2. The Importance of Soil
• Source of nutrients:
All animals, including humans,
ultimately get their energy from
plants. This is why it is
important soil must be rich in
nutrients so plants can grow
and animals that eat the plants
can get the nutrients.
3. “Housing”
Soil is the habitat for most
plants (but not all) and many
animals such as earthworms,
ants, moles, grubs, and
prairie dogs.
The Biosphere includes the
Geosphere
4. Soil Fertility
Good soil has nutrients, such as iron, which are
important in plant growth. This is soil fertility.
Some nutrients come from parent rock and some
from humus (organic matter) decayed remains of
plants and animals.
5. Water Storage
Plants get their water from the soil. Soil also prevents
flooding by absorbing water during heavy rainfall.
The Biosphere includes the Hydrosphere
6. Soil Damage and Loss
Soil damage can lead to soil loss. Overgrazing, poor farming
techniques, and human damage all contribute to soil loss. This
process is called land degradation.
7. Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is a natural process. Plant loss speeds it
up by removing plant cover and roots
8. Soil Conservation
Soil Conservation is a
method to maintain
the fertility of soil. To
do this we must
protect soil from
nutrient loss and soil
erosion.
9. Contour Plowing
Contour Plowing is used on gently sloping terrain to prevent
gullying. Furrows are plowed along the contour of the land.
When rain occurs, it fills the furrow rather than flowing downhill.
10. Terracing
Terracing is another
method used to control
the runoff of water in
areas with steep
slopes. The land is
leveled in order to
prevent downhill
runoff.
11. No-till Farming
No-till Farming has the advantage that the ground is never
broken. The crops are mowed, herbicides are added and seeds
with fertilizers are directly added to the soil.
12. Crop Rotation “Cover Crops”
Crop rotation is used to keep crops from depleting the soil. If the
same crop is planted year after year, it exhausts certain nutrients
in the soil. Certain “cover crops” such as soybeans replenish the
nutrients. Fields are never left bare or the soil will disappear.
13. Windbreaks
Windbreaks, such as trees and shrubs prevent the evaporation of
water from wind and prevents the removal of topsoil.
14. The type of soil that forms depends on the
rock that weathers (called “parent material”)
and other factors.
The development of a soil is influenced by five interrelated
factors: organisms, topography, time, parent material, and
climate.
• Major
difference
between many
biomes
15. Leaching
Water dissolves and carries
nutrients in the topsoil
down through the horizons.
This is called leaching and
leads to the removal of
nutrients that can be
dissolved due to the passing
of water.
16. Soil Texture is
the soil
quality that is
based on the
proportions
of solid
particles.
17. To use the pyramid:
Given a soil mix find
the soil type:
Clay 45%
Silt 35%
Calculate sand
Triangulate type
18. Succession
◻ When an area becomes available for plants, a series
of plants develops with time
◻ Primary Succession
⬜ The land has not
had plants on it before
(no soil, etc.)
◻ Secondary Succession
⬜ The land had plants in the past, soil and nutrients exist
http://www.mrphome.net/mrp/succession.swf
19.
20.
21. Interconnectedness of Factors
Climate
Avg. Temp.
Avg. Precip.
Small Plants
Small Animals
Thin Soil
Low nutrient content
Larger Plants
and Animals
Thicker Soil
Largest Plants
and Animals
Primary or Secondary
Succession
Allows for
Roots stabilize soil
Organic matter
builds up
More soil allows
for
More material
added
Eventually get
Climax Community
22. Biosphere Vocabulary you need to know!
Biosphere: all the life and supporting environments on Earth
Biodiversity: the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
-measured by the number of species in an area and the amount of
genetic variation within each species
Biotic Factors: (bio=life) organisms and supporting environments on earth
- Biotic groups include producers, consumers, and decomposers
Abiotic: (a = not) non living things ex: water, air, rocks, temperature, sunlight
Biomes: a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain
types of plant and animal communities
23. Climate vs Weather
◻ Climate differs from
weather. Weather is short
term, climate is annual
averages
◻ Climate focuses on an
area’s average
temperature and rainfall
◻ Climate determines what
can LIVE in an area
24. Global Climate Zones
◻ Tropical: equator to 23.5˚ N & S latitude
⬜ Examples: Tropical Rainforest, tropical savannah, tropical desert
■ Receive most solar radiation so highest temperatures
■ Large amount of evaporation and transpiration so usually a lot of precipitation
◻ Temperate: 23.5˚- 66.5˚ N & S latitude
⬜ Examples: temperate deciduous forest, temperate desert, grassland, chaparral
■ Lower temps than tropical zone, more distinct seasons due to Earth’s tilt
◻ Polar: 66.5˚- 90˚ (the poles) N & S latitude
⬜ Examples: Tundra, Taiga/Boreal Forest
■ Coldest average temperatures of all
25.
