“Bio” means Life “Logy” means study So… Biology means… The study of Living things

The Earth – picture was taken in 1972 by the Crew of Apollo 17

Biodiversity ?? Biodiversity means the variety of life on Earth Biodiversity means the variety of life on Earth There are 270,000 known plant species There are 270,000 known plant species Did you know… 90% of the mass of life on Earth is made up of plants! Did you know… 90% of the mass of life on Earth is made up of plants! By understanding Biodiversity we can better understand why species (and particularly which species) are affected by changes that occur on the Earth. By understanding Biodiversity we can better understand why species (and particularly which species) are affected by changes that occur on the Earth.

Brainstorm… What do you think the word BIOTIC means? What do you think the word BIOTIC means? What about the word ABIOTIC? What about the word ABIOTIC? You have 1 minute to pair up into A and B partners and together come up with some ideas. Be prepared to talk about what you’ve come up with. You have 1 minute to pair up into A and B partners and together come up with some ideas. Be prepared to talk about what you’ve come up with.

Biotic vs. Abiotic… Biotic : living things Biotic : living things Abiotic : non-living things Abiotic : non-living things Can you name some biotic things in a rainforest? How about Abiotic things? Can you name some biotic things in a rainforest? How about Abiotic things? Biotic = plants, animals, bacteria, micro-organisms, fungi Biotic = plants, animals, bacteria, micro-organisms, fungi Abiotic = rocks, soil, water, temperature Abiotic = rocks, soil, water, temperature

Brainstorm… If you had to divide up the Earth into different types of environments/areas (based on similar biotic and abiotic factors for each region. What would those places be? How many would there be? If you had to divide up the Earth into different types of environments/areas (based on similar biotic and abiotic factors for each region. What would those places be? How many would there be? You have 3 minutes to pair up into A and B partners and together come up with regions and names for them. Be prepared to talk about what you’ve come up with. You have 3 minutes to pair up into A and B partners and together come up with regions and names for them. Be prepared to talk about what you’ve come up with.

How the Earth’s “environments” are ordered The Earth is made up of 8 major Biomes. The Earth is made up of 8 major Biomes. Biomes: are "the world's major communities”. Biomes: are "the world's major communities”. They are classified according to the Biotic (vegetation (plants) and organisms (animals, bacteria, etc…)) that inhabit it, as well as similar Abiotic components (temperature, rainfall, etc..) They are classified according to the Biotic (vegetation (plants) and organisms (animals, bacteria, etc…)) that inhabit it, as well as similar Abiotic components (temperature, rainfall, etc..) These 8 Biomes are Terrestrial - on land These 8 Biomes are Terrestrial - on land

The 8 Biomes of the Earth

A closer look…

Biome #1: Boreal Forest Northern Hemisphere: Canada (45⁰-65⁰ N lat) Russia, Finland, Scandanavia (55 ⁰-65 ⁰ N lat)

#1: Boreal Forest Short summer Short summer Conifers (cone- bearing), spruces Conifers (cone- bearing), spruces Moss ground cover Moss ground cover Animals = moose, chipmunks, hares, insect- eating birds, etc.. Animals = moose, chipmunks, hares, insect- eating birds, etc..

#2: Temperate Deciduous Forest Eastern Canada, Eastern US, Eastern Asia, Western Europe

#2: Temperate Deciduous Forest Oak, Birches, Maples, ferns Oak, Birches, Maples, ferns Animals: Bear, rabbits, birds, skunks, deer, cougars, etc.. Animals: Bear, rabbits, birds, skunks, deer, cougars, etc..

#3: Temperate rainforest West Coast Canada, West Coast South America, New Zealand, and South Australia

#3: Temperate rainforest Douglas Fir, Ferns, moss Douglas Fir, Ferns, moss Lots of rainfall Lots of rainfall Seed eating Birds, small mammals Seed eating Birds, small mammals

#4: Tropical rainforest 4800 km band around the Equator

#4: Tropical rainforest Tropical trees, plants, growing in layers Tropical trees, plants, growing in layers Animals: exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, etc… Animals: exotic birds, monkeys, sloths, etc…

#5: grassland Prairies of Canada, Parts of S. America, Africa, Australia

#5: grassland Grasses Rabbits, marmots, buffalo, kangaroo, antelope, horses, etc…

#6: desert Northern Africa, Central Asia, Australia, Southern United States, Eastern South America

#6: desert ( Hot and Cold) Succulent plants, cacti, plants with long roots Succulent plants, cacti, plants with long roots Lizards, mice, scorpions, insects, coyotes Lizards, mice, scorpions, insects, coyotes

#7: tundra Upper Northern Hemisphere just below the ice covered polar seas

#7: tundra No trees, short grasses No trees, short grasses Elk, caribou, foxes, wolves Elk, caribou, foxes, wolves

#8: Permanent ice Polar land masses ( Arctic, Antartica, Greenland

#8: Permanent ice Lichens, fungi Lichens, fungi Polar bears, seals, penguins Polar bears, seals, penguins

So why are the Biomes where they are? In you’re A and B partners, brainstorm reasons why the Biomes are where/what they are… In other words what are some important things that influence a certain biome. Be prepared to present your ideas. In you’re A and B partners, brainstorm reasons why the Biomes are where/what they are… In other words what are some important things that influence a certain biome. Be prepared to present your ideas.

What influences the Biomes? 1)Temperature  Very Cold= permanent ice, Cold=Tundra, Temperate = Forests, Warm/Hot = Rainforests/Deserts. 1)Temperature  Very Cold= permanent ice, Cold=Tundra, Temperate = Forests, Warm/Hot = Rainforests/Deserts. 2) Precipitation (rainfall)  The more rainfall, then more vegetation/organisms. 2) Precipitation (rainfall)  The more rainfall, then more vegetation/organisms.

3) Latitude affects Temp and Precipitation  at the equator, the most sun shines (gets heat) so the temperature rarely fluctuates. The heat heats up moist air, which rises, cools in the atmosphere and falls back down as rain. 3) Latitude affects Temp and Precipitation  at the equator, the most sun shines (gets heat) so the temperature rarely fluctuates. The heat heats up moist air, which rises, cools in the atmosphere and falls back down as rain. 4) Elevation (height above sea level) also affects temperature. The higher the elevation – the colder it is = Tundra 4) Elevation (height above sea level) also affects temperature. The higher the elevation – the colder it is = Tundra 5) Ocean Currents – the closer you are to the ocean currents the more moist the region 5) Ocean Currents – the closer you are to the ocean currents the more moist the region

Elevation

Climate… Climate: the average pattern of weather that occurs in a particular region Climate: the average pattern of weather that occurs in a particular region Climatograph: a graph of climate data based on weather station findings Climatograph: a graph of climate data based on weather station findings

Can you interpret this Climatograph?

Biome Project Start filling in the Key features of your particular Biome for your Biome Project Start filling in the Key features of your particular Biome for your Biome Project You can find lots more detailed information in the textbook ( Ch.1 pages 20 – 28) You can find lots more detailed information in the textbook ( Ch.1 pages 20 – 28) Do a proper Climatograph with the rainfall and temperature information provided for your Biome and put with your Biome project. Do a proper Climatograph with the rainfall and temperature information provided for your Biome and put with your Biome project.