Biogeography and Global Change
The biosphere is perhaps the most rapidly changing of the four Earth spheres, and the changes produced by humans are some of the most easily seen and well-understood and quantified by scientists. Humans have substantially changed the flora and fauna of the Earth, including fundamentally altering the types of vegetation and land cover across vast portions of terrestrial landscapes, causing the extinction of hundreds to thousands of species (many of which we don't even realize we have exterminated!), and redistributing species rapidly and with unimaginable outcomes and consequences across the globe.
This module addresses both the natural biological systems found on Earth and how humans have interacted with those biological systems for millenia. It fundamentally focuses on biogeography, the study of species distribution. How is biogeography different than biology and ecology? Biologists study how organisms function, and the systems within an organism. Ecologists study how organisms interact with each and their environment. Biogeographers study where species occur and why, and also look at how spatial distributions of species have changed over time.
In Module 3, the distribution of global climates was introduced, and in Modules 4 and 5, the mechanisms that produce those patterns of weather and climate were identified. The two maps below depict global climate patterns and global biome distributions. Make some observations from the two maps.
1. What biomes are most closely linked with specific climates?
2. What climates are associated with multiple biomes?
3. What biomes cover multiple climates?
This module addresses both the natural biological systems found on Earth and how humans have interacted with those biological systems for millenia. It fundamentally focuses on biogeography, the study of species distribution. How is biogeography different than biology and ecology? Biologists study how organisms function, and the systems within an organism. Ecologists study how organisms interact with each and their environment. Biogeographers study where species occur and why, and also look at how spatial distributions of species have changed over time.
In Module 3, the distribution of global climates was introduced, and in Modules 4 and 5, the mechanisms that produce those patterns of weather and climate were identified. The two maps below depict global climate patterns and global biome distributions. Make some observations from the two maps.
1. What biomes are most closely linked with specific climates?
2. What climates are associated with multiple biomes?
3. What biomes cover multiple climates?
Using a GIS is one of the best ways to answer these questions in more detail and look at specific regions. Log in to BBLearn and complete the "Assignment 6.1: Biome Distribution and Climates."