Identification and explanation of the geographical zonality of the nature of the Earth. Description of natural areas of the Earth on geographical maps
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Identification and explanation of the geographical zonality of the nature of the Earth.
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Home & nbsp\u003e & nbsp Wiki-tutorial & nbsp\u003e & nbsp Geography & nbsp\u003e & nbsp7 class & nbsp\u003e & nbspNature areas of North America: general characteristics of each zone
Due to the large elongation of the continent from south to north, the natural zones of North America (9 natural zones) are distinguished by a great diversity of flora and fauna.
Arctic deserts
Most of the Canadian Arctic Islands and Greenland.
Arctic. Negative or close to zero temperatures prevail.
Soils. Poor, stony and swampy.
Vegetation. Mostly mosses and lichens.
Animal world. Musk ox
Tundra
North coast of the mainland with the adjacent islands. In the east - the coast of Hudson’s Bay and the northern part of the Labrador Peninsula.
Subarctic (partly arctic) predominates.
Soils. Tundra - gley, with an excess of moisture.
Vegetation. In the northern part - mosses, lichens; in the southern part there are marsh grasses, blueberries and blueberries, wild rosemary shrubs, low willows, birches, and alder.
To the south, woody vegetation appears.
Animal world. Polar wolf, caribou reindeer, arctic fox, white partridge and some others. Variety of migratory birds. In coastal waters - seals and walruses. There is a polar bear on the north coast.
Taiga
It stretches wide strip from east to west.
Impassable coniferous forests.
Climate. Moderate (with increased moisture).
Soils. Podzolic predominate.
Vegetation.
Basically coniferous trees - balsam fir, black spruce, pine, redwoods, American larch. Hardwood - paper birch, aspen. On the slopes of the Cordillera - Sitka spruce, Douglas fir.
Animal world. Wolves, bears, deer and moose, foxes, lynxes, sables, beavers, muskrats. In the mountain forests - skunks, bears (grizzly), raccoons.
In the rivers - salmon fishes. On the islands - rookery seals.
Mixed and deciduous forests
South of the tundra zone.
(In the eastern part of the North American continent, alternately wet forests predominate).
Climate. Moderate, rolling in subtropical.
Soils. Gray forest, brown forest, yellow earth and red earth.
Vegetation. In mixed forests - sugar maple, yellow birch, white and red pine, linden, beech. In deciduous forests - different types of oaks, sycamore, chestnut, tulip tree.
Animal world.
Wapiti deer, bears (grizzlies), elks, lynxes, wolves, wolverines, raccoons, hares, foxes.
Evergreen rainforests
In the south of the Atlantic and Mississippi lowlands.
Climate. Subtropical.
Soils. Gray - brown, brown.
Vegetation.
Oaks, magnolias, beeches, dwarf palm trees. Trees are twisted by lianas.
Animal world. Diverse.
Forest-steppe
Treeless plains to the west of the forest zone. (They are called prairies in North America).
Climate. Subtropical.
Soils. Chernozems: podzolized and leached. Chestnut gray forest.
Vegetation. High perennial cereals: grass, feather grass, etc.
In the river valleys - woody vegetation. Near the Cordillera are low grass grasses (Gram's grass and bison grass).
Animal world. Diverse and rich.
Desert and semi-desert zone
Much of the California coast, the Mexican Highlands and the inland Cordillera plateaus.
Climate. Moderate (dry).
Soils. Brown and gray desert.
Vegetation. Black wormwood; on solontsah - solyanka of quinoa; prickly bushes, cacti.
Animal world.
Savanna and evergreen forests
On the slopes of the Caribbean and in Central America.
Climate. A distinct change in the dry and wet seasons.
Soils. Black, red - brown, brown, gray - brown
Vegetation. Tropical types of hard leaved cereals. Trees with a long root system and umbrella-shaped crowns prevail.
Animal world. All over the world.
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§25. Natural areas of the Earth
1. List the main natural areas of the Earth.
Tundra, taiga, deciduous forest, grassy plain (savanna), deserts and semi-deserts, steppes and forest-steppe, tropical rainforest.
