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THE PHYSICAL THE PHYSICAL SETTINGSETTING
Amphibian Declines and Amphibian Declines and ClimateClimate Combination of factors have Combination of factors have
lead to amphibian decline lead to amphibian decline worldwideworldwide
2/3 of the 110 species of 2/3 of the 110 species of Harlequin frogs may have gone Harlequin frogs may have gone extinct in the last 25 yearsextinct in the last 25 years
Declines have occurred in Declines have occurred in pristine locations (cloud forests)pristine locations (cloud forests)
Global warming and fungus Global warming and fungus working in concertworking in concert
Chytrid Fungus grow and attack Chytrid Fungus grow and attack the skin of amphibiansthe skin of amphibians
Thicker cloud cover in the Thicker cloud cover in the tropics resulting from warmer tropics resulting from warmer temperatures allow for cooler temperatures allow for cooler ground temperatures in areas ground temperatures in areas allowing the fungus to growallowing the fungus to grow
Introduction:Introduction:
Limits to geographic ranges (most Limits to geographic ranges (most cases):cases):
Terrestrial habitatsTerrestrial habitats - climate and - climate and soil typessoil types
Aquatic habitatsAquatic habitats - temperature, - temperature, salinity, light and pressuresalinity, light and pressure
Heat EnergyHeat Energy
Two different sources of energy:
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed)
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun
Earth’s CoreEarth’s Core
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed)
Earth’s CoreEarth’s Core
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed) Radiates through the earth’s crust and
into space
Earth’s CoreEarth’s Core
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed) Radiates through the earth’s crust and
into space moves and shapes earth crust forms mountains, causes earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions shifts plates containing continents
Earth’s CoreEarth’s Core
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed) Radiates through the earth’s crust and
into space moves and shapes earth crust
Earth’s CoreEarth’s Core
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed) Radiates through the earth’s crust and
into space moves and shapes earth crust forms mountains, causes earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions
Earth’s CoreEarth’s Core
1. Heat stored in the Earth’s core (from the time the solar system was formed) Radiates through the earth’s crust and
into space moves and shapes earth crust forms mountains, causes earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions shifts plates containing continents
Mount St. HelensMount St. Helens
Mount St. HelensMount St. Helens
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun warms surface of land and water and
atmosphere just above
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun warms surface of land and water and
atmosphere just above differences in temperature and density
of air and water causes there movement
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun warms surface of land and water and
atmosphere just above differences in temperature and density
of air and water causes there movement both horizontally and vertically
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun warms surface of land and water and
atmosphere just above differences in temperature and density
of air and water causes there movement both horizontally and vertically causes wind patterns and ocean current
Solar RadiationSolar Radiation
2. Radiant energy produced by the sun warms surface of land and water and
atmosphere just above differences in temperature and density
of air and water causes there movement both horizontally and vertically causes wind patterns and ocean current responsible for the Earth’s climate
Past TemperaturesPast Temperatures
Milankovitch Cycles influence global temperature on a long term basis –
Milankovitch Cycles influence global temperature on a long term basis –
A) Wobble changes on a 19,000-23,000 year cycle
Milankovitch Cycles influence global temperature on a long term basis –
A) Wobble changes on a 19,000-23,000 year cycle
B) Tilt changes by 3 degrees on a 41,000 year cycle
Milankovitch Cycles influence global temperature on a long term basis –
A) Wobble changes on a 19,000-23,000 year cycle
B) Tilt changes by 3 degrees on a 41,000 year cycle
C) Orbit cycles from circular to elliptical on a 100,000 year cycle
Laurentide Ice SheetLaurentide Ice Sheet Last Major Ice AgeLast Major Ice Age 18000 years ago18000 years ago Sequence of Sequence of
glacial recession glacial recession up to presentup to present
Great lakes left Great lakes left behindbehind
Repeated glacial Repeated glacial and interglacial and interglacial events have events have occurredoccurred
What causes What causes seasons?seasons?
