BiomesUnit 1: Ecology

K. Stacker

SEV2: Students will demonstrate an understanding that the Earth is one interconnected system

SEV3: Students will describe stability and change in ecosystemsSEV5: Students will recognize that human beings are part of the global

ecosystem and will evaluate the effects of human activities

Element a: Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.

Essential Question (s): 1). How does climate and geographical location determine the

types of plants and animals that inhabit a biome?

BIOME NOTESWhat to Do!

When ever you see this symbol

Be prepared to write.

Copy Every Question & Answer

What is a biome?

• A biome is a group of ecosystems with the same climax communities

• Biomes located on land are called terrestrial biomes

• Biomes located in water are called aquatic biomes

WHAT ARE CHARACTERISTICS OF AQUATIC BIOMES?

Lakes

OceansStreams and Rivers

Coral Reefs

Estuaries

Ponds

What are the Aquatic Biomes?Aquatic Biomes Examples

Saltwater

(Marine)

Oceans, Seas, Coral Reefs

Estuary Bays, Bayous, Harbors,Inlets

Freshwater Rivers, Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands (swamps & marshes

What animal life and plant life exist in the Aquatic Biomes?

Aquatic Biomes

Animal Life Plant Life

Saltwater

(Marine)

Sharks, Dolphins, Crabs

Corals, Seaweed, Algae

Estuary Otters, Birds, Reptiles

Trees, Algae, Seaweed

Freshwater Catfish, Shrimp, Amphibians

Pond Lilies,

What are the Aquatic Biomes?Aquatic Biomes

Examples Animal Life Plant Life

Saltwater

(Marine)

Oceans, Seas, Coral Reefs

Sharks, Dolphins, Crabs

Corals, Seaweed, Algae

Estuary Bays, Bayous, Harbors,Inlets

Otters, Birds, Reptiles

Trees, Algae, Seaweed

Freshwater Rivers, Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands (swamps & marshes

Catfish, Shrimp, Amphibians

Pond Lilies,

Oligotrophic lakes are nutrient poor (catfish, carp...)Eutrophic lake are nutrient rich (trout, bass...)

Aquatic Biomes

Saltwater Estuary Freshwater

What are the Terrestrial Biomes?

• Tundra

• Taiga aka Coniferous (Boreal) Forest

• Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Tropical Rain Forest (jungle)

• Grasslands

• Savanna (tropical grasslands)

• Deserts

What Determines Biological Communities (Ecosystems)?

Climate (Temperature & Moisture)Geography (Location)

Terrestrial Biomes

Seven major biomes cover most of The Earth’s land surface. BecauseMountainous areas do not belong to anyOne biome, they are given their own designation.

What to Do!When ever you see this symbol

Be prepared to complete a venn diagram for each terrestrial biome.

BIOME NAME

(PLANTS) (ANIMALS)

(TEMPERATURE) (RAINFALL)

What are the characteristics of the

TUNDRA? Alpine

Artic

Tundra• Cold (-20 F to -93 F) & dark

most of the year • Includes the arctic • Permafrost (ice) is the top

layer of soil (usually 3-5 ft deep) that thaws to allow for plant growth

• No trees, but sedges & grass, mosses, & lichens

• Many migratory animals (Foxes, Owls, Caribou)

• Lemmings are year round residents

• Approximately 20 cm annual rainfall

What are the characteristics of FOREST?

Boreal

Temperate Tropical

Taiga• Coniferous forest • Extends across northern

Eurasia & North America • Contains conifers or

evergreens (spruce, cedar, fir, pine ...)

• Needle like leaves withstand weight of snow

• Bear, deer, moose, wolves, mountain lions ...

• Sequoia or redwood (largest conifer) grows here

• Bristle cone pine oldest living conifer found here

NOTE: Climate & Precipitation is on the next slide

Taiga cont’d

• Winter's LOWEST temperature in taiga is -65°F.Winter's HIGHEST temperature is 30° F.Summer's LOWEST temperature is 30° F.Summer's HIGHEST temperature is 70° F.

• The temperature range, as you can see, is -65° F to 70°F (-54 to 21° C).

