SOCIAL STUDIES 10SOCIAL STUDIES 10

BIOMES AND ECOSYSTEMS OF BIOMES AND ECOSYSTEMS OF WESTERN CANADAWESTERN CANADA

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BIOMESBIOMES

What is a biome?What is a biome? Ecological community of plant & animals over Ecological community of plant & animals over

a large areaa large area A biome contains a number of smaller A biome contains a number of smaller

ecosystemsecosystems Ecosystems are dependent on each otherEcosystems are dependent on each other

Deforestation example of balance Deforestation example of balance of ecosystemof ecosystem

For an ecosystem to run smoothly, it must be For an ecosystem to run smoothly, it must be balanced. If one part is changed, the enitre balanced. If one part is changed, the enitre system is alteredsystem is altered

Ex..deforestation of an areaEx..deforestation of an area

Deforestation = reduces ability of soil to Deforestation = reduces ability of soil to hold water. A lot of rain will causes hold water. A lot of rain will causes flooding and it increases soil erosionflooding and it increases soil erosion

WESTERN BIOMESWESTERN BIOMES

Biomes are usually named for the Biomes are usually named for the dominant vegetation type of a region.dominant vegetation type of a region.

Western Canada has five biomes:Western Canada has five biomes: 1) Boreal Forest1) Boreal Forest 2) Parkland2) Parkland 3) Prairie3) Prairie 4) Interior Mountain Range4) Interior Mountain Range 5) Coastal Forest5) Coastal Forest

1) Boreal Forest1) Boreal Forest

It is a land dominated by It is a land dominated by conifersconifers, especially spruces and firs. , especially spruces and firs. It is dotted with lakes, bogs, and marshes. It is dotted with lakes, bogs, and marshes. Before the long, snowy winter sets in, many of the mammals Before the long, snowy winter sets in, many of the mammals

hibernate, and many of the birds migrate south. hibernate, and many of the birds migrate south. Although the long days of summer permit plants to grow, soil is not Although the long days of summer permit plants to grow, soil is not

very fertile.very fertile.

2)2) ParklandParkland one of Alberta's richest one of Alberta's richest

agricultural regions agricultural regions comprises about 12 comprises about 12

percent of Alberta. percent of Alberta. offers rich and varied offers rich and varied

scenery. scenery. Natural vegetation is long Natural vegetation is long

grass with isolated stands grass with isolated stands of treesof trees

Trees- aspen, willow, and Trees- aspen, willow, and pinepine

Ideal region for wheatIdeal region for wheat

3)3) Prairie or GrasslandsPrairie or Grasslands comprises 14 percent of Alberta comprises 14 percent of Alberta Located in Southeastern Alberta, Located in Southeastern Alberta, grasslands are the most threatened of Alberta's six natural grasslands are the most threatened of Alberta's six natural

regions( endangered species)are prairie species ex..swift foxregions( endangered species)are prairie species ex..swift fox The same long, hot summers ideal for field crops.The same long, hot summers ideal for field crops. there is enough spring meltwater and summer rain to met the there is enough spring meltwater and summer rain to met the

needs of wheat, barley and other grain crops. needs of wheat, barley and other grain crops.

4)4) Interior Mountain RangeInterior Mountain Range

Consists variety of landforms—meadows, Consists variety of landforms—meadows, mountainsmountains

Vegetation varied- pine forests, dwarf Vegetation varied- pine forests, dwarf shrubs, grassesshrubs, grasses

Many types of soil increases variety of Many types of soil increases variety of vegetationvegetation

Animals- bears, deer, mountain goats, Animals- bears, deer, mountain goats, sheepsheep

5)5) Coastal ForestCoastal Forest Vegetation:Vegetation: Giant tree species' coastal redwood, big-leaf maple, Giant tree species' coastal redwood, big-leaf maple,

giant hemlock, Douglas fir, sitka spruce (very tall trees)giant hemlock, Douglas fir, sitka spruce (very tall trees) Forests of Pacific Northwest can be called rainforests—only Forests of Pacific Northwest can be called rainforests—only

difference is that they are coniferousdifference is that they are coniferous Receive most of their rain from November to March (and mild Receive most of their rain from November to March (and mild

temperatures) provide excellent condition for growth of treestemperatures) provide excellent condition for growth of trees Lumber industry---very interested in this regionLumber industry---very interested in this region

EcosystemsEcosystems An Ecosystem is a community of living An Ecosystem is a community of living

organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in organisms (plants, animals and microbes) in conjunction with the nonliving components of conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system.mineral soil), interacting as a system.

Your TurnYour Turn On a piece of paper I want you to write a short On a piece of paper I want you to write a short

three paragraph essay Ecosystems and three paragraph essay Ecosystems and BiomesBiomes The topic for your essay will be how we can reduce The topic for your essay will be how we can reduce

our impact on our environment and ecosystem here our impact on our environment and ecosystem here in Canadain Canada

Think about what you could do personally, what we Think about what you could do personally, what we could do as a class, what your family could do, etc.could do as a class, what your family could do, etc.

Scoring will be based on the rubric on the following Scoring will be based on the rubric on the following page:page:

Your essay will be out of 16Your essay will be out of 16

Writing Assignment RubricWriting Assignment Rubric