26. Köppen Climate Classification
The system is based on the concept that
native vegetation is the best expression of
climate. Climate zone boundaries have been
selected with vegetation distribution in mind.
Divides the world
into five groups and a
total of 29 climates
27. Group A: Tropical/climates
Group B: Dry (arid / semiarid) climates
GP C: Temperate climates
GROUP D: Continental / microthermal
climates
GROUP E: Polar and alpine climates
28.
29. Köppen Climate Classification Use
• The Köppen system is based on
the direct relationship between
climate and vegetation. It
provides an efficient way to
describe climatic conditions
defined by temperature and
precipitation and their
seasonality with a single metric.
31. Tropical Biomes
• Remember climate is based on temperature and precipitation.
• Depending on local factors, tropical areas may be warm or cold,
dry or wet, or have distinct changes in season, especially distinct wet
/ dry seasons
32. Climate of the Tropics
The tropics receive more, direct solar
radiation than anyplace else on Earth
• Typically very hot,
except at high
elevation
• Highly variable
rainfall amounts, but
often the wettest areas
on Earth
33. Biome: Tropical Rain Forests
• Temperatures range from 25 to 28C (77-82F)
• Rainfall averages ~ 200cm a year (~ 6.6 feet)
• Soils are typically quite poor, plants grow despite this, leads to
slash and burn farming
34. Tropical Rain Forest Climates
These biomes are very
humid due to the large
amount of rain. Plants
grow all year using
nutrients from the soil.
The soils are also nutrient
poor because of the
leaching due to the heavy
rains.
35. Life in the Tropical Rainforest
● Some existing rainforests have lasted over 65 million
years. This stability has led to great biodiversity.
● Rainforests harbor the greatest gene pool in the world.
• The rainforest has
nurtured this “pool" to
become home for 170,000
of the world's 250,000
known plant species.
36. Changing Tropical Rain Forests
• Rainforests used to cover 14% of the Earth’s surface, now they
cover 6%. We are losing 1 ½ acres per second, mostly due to human
activity.
• The remaining tropical rainforest along
with half the world’s species could be gone
within the next 40 years at current rates
of loss, and rates are still increasing.
37. Biome: Tropical Savannas
• Temperatures range from 27 to 32C (80-90F)
• Rainfall averages ~ 100cm a year (~ 3.6 feet)
• Soils are again quite poor, yet some plants thrive
Most have a distinct wet
and dry season – leading to
challenges for life there
38. Life in Tropical Savannas
• Savannas are grasslands, all that food allows for large herds
of herbivores. Savannas do not have the biodiversity of
rainforests, but they have huge biomass…including lots of very
large animals and sometimes large trees
39. Changing Tropical Savannas
• Tropical savannas are more sensitive to global warming than
previously believed. Savannas are being lost slowly, in the next 80
years 6 to 20% will disappear and threatened mammal species will
increase 10 to 40%
Normally warmer
climates are less sensitive
to global warming than
colder climates
40. Biome: Tropical Deserts
• Temperature range from 16 to 50C (61-120F)
• Rainfall averages 0 to 25 cm a year (<1 foot)
• Rainfall is sporadic and in some years absent
Tropical deserts are normally found
inland away from ocean moisture. The
sun can heat up the land, but there is
little water vapor (which also leads to
cold nights)
41. Desert Climates
Deserts get less than 25 cm (10 in) of rain per year.
There is little chemical weathering and soils take a
long time to develop. There are often lots of salts which
are toxic to many plants.
Poor
Soil
Small
Plants
42. • Tropical deserts are the hottest, driest places on Earth.
Life fights to survive and has adapted, some animals never
actually drink liquid water
Life in Tropical Deserts
43. Changing Tropical Deserts
• Deserts are classified based on low precipitation, the
largest desert on Earth is Antarctica. However, tropical
deserts form the largest hot deserts. With global warming
they may grow…but if the ice caps melt that may affect
rain patterns
45. Biome: Temperate Forests
• Temperatures range from 0 to 28 C (32-82 F)
• Rainfall averages 76-200 cm/year (2.5- 6.5’)
• Soils are typically very good, organically rich
• With a lot of
leaves falling every
fall, soil is
constantly built up
and renewed
46. Temperate Forest Life
Potentially large biodiversity and very large
biomass. Wide variety of plants and animals.
