Section 4 Earth’s Biomes Notes 2-6

Mountains and Ice Those places that don’t fall into other land biomes can be placed in one of the following biomes. Mountains: Climate conditions change from the base to the summit of a mountain Therefore, plants and animals change as you travel up in elevation.

Mountains and Ice Base of mountain could be grassland with many animals and plants Next up could be a deciduous forest to a boreal forest Finally a tundra biome to the summit Ice Covered in ice year round (Greenland and Antarctica) Few animals have adapted to this environment Penguins, polar bears and seals

Freshwater Biome Probably the most important factor in water biomes is SUNLIGHT Water absorbs sunlight Only enough for photosynthesis at the surface or in shallow water Most common producer is algae (not plants)

Freshwater Biome Ponds and lakes Standing fresh water Ponds are usually shallow enough that sunlight can reach the bottom Plants’ roots can reach the soil and still the plant can get sunlight Algae can float on the surface Animals Insects, frogs, snails and salamanders Sunfish, catfish

Freshwater Biome Steams and Rivers Moving freshwater Headwater: beginning of stream, water flows rapidly Animals have adapted to the fast moving water Trout have stream-like bodies to move easily through the water Insects have suckers or hooks to hold on Very few predators

Freshwater Biome Farther down the stream Water becomes cloudy with soil and minerals More plants live there Insects and frogs live here Animals and plants have adapted to the less oxygenated water

Marine Biome Estuary: Where fresh water and salt water mix Shallow, sunny and full of nutrients Many plants and algae live here Animals Crabs, worms, clams, oysters and fish Area can be used for breeding grounds for many animals

Marine Biome Intertidal zone Shore between highest and lowest tide Must be able to stand the pounding waves and be without water when the tide recedes Animals Clams, crabs, barnacles and sea stars No plants

Marine Biome Neritic zone Area right below the low-tide line over the continental shelf Shallow so there is a lot of photosynthesis occurring Many plants and animals Sardines, anchovies, algae and coral reefs

Marine Biome Surface zone Light only penetrates a few hundred meters in open water Algae float on the surface Tuna, swordfish and whales depend on the algae as the beginning of their food chains Deep zone Completely dark; no sun can reach it Animals include large squid that glow in dark Fee on organisms’ remains that fall to the ocean floor