Page 676 - Geosystems An Introduction to Physical Geography 4th Canadian Edition

20
Terrestrial Biomes
concepts
kEy lEArNINg
After reading the chapter, you should be able to:
• Locate the world’s biogeographic realms, and discuss the basis for their delineation.
• Explain the basis for grouping plant communities into biomes, and list the major aquatic and terrestrial biomes on Earth.
• Explain the potential impact of non-native species on biotic communities, using several examples.
• Summarize the characteristics of Earth’s 10 major terrestrial biomes, and locate them on a world map.
• Discuss strategies for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.
The vegetation of almost half of Africa
falls within the tropical savanna biome, consisting of grasses with scattered trees and shrubs. In northern Namibia, the southern giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is one of many herbivores ranging throughout 233 000 km2 of tropical savanna. An estimated 12 000 individuals of this subspecies remain in the wild, but numbers are declining as the animals are hunted for their hides and meat. The tropical savannas of Africa support the largest diversity of hoofed animals of any biome on Earth.
[Jim Zuckerman/Corbis.]