Biome and climate relationships
 
Essential elements from today’s lecture:

1. Biomes are climatically and geographically distinct plant communities.
2. Biomes are distributed along broad latitudinal zones that can be classified as cold, temperate, and tropical temperature zones and the subdivision of these zones into humid and arid regions.
3. The ordination of biomes can be achieved using temperature versus precipitation axes or using evapotranspiration versus water deficit axes.
4. The characteristics of vegetation can be classified on the basis of meristem location (Raunkaier) or structural characteristics (Holdrige).
5. Climate is most easily visualized using climate diagrams.
6. Each biome is associated with a distinct climate diagram type.
7. Convergent evolution of form and function in similar climates can occur even though the taxa are phylogenetically distinct.

Terms to know from today's lecture

Readings associated with today's lecture

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