DOI: 10.1111/geb.12751 RESEARCH PAPER Sensitivity of mangrove range limits to climate variability Kyle C.