GPHY 102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Shortgrass Prairie, Tallgrass Prairie, Plant Community

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Geography
• Course: GPHY 102
• Professor: Ryan K Danby

Document Summary

Plant community that develops with little or no human interference: humans have dramatically changed the natural vegetation in many parts of the world, notio(cid:374) of (cid:858)(cid:374)atural vegetatio(cid:374)(cid:859) refers to co(cid:373)(cid:373)u(cid:374)ity that would develop without land alteration. Natural vegetation types that are global in scale. Attempt to classify terrestrial communities on basis of vegetation structure (physiognomy) Based on recognition that plant life forms (and 3d structure of plant communities) reflect the predominant influence of climate and soil. Similar climate supports structurally and functionally similar vegetation across globe. 5 major types (which can be further subdivided) 1) forest: dominated by trees with closed/nearly closed canopy (leafy area above forest) found in moist climates with at least 1 warm season. Forbs (broad-leaved herbs) also present: shrubs and trees limited to river valleys.