Earth Science, Two Types of Biomes - Essay Example

Food chain is a representation of the energy transfers from one organism to another. It starts from a producer, usually plants, which are autotrophs that can harness light energy to form organic compounds. Plants are then used by primary consumers, or calves, for energy. These herbivores are then consumed by carnivores, such as humans. Upon death, these carnivores are decomposed by microorganisms into simpler compounds that can be utilized by the producers by nourishment. Geographers look at organisms in terms of how they are distributed on Earth. Usually, their association with other animals, such as that depicted in a food chain, gives an impression as to the place or habitat a particular food chain is present. As to the example above, one might consider a grassland as the place where this food chain occurs. Definitely, this is not something you will see on a marine ecosystem. On the other hand, biologists look at organisms at a closer way. They look at their anatomical structures, and how these structures allow them to function and live in the habitat where they are located. They also study how organisms reproduce so that it is able to exist for millions of years Biomes are general descriptions of areas based on the kinds of vegetation present and the adaptations that the animals have to undergo to flourish in such areas. It is different from a zoogeographical region, in that the latter are specific areas on Earth defined by the animals living in that area. These regions are divided by oceans, mountain ranges, or desserts (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/202763/faunal-region). Two types of biomes are desert and tundra. Deserts are dry areas of the Earth where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year. As such, the plants present in these areas have water retaining properties, such a thick cuticle to prevent excessive water evaporation. As well, they tend to be closer to the ground, and their leaves have limited surface area (http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php, 2007). On the other hand, plants in tropical forests exhibit wide diversity, with large canopies interspersed with small shrubs in between them. The plants are also tall, maximizing the amount of light present without having to compensate for the water losses that may occur upon evaporation http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php, 2007). 2. Forrested areas tend to have acidic and less structured soils than that of grasslands because forest tree leachates are acidic in nature (http://www.soils.wisc.edu/courses/SS325/formation.htm#organisms). Aside from the organisms present in the soil, the climate, parent material, and time are important factors that affect soil development. Specifically, parent material affects greatly the soil development. The chemical and mineralogical composition of parent material determines the effectiveness of weathering forces. For example, that made up of mostly silica may not be as effectively weathered as that of soil composed of calcium carbonate. As well, the downward movement of water is controlled by the permeability of the material. However, on certain occasions, other soil-forming factors are more important than the parent material. For example, a plant growing on sandy soil with low moisture content is still better than another which is grown on clay, provided that the former is in area with better precipitation than latter. In addition, time is important, such that a relatively old and weathered soil contain more nutrients, both organic and inorganic, than a relatively young soil that has not undergone much weathering yet http://www.soils.wisc.edu/courses/SS325/formation.htm#climate. Through time, the surface of the Earth is modified by external and internal processes. External processes are driven by solar energy, and include wind-carried ash, glaciation, stream erosion, water cycle, the oceanic circulation system and weathering. On the other hand, internal processes driven by radioactive decay beneath the Earth’s surface are formation of magma and volcanic eruption. From a certain point of view, one process may seem to be countering the other: external processes aims to distribute the temperature across the globe, while the internal processes bring hot molten material at certain areas of the Earth (http://wapi.isu.edu/geo_pgt/Mod04_Earth/mod4.htm; http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/1425chap4.htm). 3. In the development of Earth, Alfred Wegner proposed the Continental Drift theory, in which the continents all came from a single land mass, called Pangaea, and drifted away from one another through time. Initially, it broke up into Laurasia and Gondwana, which will later form into Africa, South America, India, Antarctica, and Australia. Plate tectonics, on the other hand, theorizes that new Earth surface is formed along oceanic crusts in between two diverging plate boundaries, while on converging boundaries, the plates are being pushed together or pulled apart, thus forming troughs or mountains. Activity along the plates may also cause what we now call as earthquakes (http://wapi.isu.edu/geo_pgt/Mod04_Earth/mod4.htm). Through time more evidence has been gathered in support of Plate Tectonics, making it more plausible than Continental Drift. These evidences include 1) earthquakes along plate boundaries, and 2) older and thicker sediments as one moves away from the crust (http://geology.csupomona.edu/drjessey/class/Gsc101/Plate.html). 4. Some scientists, while looking at the temperature for the past 400, 000 years, have noted a pattern of glacials, which lasted for 100, 000 years, and interglacials that spans around 12, 000 years. In comparing these past temperatures to that we have been having in the past 12, 000 years, they have noted a similarity to that of the interglacial. Thus they believe that we are currently in interglacial stage, and an ice age is imminent. However, some believe we are in ice age because of the glacial ice still present on Earth’s surface (Blackburn, 2010). The differences among scientists, despite them having valid points, may have stemmed from the presence of greenhouse gases that were definitely absent the past years. These gases trap the heat that bounced from the Earth’s surface after receiving rays of sunlight. Thus, even if we should be approaching ice age, as some scientists might be thinking, the increase in temperature caused by global warming may prevent it from doing so. On the other hand, if we are on ice age, the signs may not have been too visible because the warming effect of greenhouse gases can counteract the cooling effect seen during the ice age (Blackburn, 2010). Obviously, such controversies prevent an easy policy-making by the government. Preparing for ice age or not is definitely a hard decision, as presence of ice age is not conducive to life. Humans are not physiologically and anatomically catered to survive in extremely cold conditions, and agricultural businesses may halt because vegetation and grazing will not be possible in such cold weather. In addition, efforts on decreasing greenhouse gases may not be supported by international bodies, as some scientists note their presence as to be preventive of ice age (Blackburn, 2010). References Blackburn, A. (2010). Are we heading into a new ice age? Retrieved from: http://www.skepticalscience.com/heading-into-new-little-ice-age.htm. Hetcher, K. and Hughes, S. Planetary Geology for Teachers: Module 4—Earth; Geologic Processes. Retrieved from: http://wapi.isu.edu/geo_pgt/Mod04_Earth/mod4.htm (2007). The Forest Biome. Retrieved from: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php (2007). The Desert Biome. Retrieved from: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php. Chapter 4: Global Energy Transfer, , Atmosphere and Ocean Circulation, Climate. Retrieved from: http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/1425chap4.htm Soil Formation. Retrieved from: http://www.soils.wisc.edu/courses/SS325/formation.htm#climate Read More