• Large plants and
plant biomass
• Fairly large
herbivores and
47. Biome: Temperate Grasslands
• Temperatures range from -6 – 26 C (21 – 78 F)
• Rainfall averages 38 - 76 cm/year (1.3 – 2.5 feet)
• Soils are typically some of the best on Earth
North American Prairie
Because the soil is so good, over 70%
of the temp. grasslands are gone
The South African Veld
Used to cover about 42% of the
Earth’s surface
48. Biome: Chaparrals (mountains and plains)
• Temperatures range from 11 – 26 C (51 – 78 F)
• Rainfall averages 48 - 56 cm/year (1.6 – 1.8 feet)
• Soils are usually rocky and nutrient poor
• Chaparrals
have cool wet
winters & hot
dry summers
• Conditions
are mild and
very stable
Higher up they usually
get too little rain to
support trees
Lower chaparral may
have small trees
growing
49. Biome: Temperate Deserts
• Temperatures range from 11 – 26 C (51 - 78F)
• Rainfall averages 48 - 56 cm/year (1.6 – 1.8 feet)
• Soils are usually rocky and nutrient poor
50. The Polar Zones
• Temperatures are cold all year, usually freezing
• In the short summer for a time sun never sets
• In winter there are days when sun never rises
51. Biome: Tundra
• Temperatures range from –27- 5 C (-17- 41 F)
• Rainfall averages 0 - 25 cm/year (<1 foot)
• Soils are usually fairly nutrient poor, & frozen
•Desert like due to lack of rainfall
52. Biome: Taiga
• Temperatures range from 10 – 15 C (14 – 59 F)
• Rainfall averages 40 – 61 cm/year (1.3 – 2.0 feet)
• Soils are usually acidic, rocky, and nutrient poor
Very little water
is available since
it is normally
snow or ice
Few animals, plants
very small (lichens)
or spaced out more
than elsewhere
53. Microclimates
Plants and animals survive harsh climates by
staying in small areas that differ from that
environment. HUMANS do this everywhere!
North Carolinian, famous
newsman and writer,
Charles Kuralt once said,
“Nobody lives in New York
City.” everyone has their
little spot in the big city
54. Biome Location/latitude Temp Precip Abiotic Factors Biotic factors(plants/animals)
Tropical
Rainforest
Along the Equator 25 → 28 C ~200 cm Poor soil, nutrient poor due to
leaching
layers/canopy - largest gene pool in the
world great biodiversity
Tropical:
Savanna
Africa, Australia, South
America, India
27 → 32 C ~ 100 cm Poor soil, distinct wet and dry
season
Large herds of herbivores and large
animals and trees
Tropical:
Desert
US Southwest, South America
(Peru)
16 → 50 C 0 -25 cm Sand (poor soil), sporadic
rainfall, inland away from
oceans
Succulents, small plants and animals
adapted to having little to no water
Temperate:
Deciduous
Forest
**North Carolina - Eastern US,
Canada, Europe, Russia,
China, Japan
0 → 28 C 76-200 cm Rich soil due to falling leaves
- soil is constantly refreshed,
go through 4 seasons
Deciduous (lose leaves) trees, large
herbivores and carnivores and large plants
Temperate:
Grasslands
Africa, South America, Eurasia,
US Plains
-6 → 26 C 38-76 cm Rich soil, best on Earth Tall grasses, large herds of animals
Temperate:
Chaparral
**California - West coast of US
and South America,
11 → 26 C 48-56 cm Rocky, nutrient poor soil, cool
winters and hot dry summers.
Small bushes, small growing trees at lower
elevations and little to none at higher elev
Temperate :
Desert
Central Asia, Great Basin of US
and Patagonia, South Am
11 → 26 C 48-56 cm Rocky nutrient poor soil Succulents, small plants and animals
adapted to having little to no water
Polar: Tundra Arctic - North Pole -27 → -5
C
0-25 cm Permafrost, nutrient poor Desert like due to lack of rainfall, very few
small plants
Polar: Taiga
Largest Biome
Canada: 50 degrees N to the
Arctic circle
10 → 15 C 40-61 cm Mountains, very little water
available, poor soil
Confierous trees (EVERGREENS), small
plants like lichens, few animals
55. NC Biomes - Deciduous Forest
Appalachian Highlands: rises 6684 above sea level at the peak of Mount Mitchell
Piedmont: (french for “foot of the mountain) aka “the foothills” The rolling hills of
this region range in elevation from 300-1500 ft near the mountains.
Coastal Plains: the low, flat land of NC’s Eastern region stretches from the sandy
farmland of the inner Coastal Plain to the Outer Banks
NC has 3 distinct biomes because of its diverse regions causing 3 seperate and
distinct biomes within the state.
