Biome

1
Biome

• Climax community over a large geographical area.
• Ecological

2
Reasons for Biomes?

• 1. Temperature
• C. Hart Meriam (1898) eastern USA
• Life Zones latitude
• Arizona Florida?

3
Reasons for Biomes?

• 1. Temperature
• 2. Moisture
• 3. Fire
• (Complex Set of Factors!)

4
Biomes of the USA
5
Biomes of the USA

• Mediterranean
• Temperate Rain Forest
• Desert
• Grassland
• Eastern Deciduous forest
• Semitropical Rainforest
• Coniferous Forest
• Tundra

6
Plant Taxonomy

• Biomes are referred to as Formations or Floristic
  Regions
• Each characterized by numerous endemic species
  and by an unduplicated make-up of species.
• -L. Benson

7
Floristic Regions of the USA-L. Benson

• Western Woodland and Brush Region
• Pacific Northwest
• Southwest Desert Region
• Plains and Prairie Region
• Eastern Forest Region
• Subtropical Region
• Northern Coniferous Forest Region
• Boreal Alpine
• Rocky Mt. Region

8
Floristic Regions of the USA-L. Benson

• Boreal Alpine/Rocky Mt. Region
• (Biome/Floristic changes easily observed)
• North-South
• White Mts.
• Rocky Mts.
• 1000 ft. 600 miles

9
Rocky Mts.Vegetation Zones

• Foothills
• Montane or Coniferous (Doug firs, Ponderosa
  Pines)
• Subalpine Forest (Subalpines firs, Spruces)
• Hudsonian (scattered, stunted trees)
• Alpine Tundra (willows, cushion plants)

10
Climax Communities/Local Associations

• Eastern Deciduous Forest
• Beech-Maple
• Oak Hickory
• Grassland
• Tallgrass Prairie
• Mixed-grass Prairie
• Short-grass Prairie

11
Grasslands of the USA

• (Grasslands/Prairies)

12
Grasslands of the USA

• (Grasslands/Prairies)

13
Missouri General Land Survey 1815 -1818
14
Pre-settlement Prairie in Missouri
15
Pre-settlement Prairie in Northwest Missouri gt
70
16
Pre-settlement Prairie in Northwest Missouri gt
70

• Perenials
• Extensive root systems
• Warm season growth
• Disease and insect resistance
• Good coverage for wildlife
• Food for wildlife
• Forage programs
• Re-established natural areas

17
Precipitation Zones in Missouri
18
Reasons for Prairies

• 1. Temperature
• 2. Precipitation
• 3. Fire!

19
Local Associations/Climax Communities

• Tend to form if
• Conditions are natural
• Proper seed bank is available

20
If local association (climax community) is
destroyed?

• - Series of plant communities
• Seral Stages
• Natural Succession

21
Seral Stages
22
Climax Community
23
Seral Stages/Secondary Growth

• A major part of the natural environment!

24
Floristic Regions of Missouri-J. Steyermark

• Plant Distribution and Topography

25
Natural Divisions of Missouri- MDC/MDNR

• Plant/Animal Distribution, Topography and
  Geographical History

26
Natural Divisions of Missouri- MDC/MDNR

• Plant/Animal Distribution, Topography and
  Geographical History