Environmental Science Question
– https://www.thephysicalenvironment.com/Book/conten…
Lab 20: Biogeography This lab contains potentially inaccessible interactive resources. Please work with your instructor and local campus resources to identify accommodations for these resources. Learning Objectives ● ● ● ● ● Explain how ecosystems are defined and mapped. Identify and describe global ecoregions. Understand the factors that impact fire behavior and fire mitigation methods. Explain why there is a designated biodiversity hotspot in California. Conduct a field study in a local ecosystem. Introduction Throughout this course, you have reviewed many different aspects of the physical environment. You have studied many different aspects of the atmosphere and climate. You have investigated the distribution of water and its impact on the shape of our planet. You have studied many different processes that create, modify, and destroy the surface of the Earth. While each of the topics that you have previously covered is fascinating in their own right, (especially, perhaps to your professor) each of these aspects of the physical environment contributes to the likelihood of survival and success of the plants and animals dependent on the conditions in different areas. The plants and animals that depend upon them are influenced strongly by the non-living conditions where they survive and strive. These conditions include the winds, temperature, precipitation, humidity, soils, slope, and slope orientation (aspect). These varying conditions impact the distribution of natural vegetation and the ability of animals to glean from that vegetation. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of plants and animals. Closely related to biogeography is the study of ecology. An ecologist studies the relationship between plants and animals and their relationship with the non-living things around them, such as water, soil, air, and sunlight. Interrelated plants and animals and their non-living, physical environment are referred to as an ecosystem. 68pts 1. What are the three different ways of classifying the biosphere? Hint: each method was discussed in the paragraphs above. 2. What are the similarities among the three schemas? 3. What are the main differences among the three schemas? The USGS and Esri (formally the Earth Systems Research Institute) have developed an online tool to explore the global Ecological Land Units. Using their online map viewer and Google Maps, you will explore several locations around the world in order to complete Tables 20.1 and 20.2 (provided below the following instructions). Step 1 Go to the USGS Global Ecosystems Viewer. This website works best with the Chrome or Edge web browsers. Step 2 Zoom out to a full extent of the world. 1. What are your overall observations of the map? Do you notice any patterns? Explain your response in one to two sentences. Step 3 Using the “Find address or place” search tool, search for the locations in Tables 20.1 and 20.2 based on the coordinates. 2. Follow the steps below and complete Tables 20.1 and 20.2 for each location. Step 4 Zoom in or out to discover the location description. Step 5 Click on the map on or near the coordinate location. A small dialog box will provide Ecological Land Unit data. (For some locations, additional information may be provided. Complete Tables 20.1 and 20.2 with the basic information provided). Step 6 Using Google Maps (Satellite or Street View) or Google Earth, navigate to the same location. Use the satellite imagery to determine the general appearance of the setting. Table 20.1: Selected California Locations Coordinates Location Bioclimate Land Cover Land Form Lithology Topographic Position Appearance (from imagery) 36.42, -116.88 Your Home or Your Campus 41.78, -124.11 37.72, -122.11 Table 20.2: World Locations Coordinates -3.00, -61.00 -0.35, 29.90 27.57 N, 85.42 E Location Bioclimate Land Cover Land Form Lithology Appearance (from imagery) 3. List three ideas that you learned previously in the semester that help you to understand the information that you added to Tables 20.1 and 20.2. 4. List three observations that you can make based on Table 20.1. Tip: did you notice anything interesting about the ecological land units found in California? 5. List three observations that you can make based on Table 20.2. Tip: did you notice anything interesting about the ecological land units found in the world locations? 1. Which environmental variable impacts the largest number of tree species? Use Your Critical Thinking Skills: In one to two sentences, explain why this environmental variable has the greatest impact. 2. Use Your Critical Thinking Skills: Some species have a very limited range. Why do you think that is? Explain your response in one to two sentences. 3. Use Your Critical Thinking Skills: If a tree species has a limited range, how might that impact the ability of the tree to withstand changes to the environment, such as climate change? Explain your response in at least six sentences. 4. What is the most important idea that you learned in this lab? In two to three sentences, explain the concept and why it is important to know. 5. One way to think of physical geography is that it is the study of the relationships among variables that impact the Earth’s surface. Select two variables discussed in this lab and describe how they are related in at least six sentences. 6. How does what you learned in this lab relate to your everyday life? In two to three sentences, explain a concept that you learned in this lab and how it relates to your dayto-day actions in at least six sentences.
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