GEO 155 1st Edition Lecture 14 Last Lecture Climate Types Outline of Current Lecture I Vegetation General a Describing i Floristics ii Structure 1 Dominant life from 2 Leaf characteristics b Environmental factors that influence vegetation II Distribution of Vegetation a Near equator b Transect to the Subtropics Current Lecture Describing Vegetation 1 Floristics list species 2 Structure what is the vegetation like I Life Forms of Dominant Plants i Single woody stem tree ii Multiple short woody stems shrubs iii Non woody herb herbaceous A Forest continuous cover of trees B Savanna scattered trees with herbaceous plants C Grasslands all herbaceous plants D Shrublands shrubs continuous or scattered II Leaf Characteristics These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute i Shape ii Timing 1 Broadleaf or needle leaf 2 Evergreen or deciduous Factors that Influence Vegetation 1 Climate energy and moisture 2 Topography a Microclimate south facing slopes drier b Draining availability of water i Valley bottoms more moist 3 Soil a Water b Nutrients 4 Biotic Interactions encounter between other organisms a Animal plant grazing dispersal b Plant plant competition allelopathy release of toxins into the soil to avoid competition from other plants 5 Disturbance fires floods wind throw volcanic eruptions earthquakes Distribution of Vegetation At the equator there is a tropical wet climate hot and wet all year Tropical Broadleaf Evergreen Forest Forest plenty of energy and moisture to support lots of biomass Evergreen no stressful season Broadleaf most efficient shape to collect solar energy Transect to Subtropics Tropical Wet and Dry hot and warm all year o Dry winter wet summer Increasingly dry season deciduous reduce transpiration loss of water Tropical Savanna Limited moisture o Fire more frequently an area burns the more important herbaceous plants are this is due to the fact that most of the plant s biomass is underground so it is easier to regrow on the surface o Soil hardpans
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