1. Ecological Levels of Organization

2. Earth’s Biomes Foldable (outside): Map of Biomes
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Taiga/Coniferous Forest
Tropical Rain Forest
Grassland (Savanna)
Desert
Tundra
Water Biomes (Marine, Estuary, Freshwater)
Map of Biomes
Earth’s
Biomes

4. Land (Terrestrial) Biomes – Inside the foldable…
Climate:
Plants:
Animals:
Distinguishing characteristics:
Illustration of biome.
(distinguishes it from other biomes)
Fold
Temperature
Precipitation
Examples
Adaptations
Examples
Adaptations

5. Earth’s Biomes
Areas with similar abiotic factors (soil, water & climate) usually have similar biotic factors (plants & animals).
Climate – average weather pattern in an area over a long period of time.
Precipitation & temperature
Biome – a group of ecosystems with similar climates & organisms
Contain related ecosystems

6. Terrestrial or Land Biomes
Tundra
Taiga / Coniferous (Boreal) Forest
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Grasslands (Savanna, Steppe, Prairie)
Deserts
Tropical Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forest

7. Forest Biomes
Often found in areas that have mild temperatures and plenty of rain.
3 types (depends on climate):
Temperate deciduous forests
Coniferous forests (Taiga)
Tropical rain forests

9. Temperate Deciduous Forests
Deciduous – “to fall off” – trees that shed their leaves to save water during the winter or during the dry season
Have 4 distinct seasons in a year (fall, winter, spring, summer)
Climate:
Precipitation – 75 – 125 cm of rain/yr.
Average temperature – summer 28˚ C, winter 6 ˚ C
Plants: deciduous trees (oaks, maples); ferns; mosses
Animals: deer, bears, snakes, woodpeckers, chipmunks, opossums, mice, skunks

10. Temperate Deciduous Forest

11. Coniferous Forests aka: Taiga
Conifers – trees that produce seeds in cones; needles; aka: evergreen trees
Climate:
Precipitation – 75 cm of rain or snow/yr.
Average temperature – summer 14˚ C, winter -10˚ C
Plants: coniferous trees (Douglas fir, spruce); few large plants
Adaptations: Conifers with thick, waxy coverings on leaves = keep them from drying out and protect them from cold winter
Animals: squirrels; insects; birds (finches, chickadees, jays); herbivores (porcupines, elk, moose, ); bears; foxes; lynx
Migration & hibernation

12. Taiga/Coniferous Forest

14. Tropical Rain Forests
Have more biological diversity that any other place on Earth
Climate:
Precipitation – 200 – 600 cm of rain/yr.
Average temperature – daytime 34˚ C; nighttime 20˚ C
Warmer than temperate rain forests due to location near the equator
Plants: ferns, orchids, tall trees
Adaptation: low growing plants that don’t need much light
Animals: birds (parrots); insects; snakes; frogs; monkeys; lizards
canopy – tree tops

15. Tropical Rain Forests

16. Temperate Rain Forests
Found in New Zealand, southern Chile, & the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.
Climate:
Precipitation – 200 cm – 400 cm of rainfall/yr.
Avg. temperature – 9˚C – 12˚C
Plants: trees with needlelike leaves (Douglas fir, cedar, spruce)
Animals: black bear; cougar; bobcat; northern spotted owl; amphibians

17. Temperate Rain Forests

19. Grasslands Also know as: Found on every continent except Antarctica
Steppes (Asia)
Prairies (N. America)
Savannas (Africa)
Pampas (S. America)
Found on every continent except Antarctica
2 Types:
Temperate Grasslands
Savannas

20. Temperate Grasslands Climate:
Precipitation – 25 – 75 cm of rain/yr.
Average temperature – summer 30˚C; winter 0˚C
Plants: grasses; flowering plants; few trees; crops – wheat, rye, barley, corn
Animals: small, seed-eating animals (prairie dogs & mice); large grass-eaters (bison); kangaroos; cattle & sheep

21. Savannas Climate: Plants: scattered clumps of trees; grasses
Precipitation – cm rain/yr.
Average temperature – dry season 34˚C; wet season 16˚C
Plants: scattered clumps of trees; grasses
Animals: large herbivores (elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests)

