ENCS407 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Chihuahuan Desert, Pooideae, Chloridoideae

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Environmental and Conservation Sciences
• Course: ENCS407
• Professor: Lisa Raatz

Document Summary

Gradient of moisture and temperature: desert (p<e) On great plains, moisture and temp occur in large bands: temperature isotherms latitude n to s: moisture longitude e to w; driest on e side of mountains (rain shadow) Grasslands: semi-desert grass shrub (grassland phase of chihuahuan desert, sagebrush-grass, palouse prairie, short grass, mixed grass, tall grass, fescue grasslands, california grasslands, rio grande plains. Transitions between these types to savanna and forest. Great plains: moisture increases longitudinally w e, driest along rocky mt: rain shadow effect, more precip. as you move e, short grass prairies to desert temp. follows latitude: n s temperature increases. Pooideae: cooler with lower evapotranspiration rates, poeae, bromeae, stipeae, aveneae. Chloridoideae: warm + dry, desert formation, cynodonteae, eragrosteae. Panicoideae: most advanced; single florets per spikelet, long period of adaptation, warm + wet, andropogoneae, paniceae.