56. Climatograms
Climatograms are a graphic way of showing
monthly detail for a specific climate or biome
Can see monthly temperature and
precipitation data and changes
(seasonality, wet season, etc.) Can
tell what the biome is, or what it
will be like
Typically, precipitation is a
bar graph and temperature
is a line graph
57. Hierarchy of an Ecosystem
Individual: one single organism/ Species: one type of organism
Population: the number of a specific species in an area
Community: all of the species in an area
Ecosystem: all of the abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors in a particular area
Biome: set of ecosystems
Interdependence: The survival of a species is dependent on other living organisms
and on non living components
58. Interdependence
Energy Pyramid:
● In the ecosystem, the energy is
transferred when an organism eats
another organism.
● The sun is the source of energy for
all living beings on the Earth.
● An energy pyramid is a graphical
representation of the trophic levels
(nutritional) by which the incoming
solar energy is transferred into an
ecosystem.
10% rule: 10% of the energy “harvested at
a lower trophic level is transferred up to
the next higher trophic level
59. Interdependence: Food Webs
Food Web :illustrates the
interdependence of animals and plants on
one another in order to survive.
Shows:
● species interaction
● community structure
● the flow of energy from producer to
consumer
60. Biodiversity
● Decreases as you go toward the poles and increases as you move toward the equator
Why is biodiversity important?
Healthy ecosystems clean our water, purify our air, maintain our soil, regulate the climate,
recycle nutrients and provide us with food. They provide raw materials and resources for
medicines and other purposes. Biodiversity is the key indicator of the health of an ecosystem
- Food chains
- Ecosystem stability
- Provides materials
- Food
- Medicine
Threats: poaching, invasive species, population growth, global warming, habitat
loss
61. Global impact on loss of biodiversity
● A sharp decline in biodiversity is affecting every region of the world,
threatening the ability of citizens in many nations to find adequate food and
clean water
● Earth is losing species at an unsustainable rate, more than 1000 times the natural speed of
evolution. We are losing not only certain species, but the populations of many species are
declining.
● Loss of keystone predators that keep populations in check would have a major impact on the
ecosystems.
62. Poaching/Life expectancy
Animals and Plant life is declining:
Threatened: number of remaining members of the species is declining and is
close to becoming endagered ex: African Elephant
Endangered Species: Close to becoming extinct ex: Black Rhino
Extinction: All members of a species are gone and will never return ex:
passenger pigeon
Poaching: illegal hunting or capturing of animals.
- Especially true with animals like the black rhinos and african elephants which
are sought after for their ivory tusks
63. Invasive Species in NC
Invasive species: plants, animals, or other organisms that are introduced to a
given area outside of their original range ad cause harm in their new home. THEY
HAVE NO KNOWN NATURAL PREDITORS.
Kudzu: plant - smothers other plants cutting off access to sunlight. Introduced for
erosion control
Stink bugs: native to China, serious agriculture pest feeding on market produce
especially soybeans. Introduced by accident.
Fire Ants: native to South America, they have displaced many native species.
Introduced by accident
64. Invasive Species
Arrive in new area
Establish themselves
Reproduce and spread
Displace native species
Dominante an Ecosystem
65. Effects of Population Growth in NC
Habitat Alteration: Land use is changed to build more areas for housing, more
forest area is being cut down or changed as well as coastal areas - as more
communities are built more habitats are lost.
Pollution: Pollution from cars, waste, fertilizers increases as more people move
into an area, this increase in pollution affects the biodiversity of plants and animals
in an area.
Overharvesting: or overfishing in the case of fish and marine invertebrates,
depletes some species to very low numbers and drives others to extinction.
66. Global Warming/Climate Change
As climate change alters temperature and weather patterns, it will also impact
plant and animal life. Scientists expect the number and range of species, which
define biodiversity, will decline greatly as temperatures continue to rise. The loss
of biodiversity could have many negative impacts on the future of ecosystems and
humanity worldwide.
● Rising temperatures already affect the world's polar regions.
● Diminishing ice packs reduce the habitats of polar bears, penguins, puffins,
and other Arctic creatures. As the ice melts, it increases the sea level, which
will affect and perhaps destroy ecosystems on coastlines.
● Changes in temperatures will also cause shifts in mating cycles, especially for
migratory animals that rely on changing seasons to indicate their migration
and reproductive timing.
67. Habitat Loss
Deforestation: the action of clearing a wide area of trees.
● Forest loss and degradation is mostly caused by the expansion of agricultural land, intensive
harvesting of timber, wood for fuel and other forest products, as well as overgrazing.
Urbanization: the population shift from rural to urban residency, the gradual increase in the
proportion of people living in urban areas
● Habitat loss poses the greatest threat to species. The world's forests, swamps, plains, lakes,
and other habitats continue to disappear as they are harvested for human consumption and
cleared to make way for agriculture, housing, roads,and pipelines.
● Habitat loss is the main threat to 85% of the species on the endangered or threatened list.