2. What determines the spread of natural areas on Earth?
Natural zones are formed due to the distribution of heat and moisture on the planet. The relief, distance from the ocean affect the location of zones and their width.
Give a brief description of the tundra.
This natural zone is located in the polar zone (most in the permafrost zone), where the air temperature is quite low.
The flora is represented mainly by stunted plants with a poorly developed root system: mosses, lichens, shrubs, dwarf trees. In the tundra live ungulates, small predators, many migratory birds.
4. What trees form the basis of taiga, mixed and deciduous forests?
- The basis of taiga is coniferous trees (pine, spruce, fir, larch, etc.);
- Mixed forests are characterized by mixing conifers and broad-leaved trees;
- Broad-leaved forests consist of deciduous trees (oak, hazel, beech, linden, maple, chestnut, hornbeam, elm, ash, etc.).
What do all the grassy plains of our planet have in common?
Answer: It is characterized by a small amount of precipitation and constantly high air temperature. For the savannas is characterized by the presence of a dry period, during which the grass dries, and the animals tend to water. The vegetation here is mostly grassy, trees are rare. For savannah is characterized by an abundance of large herbivores and predators.
Give a brief description of the desert.
Deserts have a very low humidity, the flora and fauna of the desert adapts to these difficult conditions. Animals have the property for a long time to do without water, to wait out the driest months in hibernation, many are nocturnal.
Many plants are able to store moisture, most evaporation is reduced, in addition, they have an extensive root system that allows you to collect crumbs of moisture from a large volume.
In general, the plant and animal world is very limited. Of the plants, leafless thorny bushes are widespread, and reptiles (snakes, lizards) and small rodents are common among animals.
7. Why are there few trees in the steppes, savannas and deserts?
In the savannas, steppes and deserts very little rain falls, the trees just do not have enough water.
Why is tropical rainforest the richest in species?
Answer: There is always high temperature and humidity. These conditions are especially favorable for plants and animals. Topsoil is very fertile.
9. Using examples, prove that the distribution of natural areas on Earth depends on the distribution of heat and moisture.
Natural zones are formed due to the distribution of heat and moisture on the planet: high temperature and low humidity are characteristic of equatorial deserts, high temperature and high humidity for equatorial and tropical forests.
Natural zones stretched from west to east, between them there are no clear boundaries.
For example, savannahs are located where moisture is no longer sufficient for the growth of moist forests, deep in the continent, and also far from the equator, where most of the year is dominated not by the equatorial, but tropical air mass, and the rainy season lasts less than 6 months.
10. What are the characteristic features of natural areas listed?
- The largest variety of species is the wet tropical forest.
- The predominance of herbaceous plants - Savannah.
- The abundance of mosses, lichens and dwarf trees - Tundra.
- Many coniferous plants of few species -.
Analyze the pictures on p. 116-117 textbook. Is there any connection between the coloring of animals and their habitat (natural area)? What is the reason?
Answer: Yes, there is a connection. This is called protective coloration. Animals thus merge with the environment for various purposes. If it is a predator, then for an attack. For example, a striped tiger successfully hides in the yellow grass, preparing for an attack.
A polar bear and an arctic fox are practically invisible against the background of snow.
To protect against predators, animals also developed a coloring to hide. Examples: jerboa, roe deer, green frog, and more. others
What natural zones do these organisms live in?
- Dwarf birch - tundra.
- Sloth is a wet tropical forest.
- Kedrovka - taiga.
- Zebra - savanna.
- Oak is a deciduous forest.
- Jeyran - the desert.
- White owl - tundra.
Using the map on p. 118-119 textbook, name the natural areas found on the territory of our country. Which of them occupy the largest territory?
The territory of Russia has a large extent from north to south, the relief is mostly flat. Thus, the following natural zones are successively represented on the vast plains: arctic deserts, tundra, forest tundra, forests, forest-steppe, steppes, semi-deserts, deserts, subtropics.
