LEARNING MODULE 15 – GEOGRAPHY of UTAH
Utah’s BIOSPHERE –
Fourth of the five subsystems of Earth systems.
THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS MODULE IS:
Course Objective Number ONE: Students will enjoy figuring out webs of geography, meaning, relationships among people, places and environments, wherever they are for the rest of their lives… and, for now, in Utah.
WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW INCLUDES:
The 17 Words… and by now a pretty good sense of them.
Scale issues of geography (MAUP)
Skills of a geographer.
LOGISTICS
With the completion of this set of Learning Modules on the BIOSPHERE, we complete Part II of GEOG3600-Geography of Utah.
Part I – Themes of geography and geography of Utah
Part II – Five subsystems of Earth systems (physical geography) and geography of Utah
Part III – Explorations of issues of social and behavioral sciences and geography of Utah.
LM15-CC00 – Overview of the module–The BIOSPHERE and Geography of Utah
By the end of this Learning Module, you should:
- Understand why the BIOSPHERE is one of the five subsystems of Earth systems.
- Know the five regions that we’re using for categorizing the biosphere of Utah… five “ecoregions”
- Be able to articulate what, and how, and whyinteractions of the five subsystems of Earth systems that explain much of the spatial variation of aspects of UTAH’s ecoregions.
So What? Humans, us, are part of Earth’s biosphere. (We’re such an impressive part that this course, and many others, considers the Anthrosphere separately.) Understanding the BIOSPHER and Utah leads to understanding our position in the natural world, many of our drive (food, shelter), and leads to understanding our impacts on the system. In short, understanding the BIOSPHERE contributes to seeing, understanding, and appreciating webs of relationships among Utah’s people, places, and environments.
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LINKS (LM = learning module; CC = content chunk)
LM / CC / Lecture Notes / LINKS to lecture chunks / MP3 - only15 / 00 / Overview – of the module / Download the MSWord file, in .doc format.
LINK / LINK / Not active
15 / 01 / SOme terms / LINK
15 / 02 / Biosphere - generalities / LINK
15 / 03 / Utah evidence – how draw regions? / LINK
15 / 04 / EPA hierarchy of ecoregions / LINK
15 / 05 / Ecoregions Level III and IIII for Utah / LINK
15 / 06 / Examine scenes – think critically / LINK
15 / 07 / Some Utah flora and fauna / LINK
15 / 08 / So what> / LINK
15 / 09 / LINK
Self Quizzes: not active yet
LM15CC01 – Some terms
Thought questions
Content
BIOSPHERE = the subsystem of Earth systems that concerns life… the living sphere of Earth.
BIOME = Broad life zones. Biological communities with flora and fauna that have adapted to environments with similar conditions. Those conditions include climate, topography, and earth materials. Biomes are often named for a dominant vegetation species, e.g., grasslands, or environment, e.g., desert. Biomes indicate general associations of plants, animals, and… climate. Whittaker classification of biomes; Global biomes Marietta; US biomes Marietta; WEB LINK to OAK RIDGE 1000 ecoregions of US
A good site for biomes is: LINK (but not functioning Feb 2009) informative site of biomes and classification is from UC Santa Barbara, biogeography.
HABITAT = GA-Where something lives. Webster-on-web… where a living thing lives or grows, or commonly found.
NICHE = GA-It’s “job”… specifically, what it eats. Webster-on-web… the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption
So what
HUMAN FOOTPRINT... LINK.
LM15CC02 – Biosphere: some spatial patterns
Thought questions – What would you expect to influence the flora and fauna of a region?
What is meant by a proxy? … in a shareholders’ meeting? In physical geography?
Webster-
Content:
Classifications based on "evapotranspiration, precipitation, humidity... lead to latitudinal regions and altitudinal belts "HoldridgeLifeZones from UCSB web site. Geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere LINK
Content: - UTAH regions base mostly on VEGETATION
Zones by elevation and by community:
Key to Atlas of Utah key to vegetation map
Atlas of Utah, Utah’s regions by vegetation zones –
Shown across ESE-DEM (base by Sterner).
VEGETATION is a major component of an ecoregion LINK Utah Atlas Vegetation zones n LINK Ut Atlas Key and Zones by elevation and community and apply across... note this is an ugly map! And only shown for effect DEM - GA
So what
LM15CC03 – Some Utah evidence of biosphere differences
Thought questions – How set boundaries. Think about challenges faced when identifying classes and drawing boundaries of REGIONS based on the biosphere.
FIVE THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY.
Utah has been classified into regions based on (a) vegetation; and (b) as ecoregions
Difference? Key species;
Typical species;
Plant assemblages; or
Ecosystem … meaning a systems with subsystems… geosphere (soils); hydrosphere (available moisture); and atmosphere (precipitation).
Content
So what
LM15CC04 – Ecoregions and EPA hierarchy of levels
Thought questions
Content:
Several terms are used to classify regions based on their biosphere characteristics.
