Ecosystem Exploration

Ecosystem Exploration

By Lexi Willis

Temp: Average temp of -18°F

Precipitation: 6 to 10 in. of snow a year.

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​Tundra

The location of the tundra is near the Arctic circle as shown in the map.

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A warmer climate could radically change tundra landscapes and what species are able to live in them. The warmer climate allows the permafrost to melt creating more soil for invasive plants to grow in. This crowds out the lichen and moss a major food source for animals in the tundra.

Industrial activity can impact the tundra but allowing mining to occur which can damage the plants and ecosystem. The tundra takes a long time to rebound from destroyed landscape.

As the climate warms it allows more invasive species to move up to the tundra taking over territotory along with creating competition with the native species.

​Tundra

Temp: Average temp ranges from 40 to 80º F

Precipitation: Ranges between 10 -30 in. of rain.

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​Grasslands

The location of the different grasslands are shown in yellow

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Humans have created large impacts on grasslands across the planet. The biggest impacts are turning the land into fields for agriculture (farming), urbanization (homes) and building roads through the habitats. In the U.S. only 5 % of the great plains have remained in their natural state.

Humans use these lands for grazing of live stock creating competition with the native animals and pushing them out of their habitat. Humans also use pesticide to keep insects out of their crops and fields which can spread to native wildlife.

This impacts not only the animals and plants that call this home but it is an important part of many animals migration routes. This can stop or decrease the available resources on these long treks making it harder for animals to reach their destination. This impacts food webs in multiple locations.

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Grasslands

Temp: Ranges from cold to hot even in a single day

Precipitation: Less than 10 in. a year

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​Desert

The location of the different grasslands are shown in orange

Remember deserts can be cold or hot and are mainly defined by lack of precipitation

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Deserts are impacted by humans due to urbanization. As humans need more places to live they are moving more into the desert creating homes impacting the specialized animals that live there.

Another impact from humans is a process called desertification. This is when climate change, over grazing, deforestation, and other things take away a natural habitat causing the area to become a desert. This spread of deserts impacts all the species in the habitat as they may not be adapted to these new harsh conditions.

​Desert

Temp: Taiga- cold
Deciduous - avg 50F
Rainforest - 78 - 87F

Precipitation:
Taiga - 12-33 in of snow
Deciduous - 30 -50 in of rain
Rainforest - 50 to 460 in of rain

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​Forests

There were 3 major forests we covered. Taiga (boreal in map), Deciduous (temperate in map) and rainforest (tropical in map)

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Forests range from the rainforest along the equator that is known for lots of rain and large biodiversity to the taiga up near the Arctic circle where it is cold the majority of the year. Each forest has its own unique wildlife and plants that can be found in them. The climate and location determines the kind of forest found.

The biggest impact from humans is deforestation. Humans remove large amounts of trees each year for a variety of reasons. Some include for use (to build things from wood), to create agriculture land, to make room for businesses and homes, and multiple other reasons. However the removal of trees can cause creatures to lose their homes, food, and ability to survive.

​Forest

Multiple Choice

What is a characteristic of the tundra?

• Lots of rain all year

• Dry and cold

• Lots of animals live there

• It is found on all continents

Multiple Choice

Animals and plants in the desert must adapt to what?

• An abundance of water

• Absolutely no water at all

• A small amount of water each year

• Different seasons

Multiple Choice

Which ecosystem is designated by having the most rain each year?

• Forest

• Desert

• Grasslands

• Tundra

Multiple Choice

Which animal would be best adapted to survive in the tundra where it is cold and normally winter?

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a human impact on the tundra?

• Deforestation

• Mining

• Climate change creating warm temp

• Invasive species moving north due to warm weather

Multiple Choice

True or False: All deserts are super hot

• True

• False

Match

Match the following ecoystems to their description

• Desert

• Forest

• Grasslands

• Tundra

Less than 10 inches of rain a year

Lots of trees and wildlife

Not much rain so little trees

Very, Very, Very cold

• Less than 10 inches of rain a year

• Lots of trees and wildlife

• Not much rain so little trees

• Very, Very, Very cold

Multiple Choice

Humans have impacted which ecosystems?

• Grasslands

• Tundra

• Forest

• All of the them

Draw

Draw your favorite ecosystem in the space provided.

Open Ended

In this lesson you learned about a lot of ways humans have impacted the local ecosystems. What are some ways you can think of that humans can have a positive impact?