In the mountains, high-altitude zone. A large territory is occupied by taiga, steppe, mixed forest and tundra.
§24. Life on different continents §26. Life in the seas and oceans
1. Natural complexes are very diverse. Which of them are called natural areas?
The natural complex of the land, as well as the complex of the geographic shell as a whole, is a heterogeneous formation and includes the natural complexes of lower ranks, differing in the quality of the components of the complex of natural components.
These lower ranks are natural areas. Having studied the map of natural zones, you will be able to independently name these natural zones and trace the patterns of their placement.
2. Highlight the main features of the concept of "natural zone".
Each natural zone is different from other quality components of its soil, plant and animal world.
And the quality of these components, in turn, depends on the characteristics of the climate, the aggregate of the resulting light, heat and moisture.
3. What are the features of the distribution of natural zones on the continents and in the ocean?
The boundaries of natural zones on land are most clearly traced by the nature of the vegetation.
It is not by chance that vegetation was taken as the basis for the name of natural land areas.
In the World Ocean, natural zones are also distinguished, but the boundaries of these zones are less distinct, and the basis of the division into zones in the ocean is the qualitative characteristic of water masses.
4. What is latitudinal zonality and altitudinal zonality?
The pattern with which natural areas are located on the surface of the Earth,
called latitudinal zonality.
Changes in the quality of the components of the natural zone components occurs depending on their geographic location, especially the geographic latitude, on which the amount of heat and moisture depends.
In the mountains, in contrast to the flat areas, natural areas vary with altitude. Changing natural zones from the foot of the mountains to their peaks is similar to changing natural zones from the equator to the poles. The pattern of changes in natural areas with a height in the mountains is called altitudinal zonation or altitude zonality.
In which mountains there are the greatest number of high-altitude zones, in which - the smallest? Why?
The number of natural areas in the mountains depends on the geographical location of the mountains in relation to the equator and on their height.
On the southern slopes of the Himalayas, almost all natural zones change: from humid equatorial zones at the foot to the arctic desert on the summits. In the mountains, located in higher latitudes, the number of natural areas will be less. Thus, it is possible to trace the relationship that exists between the number of natural zones in the mountains and the geographical position of the mountains in relation to the equator.
The reason for this pattern is in the amount of heat and moisture produced.
essay do good
What is a natural area? Natural area - physiographic zone - is part of the geographical envelope of the Earth and geographical belt, has the characteristic components of its natural components and processes. What are natural areas?
- Arctic (Antarctic) desert.
- Forest-tundra and tundra.
- Taiga, mixed, deciduous forests, rainforests.
- Forest-steppe and steppe.
- Deserts and semi-deserts.
- Savannah.
Arctic and Antarctic deserts -such deserts occupy about 5 million square kilometers (the largest places are Greenland, Antarctica, the northern parts of Eurasia in North America), mainly consist of small rocks or scree, as well as glaciers. A characteristic feature of the polar desert is the lack of sunlight for a long period of time, about 10 months. Most of the soil covered by the permanent permafrost. The average temperature value, which happens in these zones, is up to -30 degrees Celsius, in winter -60 degrees, in warmer seasons, the temperature is +3 degrees as possible. Such deserts are practically devoid of vegetation. Of the animals in the Arctic inhabit polar bears, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, seals. In Alaska, in Canada and Russia, the Arctic deserts are already gradually moving into the tundra.
Forest-tundra and tundra -the largest areas of tundra and forest-tundra are located in the north of North America and also in Eurasia (mainly Russia and Canada) mainly, such areas are located in the sub-arctic climate zone. In the southern hemisphere of our planet, the tundra and forest-tundra are practically absent. Vegetation is very low, the most common mosses and lichens. In the tundra there are a large number of trees, such as Siberian larch, dwarf birch, polar willow. Among the animals: deer, wolves, a large number of hares, foxes. The average temperature in warm seasons is +5 +10 degrees, in winter the average temperature is -30 degrees. In the Tundra, winter can last up to 9 months. In the forest tundra, the average temperature is +10 +15 degrees. In winter from -10 to -45 degrees. In the tundra and forest tundra, a very large number of lakes, due to high humidity, as well as a large number of swamps.
