WEATHER, CLIMATE AND BIOMES

Hi guys:

This week we will be working on the climate and weather implications in the living things that live in different Biomes.

Here you have the groups, and assigned Biomes, per class. Open the file, and check the information.

ORAL PRESENTATION ASSIGNMENT

And also you will prepare and oral presentation about Colombian Ecosystems, so we will prepare it, during the classes. 

If you have the Jet Album, Vive la Aventura Colombia, bring it to class. we will work using its information, and bring colors, makers and 1/8 of white card board.

You should bring information about the ecosystem you will describe

Watch this video and take notes in your notebook to get extra points.




Here you have a concept map with the components of the weather




Images of the types of clouds




And finally some consequences of climate

Climate and Plant Growth

Plants are the major producers in terrestrial biomes. They have five basic needs: air, warmth, sunlight, water, and nutrients. How well these needs are met in a given location depends on the growing season and soil quality, both of which are determined mainly by climate.

• The growing season is the period of time each year when it is warm and wet enough for plants to grow. The growing season may last all year in a hot, wet climate but just a few months in a cooler or drier climate.
• Plants grow best in soil that contains plenty of nutrients and organic matter. Both are added to soil when plant litter and dead organisms decompose. Decomposition occurs too slowly in cold climates and too quickly in hot, wet climates for nutrients and organic matter to accumulate. Temperate climates usually have the best soil for plant growth.

Climate and Biodiversity

Because climate determines plant growth, it also influences the number and variety of other organisms in a terrestrial biome. Biodiversity generally increases from the poles to the equator. It is also usually greater in more humid climates. This is apparent from the desert and rainforest biomes pictured in Figure above.

Climate and Adaptations

Organisms evolve adaptations that help them survive in the climate of the biome where they live. For example, in biomes with arid climates, plants may have special tissues for storing water (see Figure below). The desert animals pictured in Figure below also have adaptations for a dry climate.

The aloe plant on the left stores water in its large, hollow leaves. The cactus plant on the right stores water in its stout, barrel-shaped stems.[Figure4]

The Gila monster’s fat tail is an adaptation to its dry climate. It serves as a storage depot for water. The kangaroo rat has very efficient kidneys. They produce concentrated urine, thus reducing the amount of water lost from the body.[Figure5]

In biomes with cold climates, plants may adapt by becoming dormant during the coldest part of the year. Dormancy is a state in which a plant slows down cellular activities and may shed its leaves. Animals also adapt to cold temperatures. One way is with insulation in the form of fur and fat. This is how the polar bears in Figure below stay warm.

Thick fur and a layer of blubber keep polar bears warm in their Arctic ecosystem. Why do you think their fur is white? Why might it be an adaptation in an Arctic biome?