Download Southern Alaska

Coastal and Southern Alaska
Scott Anderson, Rebecca
Dombrowski and Michael West
Monday July 3rd
 Climate
 Precipitation
 Weather
 Maritime Affects
 Winds/Pressure Systems
 Ecosystem
 Disturbances
 Succession
 Limiting Factors
 Biosphere
 Specific Plants
 Land Activities
 Fauna
Precipitation
 Average annual precipitation
ranges from 21 to 78 in.
 Fall/Winter Months
 Kodiak: 5 in. in summer 7 in. in
winter
Weather and Hazards
 Moderate
 Avg. 30’s in Winter 50’s in Summer
 Temps can range into the -20’s
Insolation
 Tilt 18-6 hrs.
 Albedo
Pressure Systems and Winds
 Aleutian Low, North Pacific High
 High winds, sometimes up to 50
mph in winter
Disturbances: Oil Spills
Disturbances: Artic Fox
Secondary Succession
Primary Succession
Recovery from Fox
 Changes seen in past 30 years as
fox are removed from the islands
• Some bird populations have
stabilized, while others face
extinction
 Stability
Fox Free
Limiting Factors
 Insolation
 High Winds and Intense Storms
• Islands are Devoid of Trees
 Introduced Species
Disturbance Regimes
 Volcanic Activity
 Earthquakes
 Tsunamis
 Landslides
 Constant High winds and Storms
Volcanic Activity
Ghost Forest
Tundra and Temperate
Rainforest
Land Activities
 Hikes
 Flora
 Fauna
 Glaciers
 Volcanoes
Biosphere
 Sufficient sunlight penetrates the canopy to support a
well-developed under story composed of shrubs, a layer
of herbaceous plants, and then often a ground cover of
mosses and ferns. This stratification beneath the canopy
provides a numerous habitats for a variety of insects
and birds. The deciduous forest also contains many
members of the rodent family, which serve as a food
source for bobcats, wolves, and foxes. This area also is a
home for deer and black bears. Winters are not as cold
as in the taiga, so many amphibian and reptiles are able
to survive.
 Scientists say that there is more biomass in this biome
than in any other biome on earth. There may be 500
tons of living things per acre here! That translates down
to about 206 pounds per square yard, about the same as
one good sized human adult per square yard.
Trees
the topmost layer of the temperate rain forest on the western edge of
North America is dominated by four kinds of tall coniferous trees.
These are:
The Douglas-Fir:The Sitka SpruceThe Western Red CedarThe
Western Hemlock When these trees are full grown, they are between
130 to 280 feet tall.In some areas other conifers dominate. For
example, in California redwood trees grow in the temperate rain
forest.

Small shade-loving trees, such as dogwoods and vine maples, form
the understory level. Beneath the trees, shrubs such as wild currants,
thimbleberries, and huckleberries grow in the filtered sunlight. Sword
ferns, salal, and Oregan grape plants also thrive here.
 At the ground level, the earth is littered with dead fir needles, leaves,
twigs, and fallen trees. These lie on and under a thick carpet of
mosses, lichens, grasses, and small plants, such as Oregon oxalis
(which has leaves like a shamrock). The rocks are green with moss,
and the tree trunks and branches are covered with moss and algae.
These low-growing plants are shade tolerant. Here and there one may
find toadstools, mushrooms, and other kinds of fungi: these
saprophites (organisms that digest dead organic matter) help to
recycle the dead material on the forest floor.

Animals
 Most of the animals in this forest live on
or near the ground, where there is lots
of food, and the trees provide shelter
from sun, wind, and rain. Beetles
burrow in the moss and hide in the bark
of trees. Wood peckers and birds eat the
insects. Grass is eaten by the voles
(cute little mouse-like animals) and the
deer.
Conclusion
 Come See Coastal Alaska