BIO 2129 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Holdridge Life Zones, Mesic Habitat, Biodiversity Hotspot
4 Oct 2016
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Species associated with specific ecosystem characteristics, at a small scale. Ecoregions: subdivisions of ecozones more precise. Soil properties are very favorable for agriculture. Mesic habitat : not too wet, not too dry. No large forests, or continuous habitat left due to intensive agriculture and forestry. Biodiversity hotspot, but lots of threatened species due to humans. Soils are very nutrient poor, bad drainage (lots of bogs) and landscapes shaped by repeated glaciation. Boreal shield internal continental conditions tend to be drier than the coastal conditions. These areas, in summer, dry + warm = a higher likelihood of major disturbances and forest fires. Highest biodiversity is found where there has been a disturbance. Typical vegetation = conifers (fir, spruce, jack pine) and deciduous (birch, aspen) Sunward facing slopes get more sun; hotter; drier; different community composition (this is a microclimate) ** think about what drives productivity ** question on an exam. Mesotrophic: more elements to it, cattails, etc.
