Geography 1 (41100). Prof. Dean . Wint., Jan 24, 2012 . Lect and Chp 11
Chapter 11
Terrestrial Flora and Fauna
I. Ecosystems and Biomes
a. Ecosystem- community of plants and animals living together.
b. Numerous ecosystem scales
c. Biomes
i. Large recognizable assemblage of plants and animals in
interaction with environment.
ii. Identified by dominant vegetation, biomass.
iii. Ten major types
d. Ecotones
II. Terrestrial Flora
a. Most significant visual component of landscape
b. Sensitive indicator to other environmental attributes
c. Influence on human settlement and activities
d. Plant characteristics
i. Hardy
ii. Perennials
iii. Annuals
iv. Highly variable in size
v. Common characteristics: roots, stems, branches, leaves
e. Floristic terminology
i. Two types, seeds and spores
ii. Spore reproduction
1. Bryophytes—mosses and liverworts
2. Pteridophytes—ferns, horsetails
iii. Seed reproduction
1. Gymnosperms—seeds in comes, also called confiers
2. Anigosperms—seeds encased in protection, al other
plant life is of this type.
iv. Woody plants versus herbaceous plants
v. Evergreen trees versus deciduous trees
vi. Broadleaf trees versus needleaf trees
vii. Hardwoods versus softwoods
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Geography 1 (41100). Prof. Dean . Wint., Jan 24, 2012 . Lect and Chp 11
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f. Terrestrial Flora
i. Environmental adaptations
1. Plants have changed their tolerance relative to their
environmental conditions
2. Two most prominent adaptations involve availability of
water.
ii. Xerophytic adaptations
1. Roots modified in shape and size to seek moisture
2. Stems modified as a means to store moisture
3. Leaf surface modified to decrease transpiration
4. Lie dormant for years until receive rain, then reproduce
rapidly.
iii. Hygrophytic adaptations
1. Hydrophytes-those that are completely submersed in
water
2. Hygrophytes-those which require frequent water
soakings
3. Extensive root systems
4. Hygrophytic plants supported by the buoyancy of water.
iv. Competition and inevitability of change
1. Plants are competitive for area
2. Floristic pattern of Earth’s surface is impermanent
3. Eventual pattern of constant plant composition-climax
vegetation
4. Seral stages.
v. Spatial associations of plants
1. Need generalization to interpret spatial flora patterns
2. Human effects
vi. Major Floristic associations.
vii. Forests
1. Trees so close their leaf canopies overlap
2. Require significant annual precipitation
3. Likely to become climax vegetation.
viii. Woodlands
1. Trees spaced out
Geography 1 (41100). Prof. Dean . Wint., Jan 24, 2012 . Lect and Chp 11
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ix. Shrublands
1. Short, woody plants such as shrubs or bushes
x. Grasslands
1. Scattered trees and shrubs
2. Dominated by grasses and forbs
3. Prominent types include savanna
xi. Desert
1. Widely scattered plants with much bare ground
2. Great variety of vegetation
xii. Tundra
1. Complex mix of low plants with no tres
2. Cold climates
xiii. Wetlands
1. Shallow standing water
2. Swamps and marshes
xiv. Vertical zonation
xv. Local variations
xvi. Valley bottom location, riparian vegetation
xvii. Fauna more widely distributed than flora.
xviii. Less prominence in geographic study
xix. Sometimes fauna more sensitive to the health of an ecosystem.
xx. Animal characteristics
1. Motile
2. Need plants
xxi. Environmental adaptations
1. Evolution impacts
2. Adaptation to environmental
xxii. Behavioral adaptations
1. Change behavior based on environmental stress
xxiii. Reproductive adaptations
xxiv. Competition among animals
1. Indirect competition for space and resources
2. Direct competition through predation
xxv. Cooperation among animals
1. Social groups of animals
Geography 1 (41100). Prof. Dean . Wint., Jan 24, 2012 . Lect and Chp 11
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2. Symbiosis
a. Mutualism
b. Commensalism
c. Parasitism
III. Zoogeographic Regions
a. Broad distribution of fauna reflects energy and food diversity
distribution
b. Nine zoogeographic regions based on vertebrate distribution
c. Australian-isolated large island has limited fauna types, but 8 of 9 are
endemic
i. Flora unique 90% are eucalyptus
ii. Fauna dominated by monotremes and marsupials
IV. The Major Biomes
a. Tropical rainforest (selva)
i. Greatest species diversity
ii. Different heights of vegetation
iii. Very dense vegetation
iv. Little surface vegetation due to lack of sunlight
v. Fauna generally arboreal (tree dwelling)
b. Tropical deciduous forest
i. Less tree density
c. Tropical scrub
i. Subtropical steppe and tropical savanna climates
ii. Extensive grasses
d. Tropical savanna
i. Dominated by tall grasses, occasional bare ground
e. Desert
i. Wide flora diversity xerophytic flora.
f. Mediterranean woodlands and shrub
V. Human modification of natural distribution patterns
a. Humans can modify distribution patterns astonishingly quickly