Taiga, mixed, deciduous forests, rainforests -these zones have a mild climate and fertile soils. Formed in temperate zones with average precipitation. Usually located in the temperate zone of Russia, Canada, Scandinavia. Cold winters and rather warm summers are characteristic. From vegetation, a large number of coniferous trees: pine, fir, larch, spruce. Taiga, became famous through its dark coniferous boreal forests. There is also a large number of deciduous trees: birch, poplar, aspen. The main seasons in the taiga and deciduous, tropical forests are winter and summer. Autumn and spring are so short that you don’t even notice that they exist. The taiga is either very cold or very hot. It happens that the temperature exceeds +30 degrees Celsius, mostly warm and rainy. In winter, there are frosts and up to -50 degrees. A very large number of wild animals: brown bear, wolf, fox, wolverine, ermine, sable, there are deer, moose, deer. But usually, they live in the area where there is a very large number of deciduous trees.
Forest-steppe and steppe -these are areas of the Earth’s part that do not have forests, occupy rather large territories in Eurasia, North America and in the subtropical zones of South America. Very low rainfall. The forest-steppe zone passes in the north between the steppes and forests in the north, and, namely, from the steppes, a transition to semi-deserts forms and then deserts begin. In the forest-steppe just the opposite, there is a rather humid climate (up to 600 mm) than in the steppe, therefore, an element such as the meadow steppe is formed here. The temperature in the steppes, as well as in the forest-steppe, is from -16 to +10 degrees in winter, +15 +30 degrees in summer. Vegetation usually changes from north to south, the grass replaces feather grass, and wormwood replaces it. Of the animals present gophers, marmots, bustards, steppe eagles. There are also hedgehogs, squirrels, foxes, hares, snakes, elks, storks, and beavers.
Deserts and semi-deserts -this is one of the largest zones, it occupies one fifth of the earth's surface. It is clear that the largest part of these zones is located in the tropics (deserts and semi-deserts): in Africa, Australia, the tropics of South America, and also on the Arabian Peninsula in Eurasia. The driest desert - Atacama, which is located in Chile, there is almost no rain. In the largest desert of the Earth - the Sahara, precipitation is also very small, in summer the temperature is up to +50 for deserts this is a very common phenomenon. In winter, there are frosts. In the deserts there is practically no flora. This is due to low humidity and a very dry climate, there are very few plants that can survive in this climate. Animals enough: jerboas, gophers, snakes, lizards, scorpions, camels.
Savannah -such zones are, for the most part, in the subequatorial belt of the Earth. The climate here is varied, sometimes very dry, and sometimes quite rainy. The average temperature for the year ranges from +15 to +25 degrees. The largest number of shroud is in South America, Africa, Indochina, the Indian subcontinent, the northern regions of Australia. Very diverse fauna, mainly grass vegetation, a variety of trees and shrubs. Of the animals that live in shrouds, the following can be identified: elephants, cheetahs, lions, rhinos, leopards, zebras, giraffes, antelopes. A large number of birds and insects.
1. What are the features of the placement of natural areas on the mainland?
In the north of the mainland, according to the law of latitudinal zonality, natural zones vary in the direction from north to south, and in the central zone - from east to west. The reason for this is that, due to the peculiarities of the relief, the ratio of heat and moisture on the continent varies noticeably not only in the latitudinal direction, but also in the meridional direction.
2. Find in the text the definitions of the concepts “tundra”, “taiga”, “steppe”, name their essential features.
Tundra is called the treeless expanses of the subarctic belt, covered with moss-lichen and shrub vegetation on scarce tundra-marsh soils.
The taiga is a zone of the temperate zone, in the vegetation of which coniferous trees dominate, with a mixture of small-leaved species on podzolic soils.
The steppes are treeless spaces of temperate and subtropical belts, covered with grass vegetation on black and chestnut soils.
