8/30/11 Topic: Lec. 2 Intro to Ecology HW: Read Chapter 52/ Print and complete Reading guide 2 (posted on SL) Quiz Tomorrow on CH 1: 5 quick questions. Bellwork: Which themes do you believe would be the most difficult to study? Why is it necessary to identify these themes?

Please insert your rubric in your lab book (first page) Pass lab books forward.

Ch 52 Intro to Ecology Bright blue marble floating in space

What is a biome? A BIOME is the largest geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

How are biomes formed? Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate. Therefore, in areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar plants and animals because the climate is similar. One factor affecting climate is latitude. Typically, the farther you move north or south of the equator, the colder the temperature gets. Another factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in elevation, the colder the temperature gets. Biomes usually found at cold latitudes far from the equator are sometimes also found on high mountains at low latitudes. Typically, a climb of 100 feet in elevation is equivalent to traveling 600 miles northward.

Environmental factors Abiotic factors –non-living chemical & physical factors temperature light water nutrients Biotic factors –living components animals plants

Make it a goal to visit all the biomes!

Marine intertidal coral reef benthos

Lakes Oligotrophic – nutrient poor & O 2 rich Eutrophic – nutrient rich & poor O 2 Littoral Zone – shallow, well lit waters close to shore Limnetic zone – farther from shore deeper area

Wetlands Basin Wetlands Riverine Wetlands Fringe Wetlands

Estuaries Transition area btwn river & sea; seawater flows in & out according to tide

Tropical rainforest distribution: equatorial precipitation: very wet temperature: always warm characteristics: many plants & animals, thin soil

Savanna distribution: equatorial precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season temperature: always warm characteristics: fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; herbivores; fertile soil

Desert distribution: 30°N & S latitude band precipitation: almost temperature: variable daily & seasonally, hot & cold characteristics: sparse vegetation & animals, cacti, succulents, drought tolerant, reptiles, insects, rodents, birds

Temperate Grassland distribution: mid-latitudes, mid-continents precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season temperature: cold winters/hot summers characteristics: prairie grasses, fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; many herbivores; deep, fertile soil

Temperate Deciduous Forest distribution: mid-latitude, northern hemisphere precipitation: adequate, summer rains, winter snow temperature: moderate warm summer/cool winter characteristics: many mammals, insects, birds, etc.; deciduous trees; fertile soils

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) distribution: high-latitude, northern hemisphere precipitation: adequate to dry (temperate rain forest on coast) temperature: cool year round characteristics: conifers; diverse mammals, birds, insects, etc.

Arctic Tundra distribution: arctic, high-latitude, northern hemisphere precipitation: dry temperature: cold year round characteristics: permafrost, lichens & mosses, migrating animals & resident herbivores

Alpine Tundra distribution: high elevation at all latitudes precipitation: dry temperature: cold year round characteristics: permafrost, lichens, mosses, grasses; migrating animals & resident herbivores

Chaparral distribution: midlatitude precipitation: rainy winters, dry summers temperature: cool winters, warm summers characteristics: grasses, shrubs, small trees, deer, amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects

Question to Ponder… What biome does San Ramon, CA fall under?