Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
bushes and grasses appears. In contrast to the tropical rainforest
and tropical deciduous forest, the species diversity within the
tropical scrub regions is relatively low, with a few species
dominating many of the taller growth areas.
Midlatitude Deciduous Forest Biome The midlati-
tude deciduous forest biome is found across the midlatitudes
of North America, northeastern Asia, and western and central
Europe (Figure 10.6) where the climate has a distinct seasonal
temperature cycle with cold winters. This plant community con-
sists of a dense network of broadleaf trees that forms a nearly
continuous canopy in the summer. In the eastern United States,
the dominant species are oak, elm, and maple, to name a few
trees you may be familiar with (see Figure 9.10). These trees
have a distinct seasonal cycle in which the leaves change color
and fall during the autumn months.
The midlatitude deciduous forest is associated with a va-
riety of climate regions where average annual precipitation
ranges between about 75 cm and 150 cm (30 in. and 60 in.),
including the humid subtropical hot-summer climates ( Cfa ,
Cwa ), the humid continental hot-summer climates ( Dfa ), and
the warmer parts of the humid continental mild-summer regions
( Dwa, Dwb ). Although these climates vary in some significant
ways, each has sufficient moisture to support trees, either be-
cause average annual rainfall is abundant or evaporation is low
because average annual temperatures are cool. In eastern North
America, the midlatitude deciduous forest biome extends across
a broad area from the Gulf of Mexico into southeastern Canada.
Elsewhere, it occurs in an arc that extends from Europe to east-
ern Asia. This plant assemblage is also found in southeastern
Australia and northern New Zealand (see Figure 10.6 again).
Figure 10.11 The Mediterranean woodland and shrub biome
in Southern California. This biome is adapted to dry summers
and wet winters and consists of shrubby trees with intervening
grass.
dry-summer climate ( Csa , Csb ) and is found on the west coast
of continents in the lower middle latitudes (see Figure 10.6
again). Average annual precipitation in these areas ranges from
25 cm to 65 cm (10 in. to 26 in.). Winters are cool and wet, with
a moisture surplus, whereas summers are hot and dry, with a
water deficit.
The vegetation in the Mediterranean woodland and shrub
biome is dominated by a dense cover of woody shrubs, known
as the chapparal in North America (Figure 10.11). In many
other places, the trees are somewhat larger and more widely
scattered, with some patches of grass present. Although the
trees vary greatly among continents—oak is most common in
California—the overall appearance is quite similar regardless
of the specific region. Given the distinct dry season that occurs
Mediterranean Woodland and Shrub Forest Biome A
second subdivision in the midlatitude forest biome is the
Mediterranean woodland and shrub forest. This plant
assemblage is closely associated with the Mediterranean
VISUAL CONCEPT CHECK 10.1
This is an image of the tropical deciduous forest
biome. Which one of the following statements
is best associated with this biome?
a)
The trees in this forest are evergreen.
b)
This forest is located in the midlatitudes.
c)
This biome receives less average annual
rainfall than the tropical rainforest biome.
d)
The canopy in this forest is closed.
e)
The wet season occurs in this biome when
it is influenced by the Subtropical High
(STH) Pressure System.
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search