The main features of natural zones are the climatic conditions of formation, soil, flora and fauna.
3. Name representatives of the animal world of each natural area. Use the text and the atlas map for the answer.
4. Find the national parks and reserves of North America on the atlas map. In what natural areas are they located?
After analyzing the map, we can conclude that the national parks and reserves in North America are located in all natural areas, but the largest number of them are in the Cordillera and in the steppes.
The Russian Federation stretches from west to east and from north to south for many kilometers, so the zonality of the territory is clearly visible. The sun illuminates and warms different parts of the earth in different ways. More heat occurs at the equator, least of all - at the North and South Poles. In different areas of the globe receives a certain amount of heat, light, moisture. These conditions define separate zones with their own special climate.
There are such natural areas: the Arctic desert, tundra, forest-tundra, taiga, forests, forest-steppe, steppe, semi-desert, desert, subtropics.
A natural zone is a territory that is determined by uniform climatic conditions, soil, vegetation and fauna features. The names of natural zones correspond to the name of the predominant vegetation in this zone.
Arctic desert zone or ice zone
The zone of the Arctic deserts is located in the very north of Russia, on the islands of the Arctic Ocean. Most of the zone (about 85%) is covered by glaciers. In the middle of summer there is no more than 2-4 degrees Celsius, and in winter it is cold to -50 ° C, strong winds, fogs. The climate is very severe.
The soil in this zone is very weak, there is no fertile layer, a lot of stone debris. Only mosses and lichens grow on the rocks.
Reindeer, polar bears live in the Arctic desert, and sea birds live on the rocky shores of the ocean: eagles, gulls, polar owls and partridges. Baleen whales, seals, walruses, seals, and white whales are found in the Arctic Ocean.
As people invade, the arctic desert changes. Thus, industrial fishing has led to a reduction in their populations, which is one of the environmental problems in this area. The number of seals and walruses, polar bears and arctic foxes decreases here annually. Some species are on the verge of extinction due to human activities. In the zone of the Arctic desert, scientists have identified significant mineral reserves. Sometimes, when they are mined, accidents occur, and oil is spilled on the territory of ecosystems, harmful substances enter the atmosphere, global biosphere pollution occurs. It is impossible not to touch on the topic of global warming. Human activity contributes to the melting of glaciers. As a result, the territories of the Arctic deserts are reduced, the water level in the World Ocean rises. This contributes not only to changes in ecosystems, but also to the transfer of some species of flora and fauna to other areas and their partial extinction.
Tundra zone
Arctic tundra spreads along the coast of the Arctic Ocean. The climate of the tundra is severe. In this cold natural zone, summer is short and cool, and winter is long, with strong frosts and winds from the Arctic Ocean.
Vegetation is sparse, mostly mosses and lichens. Further south, in the middle part of the zone is lichen-moss tundra with islets of moss and lichen, including moss and many berries of cloudberry. In the south of the zone there is shrub tundra with more abundant vegetation: shrub willows, dwarf birches, grasses and berries. Tundra soils are usually marshy, poor in humus, have high acidity.
For the most part there are no trees in the tundra. Low-growing plants huddle to the ground, using it warmly and hiding from strong winds. The lack of heat, strong wind, lack of moisture for the root system do not allow the shoots to turn into large trees. In the south of the tundra zone, dwarf birch and shrub willows grow. In winter, the lack of food for animals is replenished by evergreens, wintering under cover of snow.
Ducks, geese, black geese and sandpipers settle in the swamps. Over the tundra, herds of reindeer roam in search of moss, their main food. There are permanent deer, white partridges, owls, and ravens living in the tundra.
Forest tundra zone
The forest-tundra is a transition zone from the harsh tundra to taiga forests. The width of the forest-tundra is from 30 to 300 km in different areas of the country. The climate is warmer than in the tundra. In the forest tundra warmer summer and winds are weaker than in the tundra. Winter is cold, snowy lasts more than 9 months.
