Temperate Grasslands- South America

• The temperate grasslands are situated around the outside of the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn >25 degrees north and south of the equator, in the middle of continents (yellow), therefor mostly in the ferrel cell/front
• The coniferous forests are situated from 50-60 degrees north of the equator (dark brown) therefor mostly in the polar cell/front

The dark green points are the main carniferous forests, the yellow points are the temperate grasslands

Coniferous Forest- Russia

Also known as Taiga or Boreal forest

The Taiga in relation to the Whittakers model

Climate:

• up to six month long winters
• strong winds
• subarctic and cold continental climate
• extreme temperatures

• low evaporation to precipitation- at 40-45cm per year, but still fairly dry because of the cold
• temp can change from warm to below freezing in a day

• mountainous terrain, with lakes and rivers
• they are made of mostly spodosoil because of the acid in the pines, because of cold there i slow decomposition
• also know as the alps
• large pine and evergreen forests
• in areas of patchy permafrost
• usually at an altutude of 3km or more
• isnt much plant biodiversity because of low CO2 levels
• quite a bit of animal diversity
• the largest human threat to the Taiga is deforestation because of the good food in the forests, and climate change increasing temperatures

Flora

• most plants are small perennial groundcover They protect themselves from the cold and wind by hugging the ground and they grow slowly
• or needle leaf, coniferous, or evergeen trees
• In Russia the Scott's pine is most dominant

Fauna

• mostly warm blooded animals besides salamanders and frogs and some insects
• animals have layers of fat, hibernate or migrate in the cold
• short legs and ears to reduce heat loss
• large lungs and blood cells from pressure
• mostly fur bearing predators eg- the lynx, members of the weasel family, squirrels lemmings and vowls
• elk, moose, beavers, wolves and bears
• more then 300 species of birds, insect and seed eating like finches, crossbills and sparrows or omnivores and large raptors like eagles and raven
• many fresh water fish that can survive the cold
• predatory animals must be able to travel long distances to find food

Bibliography

Temperate grasslands in whittakers model

climate:

• evaporation to precipiation E=P or precipitation is a small bit larger, with 60 to 150cm per year
• temperate range is high, clear skies, low precipitation, drought

• average temperature in the Pampas 18c, warm and always windy (can get down to -40c in other countrie's grasslands)
• only has a wet and dry season
• in relation to whittaker's model the Pampas temperature average of 18c and precipitation 50cm a year

Temperate Grasslands- South America

The pampas

• Rolling terrains, mostly flat but may consist of small hills and mountains
• composed of rich mixes of grass and forbs
• extremely fertile soils
• many have been converted to agricultural lands for cereals wheat and grain, also used for cattle and sheep grazing
• human development- over grazing and overcropping led to erosion and desert formation

Two types- tall grass in more humid areas, and short grass with dryer air, colder winters and hotter summers

Fauna

• https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=173
• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm
• https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/?page_id=92
• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine.htm
• http://kellyspage11.tripod.com/
• http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/
• http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/learn-about-the-weather/how-weather-works/global-circulation-patterns'
• http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/biomegrass2.htm
• http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/encyclopedia/biome/?ar_a=1

Flora

• grass browsing or burrowing animals
• underground owls, seed eating birds, finch, the greater rhea
• Geoffroy's cat, maned wolf, lama, bison, pronghorn, gophers, ground squirrels and the prarie dog, coyote, badger, ferret
• depends on specific place animal biodiversity
• lots of the animals live in herds for protection because of easy spotting from their prey

• perennial grasses adapted to drought, fire and cold, narrow straight stems for cooling, and strong roots to absorb nutrients
• flowers- eg sunflowers, water lillies, cat tails
• peas, herbs, reeds

Comparison of Biomes

By Sophia Fleming

Temperate Grassland & Coniferous Forest