BIL 330 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Biome, Permafrost, Sequoia Sempervirens
Document Summary
The coldest biome, characterized by a treeless expanse above permanently frozen soil (permafrost). Upper soils thaw during the brief summer growing season. Plants grow low to the ground to gain protection under snow and ice. Alpine tundras occur at high elevations in temperate and tropical latitudes; they have a longer growing season. A biome densely populated by evergreen needle-leaved trees, with a. Temperatures are < 5 c (as low as 60 c) and rainfall is 50 1,000 mm. Litter decomposes slowly and accumulates, forming the largest reservoir of organic carbon on earth. Species diversity is low, but the biome is a major source of lumber and paper. Temperate climate zones: temperate zone is characterized by temperatures between 5o-20oc at low elevations, with frost throughout the zone: Found between 30on and 45on in north america and between. Biomes differentiated by: total amounts and seasonality of precipitation length of frost-free season or growing season.