The soils of the forest tundra are frozen - marsh, peat - podzolic. These low-fertile soils with a low content of humus and nutrients, with high acidity.
The flora of the tundra - meadows with willow bushes, herbs, sedge and horsetail are a good pasture for deer. Due to the harsh climate, the forest islets are very sparse. In these forests - Siberian spruce, larch and birch.
Forest tundra animals - wolves, arctic foxes. Geese, ducks, swans inhabit the lakes and marshes in the summer. In the summer in the forest tundra there are a lot of bloodsucking gadflies, mosquitoes. Closer to the south, squirrels, moose, brown bears, and capercaillie are found in the forest tundra.
Taiga zone
Taiga is the largest natural zone of Russia, to the south of it there is a forest zone, or forest-steppe. The winter here is warm enough to be 16-20 degrees below zero, in the summer 10 to 20 degrees of heat. Within the zone there are significant natural differences as it is located in two climatic zones - subarctic and temperate. From the south to the north of the zone flow large rivers Ob, Yenisei and Lena.
Taiga is rich in swamps, lakes, groundwater. The amount of heat and moisture is sufficient for soil formation of fertile podzolic and marsh-podzolic soils.
Coniferous trees grow in the taiga - pines, spruces, fir, cedar and deciduous trees: birch, aspen, alder, larch. In the forests there are many meadows, there are swamps, many berries and mushrooms.
In the taiga there are many different animals - sable, wood-grouse, hazel grouse, elk, squirrel. Brown bears, wolverines, and lynx are widespread. There are many blood-sucking insects in the taiga.
Zone of mixed and deciduous forests
To the south of the taiga, in the East European Plain and in the Far East, there is a forest zone. It has a lot of heat and moisture, a lot of deep rivers and lakes, and there are much less swamps than in the taiga. The summer is long and warm (18-20 warm), the winter is quite mild. In this area there are large reserves of wood, in the bowels of the earth - mineral deposits.
The vegetation of the zone is greatly altered by man, most of the territory is used for farming and animal husbandry.
Soils are formed by litter under the trees and rich in ash elements. Have the top layer of fertile humus. The soil is sod-podzolic, in the southern part gray forest.
In this zone there are different trees: in the northern part there are mixed forests with deciduous and coniferous trees: spruce, pine, birch, maple and aspen. Closer to the south is dominated by deciduous trees: oak, elm, linden, maple. In the forests there are many bushes: elder, raspberry; berries and mushrooms; abundance of herbs.
The presence of food all year allows animals and most birds to live in the forest. In the forests there are many different animals: squirrels, owls, wood marten, moose, brown bear, foxes, and of birds - orioles, woodpeckers, etc.
Forest-steppe
The forest-steppe zone is part of the temperate climate zone. This is a transitional zone between a forest zone and a steppe zone, combining forest belts and grassy meadows. Flora and fauna represent plants and animals and forests and steppes. The closer to the south, the smaller the forest, the smaller the forest animals.
Steppe
South forest-steppe goes into the steppe zone. The steppe zone is located on the plains with grassy vegetation in a temperate and subtropical climate. In Russia, a steppe zone is located in the south near the Black Sea and in the valleys of the Ob River.
The soil in the steppe is fertile black soil. There is a lot of arable land and pastures for cattle. The climate of the steppes differs very dry weather, hot summer, lack of moisture. Winters in the steppe are cold and snowy.
Vegetation is mainly cereals, growing beams, between which the bare soil. Many different types of feather grass, which can serve as food for sheep.
In summer, animals are active mostly at night: jerboas, ground squirrels, marmots. Typical for steppe birds: bustard, kestrel, steppe eagle, lark. Reptiles inhabit the steppe.
Semi-desert
The semi-desert zone is located in the southeast of the East European Plain, along the northwestern margin of the Caspian lowland.
A characteristic feature of semi-deserts is the dominance of wormwood-grass plant communities. The vegetation cover is very sparse and does not have a continuous distribution: the spots of drought-tolerant sod-like cereals and currant of wormwood alternate with patches of bare soil.
