Climate and Pattern in Terrestrial
Ecosystems
Comparing the effect of climate on
species diversity in 5 LTER sites
Five different biomes
„
„
Biomes are distinguished by their
predominant plants
Biomes are associated with particular
climates with variations in temperature and
precipitation
‰
‰
‰
‰
‰
Tropical forests include rainforest and dry forest
Deserts’ water loss usually exceeds precipitation
Temperate forests rainfall averages 650 - 3,000 mm
Grasslands annual rainfall 300 - 1,000 mm
Urban desert rainfall augmented by irrigation
A Note about Scale
It’s important to consider the scale at which questions are investigated
Spatial Scale (Separated
by space):
• As large as galaxies,
biomes, countries, states,
etc.
•As small as animals
within same forest, insects
on same plant,
microclimates above leaf
vs. below leaf
•Can also be units of
measure (i.e. meters vs.
feet, volume vs. area, etc.)
Temporal Scale
(Separated by
time):
•As large as
centuries,
decades, years,
etc.
•As small as
hours, seconds,
milliseconds, etc.
Spatial scale
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
December
November
October
August
July
June
May
April
March
Minimum
February
F
Maximum
September
•Different patterns
95
90
85
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
January
•Separated by space
March
H. J. Andrews Research Forest
•H. J. Andrews Research
Forest in Oregon (bottom)
•Same biome
Minimum
February
•Harrison Experimental
Forest in Mississippi (top)
•Same country
Maximum
January
F
2003 Average Maximum
and Minimum
Temperatures of two
temperate forests in the
United States:
Harrison Experimental Forest
Temporal scale
1995-1999
65
60
55
F
Maximum and Minimum
Temperatures at H. J.
Andrews Research Forest
in Oregon
y = 0.0679x + 56.569
Maximum
50
Minimum
45
y = -0.2412x + 40.91
40
35
1995
•5-year data set (top)
•10-year data set (bottom)
1996
1997
1998
1999
1995-2004
65
60
•Same forest
y = 0.6394x + 55.316
55
•Separated by time
Maximum
F
•Same site
50
45
40
•Different patterns
Minimum
y = 0.3422x + 39.322
35
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
H.J. Andrews Temperate Forest
LTER
These forests are among the
tallest and most productive in
the world with many plant and
animal species.
Lower elevation forests are
dominated by Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii),
western hemlock (Tsuga
heterophylla), and western
redcedar (Thuja plicata).
Higher Elevation forests are
dominated by Pacific silver fir
(Abies amabilis).
H. J. Andrews Temperate Forest
Maximum and Minimum Temperatures (mean) at H. J.
Andrews 1958-2004
65
60
The climate at
the H. J.
Andrews is
cool and wet in
winter and
warm and dry
in summer.
Maximum
50
Minimum
45
40
35
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
F
55
H.J. Andrews Total Precipitation
„Very
large winter
precipitation leads
to significant soil
water surpluses
and runoff
Average Monthly Precipitation H. J. Andrews Research
Forest 1958-2004
16
14
„Summertime
precipitation is low to
nonexistent
inches
12
10
8
6
4
2
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
0
February
precipitation
is about 2,500 mm at
low elevations, falling
mainly as rain at low
elevations and as
snow at upper
elevations.
January
„Annual
Combined Data
Mean Precipitation and Temperature at the H. J. Andrews Research Forest
1958-2004
16
85
80
14
75
12
70
65
Precipitation
60
F
8
55
6
50
45
4
40
2
35
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
30
February
0
January
inches
10
Maximum
Minimum
Variations in temperate forests
90
6
80
5
70
60
Precipitation
50
3
F
inches
4
40
Maximum
Minimum
30
2
20
1
10
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
0
January
0
85
16
80
14
75
12
70
65
Precipitation
60
F
8
55
6
50
45
4
40
2
35
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
30
February
0
January
inches
10
Maximum
Minimum
Average monthly
temperatures and
precipitation at two
temperate forests:
Hubbard Brook in
New Hampshire, USA
(top) and H. J.
Andrews Research
Forest in Oregon,
USA (bottom)
Discerning patterns
Based on the patterns at the Hubbard Brook and
H. J. Andrews forests:
„What
would you expect the forest soils to be like?
„What
effect might the patterns have on the types of soil
invertebrates present at each site?
„Would
„Would
you expect the plant communities to be similar?
you expect patterns between a temperate forest and a
tropical forest to differ? How might precipitation influence the
components mentioned above?