Cold EnvironmentsRevision

Why are cold environments considered to be fragile?

IntroductionThere is a close relationship between different ecosystems and climate.

Examine the next map, what types of ecosystem may be found in these regions?

What is this environment like?

Very cold seasons with hard frosts.

Strong winds and wind chill.

Prolonged drought, especially in winter when water is frozen.

Heavy snowfalls – Weight, but does insulate ground.

Competition for limited resources.

AdaptationIt is the process whereby an organism becomes better suited to its habitat. Also, the term adaptation may refer to a characteristic which is especially important for an organism's survival.

So if animals and polants adapt, why are cold environments so fragile?

What adaptations do plants have?

What do we need to examine?

Vegetation?A cooler and drier climate with shorter summers!

Low angle of incoming sunlight

Continentality

Vegetation?

Low productivity (the amount of energy available) which is often similar to arid deserts!

There is a low level of inputs and outputs in the nutrient cycle. High latitude environments mean a reduction in solar input.

Vegetation?

Frozen ground?

Animals?Very few species due isolation and extreme environmental conditions.

Low bio-diversity!

Animals?

Specific adaptations

to an extreme evironment!

Especially susceptable

to changes to this

environment!

On thin Ice!

Many species

have very distictive ways of

surviving (niche

species)

Animals?

Limited gene pool with a small range of species. Very susceptable to disease or changes to food chain.

Animals and Plants?

Cold environments were largely undisturbed until the 20th Century.

Arctic Isolation

Soils?Cold environments are

some times strongly

affected by thawing

permafrost.Which leads to

water logging.

This along with the low

temperatures reduces the amount

of bacterial activity and causes

the formation of acidic soils.

The Nutrient Cycle?

May be prohibited in cold environments.Low nutrient stores as weathering is slow and has vulnerable flows. Low precipitation means few nutrients can be dissolved by rain water and added to system.

Possible threats to cold environments

For each of these decide in groups why.ClimateLandslides and floodsFireUrbanisationTransportIndustryRecreationMiningFarmingDeforestation