In semi-desert dry, sharply continental climate. This is due to the fact that cyclones are extremely rare here, and anticyclones come constantly from the depths of Eurasia. The annual precipitation varies between 250-400 mm, which is 2.5-3 times less than the evaporation value. Despite the southern position, the winter in the semi-desert is cold. The average January temperature is from -5 to -8, and on some days the thermometer drops to -30. The average July temperature is +20 - +25.
The semi-desert soils are light chestnut, which brings them closer to the steppe, and brown soils are desert, often saline.
Despite the harsh climatic conditions, the flora in the deserts and semi-deserts of Russia is relatively diverse. Vegetation - steppe turf grasses and desert wormwood, subshrubs and others
The fauna of semi-deserts has a number of features associated with specific living conditions. Many animals have facilities for digging holes. Most have a protective coloration. In the animal world, semi-important rodents play an important role, their activity has led to the formation of a bump microrelief.
Many semi-deserts and deserts have significant reserves of oil and gas, as well as precious metals, which has become the reason for people’s development of these territories. Oil production increases the level of danger; in the case of an oil spill, entire ecosystems are destroyed. But the main environmental problem is the expansion of desert areas. So many semi-deserts are transitional natural areas from steppes to deserts, but under the influence of certain factors they increase the territory and also turn into deserts. Most of this process stimulates human activities - cutting down trees, destroying animals (poaching), building industrial plants, depleting soil. As a result, the semi-desert lacks moisture, plants die out, like some animals, and some migrate. So semi-desert quickly turns into a desert.
Desert zone
The desert is a zone with a flat surface, sandy dunes or clay and rocky surfaces. In Russia, there are deserts in the east of Kalmykia and in the south of the Astrakhan region.
In the desert drought-resistant small shrubs grow, perennials that bloom and grow in early spring when there is moisture. Some herbaceous plants, after they dry up, turn into balls from dry twigs, they are called tumbleweed. The wind chases them across the desert, scattering seeds.
In the deserts live hedgehogs, gophers, jerboa, snakes, lizards. From birds - larks, zuyki, bustards.
The main environmental problem of the desert - in their expansion due to irrational human activity. The problem of nuclear testing and disposal of nuclear waste is also on the list of environmental problems of the desert. Earlier in the deserts many tests were carried out, this led to the problem of radioactive contamination. There is a problem of pollution with military waste. Various burials, military and nuclear lead to pollution of groundwater, the extinction of the animal and plant world.
Today, desert and semi-desert areas are a specially protected natural zone of Russia. The desert and semi-desert is divided into special reserves, such as Astrakhansky, Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky and Kavkazsky, as well as to the vaults - Ilmenno-Bugrova, Stepnoy, Burley Sands and other nature conservation areas.
Most of the plants and animals of the Russian desert were listed in the Red Book, and more than 35 natural monuments were created on the vast area of the Caspian lowland.
Subtropical zone
In Russia, the territory of the subtropics is small - it is a narrow part of the coastal land near the Black Sea to the Caucasus Mountains. In this zone there is a hot summer and a warm winter. According to climatic conditions, Russian subtropics are divided into dry and wet. From the southern coast of Crimea to the city of Gelendzhik - dry subtropics. Summer is dry, and only drought-resistant plants survive: prickly blackberry and wild rose. It grows pizza trees, shrubs: juniper, plum. Further along the coast, the amount of precipitation in summer increases and from Gelendzhik to the border with Georgia, including the Sochi region, is humid subtropics. The flora is very diverse and rich.
The mountains are covered with a thick green carpet of trees and shrubs. There are deciduous trees - oaks, beech chestnuts, coniferous yew is remarkable, evergreen shrubs grow: laurel, rhododendron and boxwood.
In the woods near Sochi you can meet bears, wolves, forest cats, badgers, jackals. In the forests there are many rodents - squirrels, mice, there are snakes. On the coast a lot of mollusks: snails, slugs. Birds live in the mountains - kites, eagles, owls.
