Biogeography of Europe Lecture 3a PDF

Biogeography of Europe Lecture 3a: Biomes and biogeographic regions Dr. Charlotte Slaymark [email protected] Biomes and biogeographic regions Lecture 3a. 1. Classification 2. World biomes 3. Biogeographic regions of Europe Intended Learning Outcome Critically assess the biogeog...

Biogeography of Europe Lecture 3a: Biomes and biogeographic regions Dr. Charlotte Slaymark [email protected] Biomes and biogeographic regions Lecture 3a. 1. Classification 2. World biomes 3. Biogeographic regions of Europe Intended Learning Outcome Critically assess the biogeographic regions of Europe Learning Format: Introduction, information gathering, GIS resource, producing a public engagement resource Classification – a matter of scale Six basic vegetation structural types: 1. Forest (sites dominated by trees and generally continuous canopy) 2. Woodland (Sites typified by widely spaced trees, allowing for shrubs, grasses, herbs) 3. Shrubland (continuous cover of shrubs) 4. Grassland (grasses and herbs) 5. Scrub (widely spaced shrubs) 6. Desert (sparse xerophytic plant cover with mostly bare ground) Classification – a matter of scale Biome: large areas of the earth’s surface that have similar climate and vegetation, largest recognisable subdivision Biogeographic region/province: Areas that contain similar flora and fauna Indicators: At a global scale the general form and lifestyle of plants (physiognomy) is a useful indicator Originated from botanists, but includes animals Although the species may differ between continents they represent ecological equivalents Functional types of plants and animals (see e.g. Raunkier’s plant life forms lecture 1) World biomes are clearly linked to climate parameters Controls on vegetation The Holdrige life zone system- a global vegetation classification Bioclimatic classification The world’s biomes Whittaker 1975 Latitudinal and altitudinal gradients Macdonald 2003 Biogeographical regions of Europe Arctic (Tundra) Boreal (Taiga) Continental Pannonian Steppic Black Sea Mediterranean Anatolian Macaronesia: Azores, Canary Islands http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/ Biogeographical regions of Europe Latitudinal gradient (no altitude here) Strahler and Strahler 2004  Journey across Europe Biome Groups: 1. Alpine 2. Boreal 3. Continental (temperate) 4. Atlantic (temperate) 5. Steppic 6. Mediterranean  Journey across Europe Activity: Fact cards for a Conservation Visitor Centre 15-20 mins researching and making, 5 minutes gathering class data Resources: GIS resource 'Natura 2000' map https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/ (European Environmental Agency) Explore biogeo-region, viewing Habitats and Species in the side bar Follow 'Discover more' in the habitats to find data for your fact card from the EEA climate data: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/report_2002_0524_1549 09 Great revision resource if you have one for each area !  Journey across Europe Back of Fact card: Data characterising biogeographic region and its pressures Climate: climate zone and details on temperature, aridity, seasonality Controls on climate Characteristic habitats Directive protecting it Pressures Front of Fact card: Sketch a map Draw plant species or habitat sketch Figures to represent data you collected Special notes – what you might write home about- indicator species, fauna and conservation concerns  http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/report_2002_0524_154909 Tundra (Arctic) biogeographic region Extreme climatic conditions Permafrost, Cryosols sparse birch cover in south and treeless vegetation in north (Tundra) There are few winter-active species, but very large populations of summer-active plants and animals Large numbers of migrating birds and fish species Svalbard Tundra Flickr.com Alpine biogeographic region The different mountainous areas in the Alpine biogeographic region share a number of common features to which species and life forms have adapted Altitudinal gradients and tree line The Scandinavian mountains The Alps The Pyrenees The Carpathians The Urals The Rhodopes The Caucasian Alps Altitudinal zonation of tree species in the alpine biogeographic region Southern Scandinavia Northcape Be: Betula pubescens subsp. Tortuosa [Downy birch] Pc: Picea abies [Norway spruce] Pi: Pinus sylvestris [Scots pine] Snow line Polar Circle The Alps Ce: Pinus cembra (Swiss Pine), La: Larix decidua (Larch), Pc: Picea abies (Norway Mass elevation effect Spruce), Ab: Abies alba (Silver Fir), Fa: Fagus sylvatica (Beech), Car: Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam, birch), Cas: Castanea sativa (chestnut), Qu: Quercus spp (oaks). Lang 1994 Alpine (Scandinavian) mountains Defined as the area above the lower fringe of the birch forest Covered by ice during last Eea.eu glaciation, species had to Betula pubescens, arctic immigrate from the south moor birch or downy birch Very few endemic species Lang 1994 High alpine High alpine Dwarf willow, Salix herbacea Middle/low alpine Betula nana, dwarf birch Sub alpine Sub alpine The Alps Pinus sp., pine The alps Picea abies: Norway spruce The alps Abies alba, silver fir Picea abies, norway spruce Boreal biogeographic region (Taiga) The Boreal region is the largest biogeographical region of Europe The climate is cool and mainly continental. Dominated by conifers (Picea abies and Abies alba) Podzol and histosols are dominant in many parts Large European carnivores still inhabit the region The reindeer and wild living large grazing animals (elk, deer) strongly influence the habitat development in many forest and grassland areas Continental biogeographic region The second largest biogeographic region in Europe, after the boreal region Continental climate Deciduous forests as natural vegetation Fertile soils on loess, chernozems (Ukraine) but also histosols and podzols especially in the North Deciduous forests as natural vegetation Many large rivers cross the region, floodplains of Danube and Po Characteristic tree species: Fagus sylvatica, beech Beech forest Continental biogeographic region Understory of beech forests with spring geophytes Utilize sunlight before the trees develop closed canopy www.uni-kiel.de http://flora-oberfranken.de Galium odoratum, woodruff Atlantic biogeographic region The Atlantic region is closely interacting with the bordering northeast Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea The climate is mild and humid with exposure to westerly winds Low lying coastal areas and rocky coasts Cambisols, podzols and histosols due to high precipitation Mainly deciduous forests with conifers on higher ground and poor soils Natural forests are dominated by oak trees (Quercus petraea, sessile oak, Quercus robur, pedunculate oak) and mixed with Fagus sylvatica (beech) Native conifers include: Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) in harsh conditions and nutrient poor soils and Taxus baccata (yew) on limestone Bogs and fens without trees due to high precipitation Salt marshes in coastal low lying areas Most large animals locally extinct Importance for migratory birds Atlantic biogeographic region http://footage.framepool.com www.RSPB.org Sphagnum moss, peat builder Blanket bog/ raised bog: rain fed, acidic Fen: surface water and groundwater fed, alkaline bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) Mediterranean biogeographic region The climate is warm with hot summers and mild winters. Partly arid conditions, winter rain maximum. Soils are low in humus with high erosion risk High number of endemic species Evergreen sclerophyllous shrubland and forest as main natural vegetation (hard leaves), also known as matorral/macchia, degraded to open vegetation in many parts (garrigue) Coniferous forests (mostly Pinus spp. ) in mountainous areas and coastal sandy soils Grasslands in areas with