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Lecture 2: Climate & biomes; ranges; introduction to physiological ecology
1. Climatic factors and geographic distribution of biomes 2. Sources of climate variation beyond the basic latitudinal
belts 3. Example of one environmental challenge to physiology:
Heat balance/thermal ecology of animals a. Modes of heat gain and loss; homeostasis b. Size, shape, insulation, evaporative cooling c. Tradeoff principle and adaptive compromises (example
of weasel body shape)
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
General trends of terrestrial vegetation with climatic variables
Vegetation growth (primary productivity) increases with moisture and temperature
Vegetation stature also increases so regions with certain combinations of
moisture and temperature develop predictable, characteristic types of vegetation = biomes
Seasonality is secondarily important 2 Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Biome types depend on combination of temperature and precipitation
From Krebs after R.H. Whittaker
Highest productivity Lowest productivity
My examples from: Central America, Vietnam Ontario Colorado Arizona
Compare version in text Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Latitude mostly determines major terrestrial biomes; learn classification in SFE
Deserts near 30 deg N & S
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Additional climate patchiness overlaid on basic latitudinal belts
Temperature: land changes temperature more readily than water; maritime climates are moderate, continental climates are extreme; oceans provide thermal inertia
Precipitation: where does atmosphere get laden with moisture; where does it condense? Evaporation high from warm bodies of water, low from cold Prevailing winds Orogenic precipitation: air forced up mountainsides undergoes
adiabatic cooling, precipitates on upper windward slopes Rain shadows created on leeward slopes of mountain ranges Seasonality of moisture also important
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Earths tilt (23.5 ) produces seasonality
Ricklefs Fig. 4.2
Latitudinal patterns complicated by distribution of landmasses
Width of red ribbon shows annual variation in temp.
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Where are grapes and cherries grown in cold climates? Maritime pockets
Door Co., Wisc.
Niagara & Pelee, Ontario
North Fork, Long Island
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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The driest deserts occur inland of cold-water upwellings: cold water => dry air
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Montane rain shadows: Sierras and Rockies
Yellow = grassland (drier), east of Rockies Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Biomes across elevational gradient: Arizona mountains
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
South-facing side of Round Mountain, western Colorado
11 Valley floor = irrigated hay pasture
Dry sagebrush scrub
Forest only at higher elevations & eastern flank
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
North-facing side of Round Mountain, western Colorado
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Forest across entire face
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect, AZ: Elevation correlated with both temperature and precipitation; change of
100 m in elevation equals ~ 150 km of latitude
More info: http://www.saguaro-juniper.com/i_and_i/san_pedro/ecoregions/desert_to_skyisland.htm Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Sonoran desert, 712 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Oak grassland, 1338 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Pinyon pine-oak woodland, 1612 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Ponderosa pine, 1916 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Aspen, 2402 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Spruce-fir forest, 2750 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Mt. Lemmon transect: Spruce-fir forest, 2750 m
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Core ideas in physiological ecology Ranges of tolerance (Lecture 1) ultimately limit
distribution Organisms are complex chemical reactions Reactions occur (enzymes function) best at
optimum temperature and osmotic conditions, where fitness is maximized
Many mechanisms for homeostasis have evolved to challenge hostile environments
Maintenance of homeostasis requires energy and is often limited by constraints & tradeoffs
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Two types of range: ranges of tolerance and geographical ranges
Animals geographical ranges often correspond to biomes, i.e., limited by climate and/or vegetation
but sometimes not. Possibilities include: Limited to special habitats (behavioural habitat
selection) Limited by other organisms (enemies, friends) Transcend biomes (ecological versatility, super
generalists) Not at limits because of recent history (e.g.,
limited dispersal) Next slides: a sample of ranges
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Limited by habitat: Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana): broad climate tolerance, narrow habitat range (short-grass prairie biome, American High Plains)
South Park, Colorado April 2012 Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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www.ownbyphotography.com
Yellow-rumped warbler Dendroica coronata
Kirtlands warbler Dendroica kirtlandii
www.birds.cornell.edu/
Idiosyncratic, species-specific habitat selection behaviour can greatly influence distributions
Extreme habitat
generalist
Paradoxically extreme habitat
specialist (cognitive
limitation?) Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Transcending biomes: broad
temperature tolerance,
broad habitat range
Tropical rainforest, Sumatra
Boreal forest, Siberia
Tiger, Panthera tigris
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
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Range limited not by climate or habitat type but by other animals: recent coyote expansion due to
humans, extirpation of wolves?
Coyote, Canis latrans
Coypright 2014 James D Thomson
Animals, size, heat budgets
27 Rufous hummingbird Merriam shrew Coypright 2014 James D Thomson