A BIOREGION is a region tied to habitat.
A BIOGEOGRAPHIC PROVINCE is larger than a BIOREGION.
BIODIVERSITY refers to the variety of living things of an area or region… their genes, their species, their habitats. It’s considered “good” or “healthy” to have diversity. Harsh environments can function with few species so long as there are “producers” and “scavengers.” Biodiversity is enhanced by boundaries among habitats. Utah not “rich” by global standards LINK WorldMap
ECOREGIONS are similar to biogeographical provinces and emphasize ecosystem relationships. The poster I have is from the USGS. “Ecoregions of Utah.” As with many types of classifications, there are broad classifications. These are from EPA’s web site:
ECOREGIONS: definition from the World Wildlife Fund
An ecoregion is defined as a large area of land or water that contains a geographically distinct assemblage of natural communities that
(a) share a large majority of their species and ecological dynamics; (b) share similar environmental conditions, and; (c) interact ecologically in ways that are critical for their long-term persistence.
An ecoregion is the equivalent of a physiographic province for landforms, or states/countries for political geography; or drainage basins for hydrology; or climate zones for the atmosphere (weather and climate).
LINK to Level I – ecoregions N.Am... LINK clip for Utah... 2 ecoregions #6 NorthwesternForestedMountains; #10 North American deserts
LINK to Level II – ecoregions N Am LINK clip for Utah... 2 ecoregions #6.2 Forested areas of western Cordillera; #10.1 Western interior basins and ranges
LINK to Level III – ecoregions N.Am ...LINK clip for Utah...
LINK to LEVEL IV... ecoregions of Utah
So what
LM15CC05 - Ecoregions Level IIII and Level III for Utah
Thought questions
AND… a plug for geographers and GIS… GIS is a powerful tool for displaying and exploring relationships among diverse data sets… for conservation, for understanding. So, for example, the Level IV ecoregions poster for Utah explains.
“The approach used to compile this map is based on the premise that ecological regions can be identified through the analysis of the patterns of biotic and abiotic phenomena that reflect differences in ecosystem quality and integrity. These phenomena include geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology. Use this map, text, and photographs to teach and learn about the physical geography, flora, fauna, landscape processes, and ecosystems of Utah.”
LINK to Level I – ecoregions N.Am... LINK clip for Utah... 2 ecoregions #6 NorthwesternForestedMountains; #10 North American deserts
LINK to Level II – ecoregions N Am LINK clip for Utah... 2 ecoregions #6.2 Forested areas of western Cordillera; #10.1 Western interior basins and ranges
LINK to Level III – ecoregions N.Am ...LINK clip for Utah...
LINK to LEVEL IV... ecoregions of Utah
So what
LM15CC06 – Examine scenes, think critically about ecoregions
Thought questions
What is critical thinking? And why is the UofU so gung-ho on the subject?
Content:
An exercise… in class and on-line - Have the LEVEL IIII map visible LINK and have the LEVEL III key that explains generalized characteristics of the LEVEL III ecoregions.
Observe and interpret.
Caution… there’s a lot of jargon here… soils jargon; but to move through that… Think…
GEOSPHERE:
Materials (bedrock versus sediment; perhaps what type of bedrock)
Landforms: (mountains, plateaus, valleys, … )
Processes: (tectonics; erosion/deposition)
HYDROSPHERE:
Processes: the water cycle
Water balance
Water availability: Surface vs Ground water
Timing of water availability: short term seasonal; long term e.g. drought
ATMOSPHERE
Evaporation; Precipitation
Extremes: freezes or not; how hot, how cold.
CITATION for the poster: Woods, A.J., Lammers, D.A., Bryce, S.A., Omernik, J.M., Denton, R.L., Domeier, M., and Comstock, J.A., 2001, Ecoregions of Utah (color poster with map, descriptive text, summary tables, and photographs): Reston, Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey (map scale 1:1,175,000).
Note… these definitions are for the EPA Level III map so verbiage differs from the Utah poster.
From HAMBLIN (permission to use in class)
Scene from LEVEL III – 13 - CENTRALBASIN AND RANGE
13. CENTRALBASIN AND RANGE
Comprising the middle of three large ecological regions in the north-south oriented intermontane basin and range area of the western United States, this region is characterized by a mosaic of xeric basins, scattered low and high mountains, and salt flats. Compared to the adjacent ecological region to the north, it is hotter and contains higher and a greater density of mountains that have perennial streams and ponderosa pine forests at higher elevations. Also, there is less grassland and more shrubland, and the soils are mostly Aridisols rather than dry Mollisols. The region is not as hot as the adjacent region to the south and has a far greater percent of land that is grazed.