On the map, each natural area is usually denoted by its color:
Arctic deserts - blue, light purple.
Tundra - purple.
Lesotundra - marsh.
Taiga, forests - different shades of green.
Forest-steppe - yellow-green.
Steppes - yellow.
Semi-deserts and deserts are orange.
The areas of high zonality are brown.
It is sad to realize, but even insignificant intervention of people in the life of the natural world always leads to some of its changes, and moreover, not always to favorable ones. Deforestation, animal destruction (poaching), environmental pollution are the main environmental problems that exist in Russia regardless of the climatic zone. And much depends on the person in changing the deplorable environmental situation for the better.
If hundreds of artists living in different countries offered to draw a portrait of the Earth, then they would have turned out completely different portraits. On one we would see the harsh tundra, on the other - lush jungles, on the third - the desert languishing in the heat ... And if all the portraits are collected at one exhibition, we will be surprised: how many faces of our planet!
These different faces appeared on the Earth because the conditions for the life of organisms on it are very diverse and completely different natural zones have developed in different parts of the world.
Among the natural zones of the Earth can be identified several major, those that occupy most of its surface. Their distribution on the planet depends on the climate, mainly on the distribution of heat and moisture.
In the northern regions of Eurasia and North America and on many islands adjacent to them tundra. There is very little heat here, the soil is shackled by permafrost. The natural tundra community consists of lichens, mosses, dwarf trees, rodents lemmings, white partridge and white owl, reindeer, arctic fox.
South of the tundra, where there are still very cold winters, stretches taiga. The basis of the natural community of the taiga - coniferous trees, undemanding to heat. Larch, cedar pine, spruce, fir form taiga forests that occupy vast spaces. In the taiga live wood grouse, nutcracker, flying squirrel, sable.
To the south of the taiga, where there is more heat and there is no permafrost at all, thermophilic deciduous trees - oak, maple, linden grow. Together with other trees, various shrubs, herbs, mushrooms and, of course, animals, they form mixed and broadleaf the woods.
In areas where there is a lot of heat, but moisture is not enough for the existence of forests, stretched grassy plains - steppe and savannah. They are on all continents except Antarctica. Especially extensive steppes in Eurasia, and savannah - in Africa. The basis of the grassland community is naturally grass, although there are also separately growing trees in the savannas. Various insects and large animals feed on herbs: in the African savannah, for example, antelopes, zebras. These animals are hunted by predators. The most famous predator of the African savannah is the lion.
The most arid regions of the Earth occupied the desert. They are also found on all continents except Antarctica. Few organisms have adapted to life here, and yet the desert community is not so poor. In the deserts of Central Asia, for example, saxaul, sand sedge, camel-thorn grow, insects inhabit (darkling beetles, mares); reptiles (round-headed lizard, monitor lizard, sand boader, cobra); mammals (gazelle, jerboas, gerbils).
On the map, you can see two lines encircling the globe — the Tropic of the North and the Tropic of Southern. Between them, on either side of the equator, is located tropical rain forest. Here it is very warm all year round, heavy rains fall. These conditions are especially favorable for plants and animals. Therefore, the humid tropical forest is the richest in species of the natural community of the Earth.
Test your knowledge
- List the main natural areas of the Earth.
- What determines the spread of natural areas on Earth?
- Give a brief description of the tundra.
- What trees form the basis of taiga, mixed and deciduous forests?
- What do all the grassy plains of our planet have in common?
- Give a brief description of the desert.
- Why is tropical rainforest the richest in species natural community?
Think about it!
- Using examples, prove that the distribution of natural areas on Earth depends on the distribution of heat and moisture.
- Characteristic features of which natural areas are listed below?
- The largest variety of species;
- the prevalence of herbaceous plants;
- abundance of mosses, lichens and dwarf trees;
- many conifers of few species.
- Name these organisms. What natural zones do they inhabit?
The main natural areas of the Earth are tundra, taiga, mixed and deciduous forests, grassy plains, deserts, tropical rain forests. Their distribution on Earth depends on the climate.
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