• The taiga climate has an average annual rainfall of 12 - 33 inches (30 - 84 cm). Most of it falls in the summer as rain.

Temperate (Deciduous) Forest• South of taiga in North

America, eastern Asia, & Europe

• High annual rainfall (75-150 cm)

• Moderate temperatures with well-defined seasons of about equal length

• Trees loose leaves in winter (deciduous trees: broad-leaved, hard wood trees)

• Songbirds, deer, rabbits, foxes, squirrels, frogs & toads, lizards ...

Tropical Rain Forest• Near equator • Warm climate (20 -25 degrees C) • Plentiful rainfall (190 cm/year) • Contains the greatest diversity of

plants & animals • Insects, monkeys & apes, snakes,

tropical birds, leopards... • Animals & plants brightly colored • Poor soil for agriculture• Jungle with (plant layers):

 1. Canopy - broad leaf deciduous trees forming uppermost layer 2. Under story - shrubs 3. Forest Floor - herbaceous plants

Temperate: Prairies and Steppes

Tropical: Savanna

What are the characteristics of GRASSLANDS?

Grasslands• Mostly grasses with a few

trees due to less rainfall • Moderate climates • Summer temperatures can be

well over 38° C (100 degrees Fahrenheit), while winter temperatures can be as low as -40° C (-54 degrees Fahrenheit).

• Rainfall = 50.8 to 88.9 cm (20-35 inches)

• Good for agricultural crops • Grazing & burrowing animals

dominate • Also called prairies

Savanna

• Tropical grasslands • Warm climate & rainy

season • Rainfall = 50.8 to 127

cm (20-50 inches) per year.

• Antelope, zebra, lions, wildebeests, hyenas, elephants...

• Suffer from floods & drought

What are the characteristics of

DESERTS?Hot Semi-Arid

Cold

Coastal

Deserts• Low annual rainfall (1.5 cm) • Subject to strong winds • Days usually hot 43.5-49° C

& nights cold -18° C. • Sahara desert is without

vegetation • Succulents such as cacti &

other water storing plants • Most animals nocturnal • Lizards, snakes,

roadrunners, insects, tarantula, hawks, rodents, coyotes...

STOP

Ocean Zones• Intertidal zone 

1. Along shoreline2. Wave action3. Lots of light so many producers4. Starfish, sand dollars...

• Neritic Zone1. Ocean water above continental shelf2. Coral reef found here3. Surrounds continents & receives light in upper layers

• Bathyal

• Abyssal

Ocean Zones

• Oceanic Zone

1. Beyond continental shelf2. Deepest area (up to 7

miles)3. 3. Bottom doesn't

receive light so animals adapted to darkness (many produce their own light, feed on other animals...)

4. Deepest area called abyss

5. Upper area gets light & called the photic zone (lots of seaweed here)

6. Floaters called plankton (microscopic organisms)

7. Swimmers such as fish called nekton

8. Bottom dwellers called benthos

What is a biome?

• A biome is a _________________with the _________climax communities

• Biomes located ___________are called _____________biomes

• Biomes located _________are called __________ biomes

What are the Aquatic Biomes?Aquatic Biomes Examples

(Marine)

Oceans, Seas, Coral Reefs

Bays, Bayous, Harbors,Inlets

Rivers, Ponds, Lakes, Wetlands (swamps & marshes

What animal life and plant life exist in the Aquatic Biomes?

Aquatic Biomes

Animal Life Plant Life

Saltwater

(Marine)

Estuary

Freshwater

What are the Terrestrial Biomes?

• _______________

• __________ aka Coniferous (Boreal) Forest

• _______________ Deciduous Forest

• ____________________________(jungle)

• ____________________________

• _________________ (tropical grasslands)

• _________________

________________________

(PLANTS) (ANIMALS)

(TEMPERATURE) (RAINFALL)

FLORA FAUNA

CLIMATE PRECIPITATION

BIOMES OF THE WORLD

________________________

(PLANTS) (ANIMALS)

(TEMPERATURE) (RAINFALL)

FLORA FAUNA

CLIMATE PRECIPITATION

BIOMES OF THE WORLD