Scene from LEVEL III – 14- MOJAVE – SOUTHERN BASIN AND RANGE
14. MOJAVE - SOUTHERN BASIN AND RANGE
This arid ecological region encompasses the Mojave and SonoranDeserts and contains scattered mountains which are generally lower than those of the bordering basin and range region to the north. The potential natural vegetation in this region is predominantly creosote bush, white bur sage, and palo verde-cactus shrub, as compared to the mostly saltbush-greasewood and Great Basin sagebrush of the region to the north. Most of this region is federally owned and there is very little grazing activity because of the lack of water and forage for livestock. Heavy use of offroad vehicles and motorcycles in some areas has caused severe wind and water erosion problems.
Scene from LEVEL III – 18 –WYOMINGBASIN
18. WYOMINGBASIN
Called the WyomingBasin, this ecological region is a broad intermontane basin dominated by arid grasslands and shrublands, interrupted by high hills and low mountains. Nearly surrounded by forest covered mountains, the region is somewhat drier than the plains region to the northeast and does not have the extensive cover of pinyon-juniper woodland found in the plateaus to the south. Much of the region is used for livestock grazing, although many areas lack sufficient vegetation to support this activity. The region contains major producing natural gas and petroleum fields.
Scene from LEVEL III – 19 – WASATCH and UINTA MOUNTAINS
19. WASATCH AND UINTA MOUNTAINS
This ecological region is composed of a core area of high, precipitous mountains with narrow crests and valleys flanked in some areas by dissected plateaus and open high mountains. The elevational banding pattern of vegetation is similar to that of the Southern Rockies except that aspen, chaparral, and juniper-pinyon and oak woodlands are more common at middle elevations. This characteristic, along with a far lesser extent of lodgepole pine and a greater use of the region for grazing livestock in the summer months, distinguish this ecological region from the mountainous region to the north.
Scene from LEVEL III – 20 – COLORADO PLATEAUS
20. COLORADO PLATEAUS
Rugged tableland topography is typical of this region, often referred to as the Colorado Plateaus. Precipitous sidewalls mark abrupt changes in local relief, often from 300 to 600 meters. The region is more elevated than the WyomingBasin to the north and therefore contains a far greater extent of pinyon-juniper woodlands. However, the region also has large low-lying areas containing saltbrush-greasewood (typical of hotter drier areas), which are generally not found in the higher Arizona/New Mexico Plateau to the south where grasslands are common.
Scene from LEVEL III – 21 – SOUTHERN ROCKIES
21. SOUTHERN ROCKIES
This region, referred to as the Southern Rockies, is composed of high elevation, steep rugged mountains. Although coniferous forests cover much of the region, as in most of the mountainous regions in the western United States, vegetation, as well as soil and land use, follows a pattern of elevational banding. The lowest elevations are generally grass or shrub covered and heavily grazed. Low to middle elevations are also grazed and covered by a variety of vegetation types including Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, aspen, and juniper-oak woodlands. Middle to high elevations are largely covered by coniferous forests and have little grazing activity. The highest elevations have alpine characteristics.
Scene from LEVEL III – 80 –NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE (modified)
80. NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE (modified)
Consists of dissected lava plains, rolling hills, alluvial fans, valleys, and scattered mountains. Although arid, it is higher and cooler than Ecoregion 12 (Snake River Plain) and has more available moisture than Ecoregion 13 (CentralBasin and Range). Non mountain areas have sagebrush steppe vegetation; cool season grasses and Mollisols are more common in the hotter and drier basins of Ecoregion 13 where Aridisols support sagebrush, shadscale, and greasewood. Ranges are covered in mountain sagebrush, mountain brush, Idaho fescue, Douglas-fir, subalpine forests, or aspen. Juniper woodlands occur on rugged, stony uplands. Rangeland is common but dryland and irrigated cropland are found locally. Ecoregion 80 is found in the northern most part of Utah beyond the extent of PleistoceneLake Bonneville. The RaftRiver mountains contain mammal and plant species that are typical of Columbia Plateau but absent from the rest of Utah.
So what
LM15CC07 – Some Utah flora and fauna…
Thought questions – why do we live where we do… why do other animals… and plans live where they do?
Content --- what ecoregions are home to these… and which not… and why or why not?
NOTE: the “answer” is not the goal… the goal is the journey… what will control whether this plant or animal thrives somewhere… HABITAT… N ICHE…
Some general concepts about cities… winners and losers in urban places…
Habitat… Buildings… edges; stretches of terrain or edges of terrain; corridors;
Niche… Generalists tend to survive better than creatures with narrow niche… unless that niche is a human-supported niche.
LINK to file with IMAGES -
LM15CC08 -SO WHAT!
LINK to Level III ecoregions(shows simplified boundaries at coarse scale);
LINK to Level IV ecoregion boundaries (more detailed, same Level III ecoregion boundaries - This may be helpful because you can see the boundaries of Level III in detail).
LINK GEOG3330-Regions based on biosphere - Level III ecoregions