Summary of APES Video Notes 1.2 - Terrestrial Biomes
Summary
The video discusses terrestrial biomes, focusing on their global distribution, environmental conditions, and the adaptations of plants and animals to their unique climates. Key points include:
- Definition of Biomes: Areas defined by average yearly temperature and precipitation (climate).
- Major Biomes:
- Tropical Rainforest: High rainfall and warm temperatures.
- Desert: Very low precipitation, may have high temperatures.
- Tundra: Cold and low precipitation, characterized by permanently frozen soil (permafrost).
- Boreal Forest: Dominated by coniferous trees, has low nutrient availability due to slow decomposition.
- Temperate Forests: High nutrient levels due to broadleaf trees that contribute organic matter.
- Adaptations of Organisms:
- Desert: Camels store fat in humps; cacti have thick, waxy cuticles to prevent water loss.
- Tundra: Limited plant growth due to low nutrient levels and frozen soil.
- Tropical Rainforest: High competition for nutrients leads to nutrient-poor soil despite abundant plant life.
- Boreal Forest: Low decomposition rates due to cold temperatures result in nutrient-poor soil.
- Biomes and Climate Change: Biomes are shifting due to Climate Change. For example, the Boreal Forest is moving northward as previously frozen soils thaw, allowing tree species to grow in new areas.
- Nutrient Availability: Nutrient levels in soil significantly affect plant and animal communities in different biomes.
Methodology
Identify a biome characteristic. Explain how that characteristic determines the community of organisms found in that biome.
Researchers/Sources Featured
- Mr. Smith (presenter)
Notable Quotes
— 04:28 — « Instead of trying to memorize all of these different biomes, we need to think about how these patterns of temperature and precipitation are influenced by the distance that we are from the equator. »
— 07:18 — « Nutrient availability ultimately determines which plants and which animals can survive in that biome. »
— 07:26 — « Climate is not stable on earth; climate is subject to human activities that are changing it rapidly right now. »
Category
Science and Nature