Solar Energy and Temperature Regimes
Angle of incoming radiant energy affects the quantity of heat absorbed most intense when surface is perpendicular to incident solar radiation (2 reasons)
Solar Energy and Temperature Regimes
Angle of incoming radiant energy affects the quantity of heat absorbed most intense when surface is perpendicular to incident solar radiation (2 reasons)
1) greatest amount of energy is delivered to smallest surface area
Solar Energy and Temperature Regimes
Angle of incoming radiant energy affects the quantity of heat absorbed most intense when surface is perpendicular to incident solar radiation (2 reasons)
1) greatest amount of energy is delivered to smallest surface area
2) minimal amount of radiation is absorbed or reflected back into space during passage through the atmosphere because distance it travels through air is minimized
SeasonsSeasons
Earth is tilted 23.5o from vertical on its axis with respect to the sun
SeasonsSeasons
Earth is tilted 23.5o from vertical on its axis with respect to the sun
Solar radiation falls perpendicularly on different parts of the earth during an annual cycle
SeasonsSeasons
Earth is tilted 23.5o from vertical on its axis with respect to the sun
Solar radiation falls perpendicularly on different parts of the earth during an annual cycle
Differential heating creates the seasons
SeasonsSeasons
Earth is tilted 23.5o from vertical on its axis with respect to the sun
Solar radiation falls perpendicularly on different parts of the earth during an annual cycle
Differential heating creates the seasons Results in different daylengths of the
seasons
SeasonsSeasons
Earth is tilted 23.5o from vertical on its axis with respect to the sun
Solar radiation falls perpendicularly on different parts of the earth during an annual cycle
Differential heating creates the seasons Results in different daylengths of the seasons Equator is only location to experience 12
hours daylight / 12 hours darkness throughout the year
SeasonsSeasons
Summer solstice (June 22) sunlight falls directly on Tropic of
Cancer (23.5o N) and the Northern hemisphere is heated most intensely with longer days and shorter nights
experience summer while Southern hemisphere is in winter
SeasonsSeasons
Winter solstice (December 22) sunlight falls directly on Tropic of Capricorn (23.5o S) -> Southern hemisphere experiences summer and Northern hemisphere experiences winter
At the Arctic and Antarctic circle, 66.5o latitude -> one day each year of continuous daylight
Air Air CirculationCirculation
Solar radiation Solar radiation heats up surface heats up surface temperaturetemperature
Convective Hadley Convective Hadley cellscells
Wind patternsWind patterns Affect precipitation Affect precipitation
patternspatterns
Winds and Rainfall Wind patterns - Differential heating of earth’s
surface causes winds
Winds and Rainfall Wind patterns - Differential heating of earth’s
surface causes winds Three convective “Hadley cells” in each
hemisphere
Winds and Rainfall Wind patterns - Differential heating of earth’s
surface causes winds Three convective “Hadley cells” in each
hemisphere Coriolis effect - winds are deflected east or
west (result from the rotation of the earth)
Winds and Rainfall Wind patterns - Differential heating of earth’s
surface causes winds Three convective “Hadley cells” in each
hemisphere Coriolis effect - winds are deflected east or
west (result from the rotation of the earth) Surface winds (influenced by the Coriolis effect)
initiate major ocean currents
Winds and Rainfall Wind patterns - Differential heating of earth’s
surface causes winds Three convective “Hadley cells” in each
hemisphere Coriolis effect - winds are deflected east or
west (result from the rotation of the earth) Surface winds (influenced by the Coriolis effect)
initiate major ocean currents Currents are clockwise in the N.H. and
counterclockwise in S.H.
Winds and Rainfall Wind patterns - Differential heating of earth’s
surface causes winds Three convective “Hadley cells” in each
hemisphere Coriolis effect - winds are deflected east or
west (result from the rotation of the earth) Surface winds (influenced by the Coriolis effect)
initiate major ocean currents Currents are clockwise in the N.H. and
counterclockwise in S.H. Warm currents on eastern continental margins;
cold currents on western continental margins
Surface Current PatternsSurface Current Patterns
Precipitation Patterns
Rainforests and cloud forests in tropics occur where cooling of ascending air laden with water vapor produces heavy rainfall at low and middle elevations
Precipitation Patterns
Rainforests and cloud forests in tropics occur where cooling of ascending air laden with water vapor produces heavy rainfall at low and middle elevations
Rainy seasons occur in the tropics when the sun is directly overhead and most intense heating occurs
Precipitation Patterns
Two belts of dry climates encircle the earth where cool dry air descends from the upper atmosphere (Horse latitudes between 30o and 40o both N and S)
Precipitation Patterns
Most of the world’s deserts lie in these two belts
1) the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan in N.A.
2) the Sahara in N. Africa and the Arid Zone in Australia
Mediterranean climates
Are also observed on the western sides of continents w/in these belts
Many of these deserts are not only on the western side of the continent but also on the eastern sides of major mountain ranges => Rain shadow effect
Rain ShadowRain Shadow
Small-scale and Temporal Variation
Same patterns just described on a global scale function on local scale.
Small-scale and Temporal Variation
Same patterns just described on a global scale function on local scale.
Rain shadow effect on islands such as Puerto Rico
Small-scale and Temporal Variation
Same patterns just described on a global scale function on local scale.
