EOC 9 Biome Abiotic Characteristics and Threats

tundra abiotic factors

strong winds; low precipitation; short and soggy summers; long, cold, dark winters; poorly developed soils; permafrost; arctic type at the poles & alpine type at high elevations

taiga abiotic factors

long cold winters; mild summers that are long enough for ground to thaw; moderate precipitation; soil acidic due to pine needles

tundra threats

slow to repair itself from things like large vehicle tracks; global warming a big threat; is a huge carbon sink, so global warming will thaw ground and ice, releasing CO2; oil & gas exploration to build roads & vehicle causes physical disturbance & habitat fragmentation; oil spills damages ecosystems; buildings and roads causes permafrost to melt

taiga threats

forestry--clear cutting of huge tracts of pines causes erosion and destroys habitat; overhunting of animals like foxes and bears; invasive bark beetle destroying pines; climate change melting top layer of permafrost, water not drain, creates waterlogged soils that trees can't grow in

temperate deciduous forest abiotic factors

75-150 cm rain year; seasonal temperature changes; year-round precipitation keep soils moist but not wet; soil rich in nutrients (humus) due to slowing decomposition in cold weather;

temperate deciduous forest threats

development and agriculture take habitat; clear cutting...cleared for farming; fire; parasitic diseases like chestnut blight/fungus; acid precipitation from coal burning plants

desert abiotic factors

very dry types less than 1cm rain year; some types wide variations in daily temps;

desert threats

global warming increasing incidence of drought; irrigation leaving salts in soil; off-road vehicles cause damage to physical environment; nuclear wastes often "stored" here...nuclear testing took place in many of these areas; mining damages ecosystem (building roads, excavation, using chemicals to extract metals/gems)

chaparral abiotic factors

fires in fall; mild wet (14-30 in rain) winters, hot dry summers..can get to 110 F; slight variation in seasonal temperatures; nutrient-poor rocky soil

chaparral threats

excessive fires, many caused by human activity; pollution from human development; animals like cougar venture into neighborhoods that are extending into their habitat;

tropical rain forest abiotic factors

warm temps and precipitation year-round; nutrient-poor soil because decomposition so fast in warm, humid environment and so many plants to absorb nutrients quickly

tropical rain forest threats

forests cut for agriculture, mining operations, urban development; deforestation destroys vegetation and habitat; conversion of forest to agricultural lands causes infertile soil to be unable to grow anything after few years due to rain leaching out any nutrients in the soil...bare soil eroded; hydroelectric projects flood forest

temperate grassland abiotic factors

low rainfall (20-35 in yearly) but more than desert and chaparral ; large seasonal temperature variations; soil nutrient rich due to decomposition of grasses; summer can reach above 100 F;

temperate grassland threats

overgrazing and plowing; overgrazing by livestock; rich soil good for crops...poor agricultural practices such as plowing which loosens soils that get blown away (Dust Bowl); soil salinization...irrigation leaves salts in soil; introduced grasses replacing native grasses; habitat fragmentation; conversion to urban or agricultural areas; wildlife eradication (bison slaughter and prairie dog poisoning); fire prevention...prairies need fires;

savanna abiotic factors

too wet to be a desert, too dry to be a forest; summer humid and hot...15-25 inches rain; winter dry; average temp 70

savanna threats

hunting and poaching; overgrazing by domestic animals; poor farming practices and overgrazing lead to desertification (spread of desert-like conditions to bordering arid regions and dry grasslands); crops spreading into native grasslands...crops need irrigation; human development spreading into native grasslands

temperate rainforest abiotic factors

200-350 cm precipitation; temperature influenced by ocean; can snow here but not bitter temps in areas closest to ocean

temperate rainforest threats

intensive commercial logging biggest threat due to huge trees valued for their timber...cut trees, some in steep areas, causing severe erosion; runoff of silt and chemicals damage marine ecosystem; acid precipitation

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