22. Savanna

23. Grasslands

24. Deserts Driest biome on Earth Climate: Plants: cacti
Precipitation – less than 25 cm of rain/yr.
Avg. temperature – summer 38˚C; winter 7˚C
Temperature shifts from day to night
Ex: Gobi desert in Asia – freezing temperatures in the winter
Plants: cacti
Adaptations – grow far apart; shallow roots; store water; waxy-coated leaves
Animals: toads, tortoises, kangaroo rat, scorpions, few large animals; reptiles
Adaptations – nocturnal (active at night); dormant during dry season; store water; big ears

25. Deserts

26. Deserts

28. Tundra Cold, dry region; cold desert Climate: 2 Types:
Precipitation – 30 – 50 cm of rain/yr.
Avg. temperature – summer 12˚C; winter - 26˚C
Slow decomposition due to cold temperatures.
2 Types:
Polar tundra
Alpine tundra

29. Polar Tundras Found near the North Pole
permafrost – layer of soil that stays frozen all the time; only the surface thaws
Plants: shallow-rooted plants (grasses & small shrubs); mosses; lichens; no trees
Animals: insects, migratory birds (ducks, geese, shorebirds & songbirds); hawks; owls; arctic hares; musk oxen; wolves; caribou; reindeer

30. Polar Tundra

31. Alpine Tundra Top of tall mountains Also has permafrost
Found above the “tree line”
Gets plenty of sunlight & precipitation

32. Mountains & Ice Mountains can contain many different biomes. Ice
Temperature & precipitation change with elevation
Ice
Usually fits in with the tundra biome

33. Mountains

34. Water Biomes – Inside the foldable…
What are three abiotic factors that shape marine ecosystems? Explain each.
Describe one abiotic factor that affects freshwater ecosystems.
Describe:
Streams & Rivers
Ponds & Lakes
Wetlands
Marsh
Swamp
Define estuary –
Why is an estuary a rich habitat for living things?
Illustration of Marine Biome (Ocean)
Illustration of Freshwater Biome
(Pond Water)
Illustration of Estuary

35. Marine Biomes Oceans cover almost ¾ of the Earth’s surface.
Abiotic factors that affect marine ecosystems:
Water temperature
Water depth
Amount of sunlight that passes into the water

36. Marine Biomes Water temperature
Decreases as the depth of the water increases
Temperatures at the surface zone vary
Latitude
Time of year

37. Marine Biomes Water temperature
Affects the animals that life in marine ecosystems
Adaptations to warm or cold water
Migration to warmer areas
Impacts whether some animals can eat

38. Marine Biomes
Water depth and sunlight

39. Estuaries
Areas where fresh water from streams and rivers spill into the ocean
Fresh water + Salt water
Plants and animals must be able to adapt to the changing concentrations of salt.
Rich in nutrients
Rivers and streams carry silt and nutrient-rich soil

40. Freshwater Biomes
An important abiotic factor that affects freshwater biomes is how quickly water moves.
Streams & Rivers
Plants line the edges of streams & rivers
Fish live in open waters
Clams & snails live in mud at the bottom
Adaptations to fast moving water
Algae & moss are attached to rocks
Tadpoles & frogs use suction disks to hold onto rocks
Insects live under rocks

41. Rivers & Streams

42. Freshwater Biomes Ponds & Lakes
Water depth and sunlight are important abiotic factors

43. Ponds & Lakes Littoral zone Open-water zone Deep-water zone
Sunlight reaches the bottom
Plants and algae can grow here
Small animals – frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, snakes, snails, insects, clams & worms
Open-water zone
Top “layer” of water
As deep as sunlight can reach
Bass, lake trout, other fishes
Photosynthetic plankton
Deep-water zone
No sunlight
Catfish, carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi & bacteria
Feed on dead organisms that sink from above

44. Freshwater Biomes Wetlands
An area of land that is sometimes underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture
Benefits
Support many different plants & animals
Flood control
Replenishing underground water supplies
2 types
Marshes
Swamps

45. Marshes Treeless wetland ecosystems where plants grow
Often found in shallow areas along the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers & streams
Plants
Grasses, reeds & wild rice
Animals
Muskrats, turtles, frogs, birds

46. Marshes

47. Swamps Wetland ecosystems in which trees and vines grow
Found in low-lying areas and beside slow- moving rivers
Plants
Willows, bald cypresses, oaks, vines, orchids, water lilies
Animals
Fishes, snakes, birds

48. Swamps