Harmful blooms are caused by algae, simple aquatic plants that range from microscopic single-celled protists to colonial filamentous microalgae to large seaweeds, forming the base of food webs they are vitally important to marine and freshwater ecosystems. Toxic algae outbreaks can vary a lot but imagine chemical looking stinky, slime floating on the surface of …
Coral reefs are large underwater structures found in tropical ocean waters around the world. They are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on the planet. Coral reefs are home to more species than any other marine ecosystem. They are estimated to cover more than two hundred eighty-four thousand square kilometers. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef …
Pollution, overpopulation, and other human activities are having a major effect on the environment, by raising the earth’s temperature. The root cause is a phenomenon known as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as water vapor carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. The more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the higher the temperature as …
Subtropical deserts exist between 15o and 30o north and south latitude and are centered on the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Deserts are often found on the leeward or lee side of mountain ranges, creating a rain shadow after prevailing winds drop their water content into the mountains. A good examples are …
The boreal forest, also known as taiga or coniferous forest, is found between approximately 50° and 60° north latitude in most of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and northern Europe. Boreal forests are located above a certain elevation (and below high elevations where trees cannot grow) in mountain ranges throughout the Northern Hemisphere. This biome is characterized …
Tropical rainforests are located in equatorial regions and certainly are the most biodiverse terrestrial biome. This biodiversity is under enormous threat from logging and deforestation for agriculture. Rainforests are also known as nature’s pharmacy because of the potential for new medicines, much of which is hidden in the chemicals produced by the wide variety of …
Temperate forests are the usual biome in eastern North America, Western Europe, Eastern Asia, Chile, and New Zealand. This biome is spreading throughout mid-latitude regions. Temperatures range from -30°C to 30°C (-22°F to 86°F) and fall below freezing annually. The growing seasons of the forests are spring, summer, and early autumn. Rainfall is fairly constant …
Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees that are located in Africa, South America, and North Australia. Savannas are hot, tropical areas with temperatures averaging from 24oC –29oC (75o F –84o F) and an annual rainfall of 51–127 cm (20–50 in). Savannas have a long dry season and frequent fires. As a result, there are only …
The average winter temperature is 34 °C (29.2 °F) and the average summer temperature is 3 °C to 12 °C (37 °F to 52 °F). Arctic tundra plants have a short growing season of around 50 to 60 days. However, during this period there are almost 24 hours of daylight and plant growth is rapid. …
Chaparral (scrub forest) is situated in California, alongside the Mediterranean Sea, and on the south coast of Australia. Annual rainfall in this biome ranges from 65 cm to 75 cm (25.6 to 29.5 in), with most rain falling in winter. The summer is very dry and many plants are inactive in summer. The chaparral vegetation …