Rain shadow effect on islands such as Puerto Rico
Mountain tops having similar vegetation to more northern climates as in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee more similar to boreal forests of northern Canada
Atacama DesertAtacama Desert
Driest place in the world
El Nino Southern Oscillation (5-7 year cycle) effects the worlds weather
patterns Normal conditions
result in cold water upwelling – high marine productivity
El Nino reverses currents and cold water upwelling does not occur – low marine productivity
Equatorial Countercurrent
Normally small Becomes much stronger in some years and
pushes warm water up the coasts of North and South America -> increases in rains on the western coasts as well as producing the only rains to occur in the Atacama Desert
Results in decreased upwelling in the Galapagos Islands where many marine organisms and seabirds suffer from lack of food
A) In Galapagos – marine animals such as marine iguanas and sea birds do well during normal years.
B) During El Nino events – land vertebrates (land iguanas and tortoises) do well due to increased precipitation which results in increased vegetation.
Cooling Effect of Elevation -Cooling Effect of Elevation -
Air expands as pressure of air Air expands as pressure of air decreases with increasing elevation decreases with increasing elevation --> results in heat loss as a result of --> results in heat loss as a result of molecules moving apart -molecules moving apart ->>Adiabatic coolingAdiabatic cooling --> also, less --> also, less dense air allows higher rate of heat dense air allows higher rate of heat loss resulting in colder airloss resulting in colder air
Soils:Soils:
Major Soil TypesMajor Soil Types - Four major - Four major processes that produce the primary processes that produce the primary soil typessoil types
1) 1) PodzolizationPodzolization - temperature - temperature deciduous and coniferous forestsdeciduous and coniferous forests
2) 2) LaterizationLaterization - tropical forests - tropical forests 3) 3) CalcificationCalcification - grasslands and - grasslands and
shrublandsshrublands 4) 4) Gleizaton Gleizaton - waterlogged tundra- waterlogged tundra
PodzolizationPodzolization
Podzolization Podzolization - temperate and subarctic - temperate and subarctic latitudes and at high elevationslatitudes and at high elevations
--> temperatures cool and precipitation --> temperatures cool and precipitation abundantabundant
--> organic material (humus) accumulates (low --> organic material (humus) accumulates (low temperatures inhibit microbial breakdown)temperatures inhibit microbial breakdown)
--> humus decays, organic acids leach through --> humus decays, organic acids leach through soilsoil
--> acidic soils in which coniferous forests --> acidic soils in which coniferous forests thrivethrive
Boreal ForestBoreal Forest
LateralizationLateralization
LateralizationLateralization - humid tropics - humid tropics --> high temperatures and heavy --> high temperatures and heavy
rainfallrainfall --> microbes and other organisms --> microbes and other organisms
break down dead organic material break down dead organic material quickly (little humus accumulates)quickly (little humus accumulates)
--> absence of organic acids--> absence of organic acids --> oxides of iron and aluminum --> oxides of iron and aluminum
precipitate to form red clay or a brick-precipitate to form red clay or a brick-like layer (laterite)like layer (laterite)
CalcareousCalcareous CalcareousCalcareous - arid and semi-arid environments - arid and semi-arid environments --> areas where thick layers of --> areas where thick layers of calcium calcium
carbonatecarbonate were deposited beneath ancient were deposited beneath ancient shallow tropical seasshallow tropical seas
--> rainfall relatively low--> rainfall relatively low --> evaporation and transpiration exceed --> evaporation and transpiration exceed
precipitationprecipitation --> cations not leached out--> cations not leached out --> rocklike layer of calcium carbonate => --> rocklike layer of calcium carbonate =>
CalicheCaliche --> where rainfall is heavier -> formation of deep --> where rainfall is heavier -> formation of deep
fertile soils =>fertile soils => tallgrass and shortgrass prairie tallgrass and shortgrass prairie habitathabitat
GleizationGleization Gleization Gleization - cold, wet polar regions- cold, wet polar regions --> typical process of soil formation--> typical process of soil formation --> permanently wet or frozen--> permanently wet or frozen --> low temperatures and waterlogged --> low temperatures and waterlogged
conditions prevent decompositionconditions prevent decomposition --> acidic organic matter builds--> acidic organic matter builds --> may form a layer of peat that can be --> may form a layer of peat that can be
several meters thickseveral meters thick --> inorganic layer of grayish clay beneath--> inorganic layer of grayish clay beneath --> support a sparse vegetation of acid---> support a sparse vegetation of acid-
tolerant speciestolerant species
Major Soil TypesMajor Soil Types
Soil Types and ClimateSoil Types and Climate
Soil and TopographySoil and Topography
MicroenvironmentMicroenvironment
Gopher Tortoise BurrowsGopher Tortoise Burrows
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BURROW SUN
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