1. Chapter 4.3 & 4.4: Terrestrial Biomes & Aquatic Ecosystems

2. BIOME OUR PLANET HAS AMAZING DIVERSITY OF ORGANISMS THAT LIVE IN MANY DIFFERENT ECOSYSTEMS THE VARIETY OF ECOSYSTEMS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO CATEGORIES CALLED BIOMES BIOMES = PARTICULAR PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT CONTAINS CHARACTERISTIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS THE BIOME IS ALSO THE MOST COMMON CLIMAX ECOSYSTEM THAT WILL FORM IN LARGE CLIMATIC AREAS. CLIMATE DIAGRAM = GRAPH SUMMARIZING TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN SPECIFIC BIOMES

3. Climatograms

4. TERRESTRIAL BIOMES TERRESTRIAL BIOMES ARE THOSE BIOMES THAT FORM ON LAND. THE MAJOR PLANT AND ANIMAL ASSOCIATIONS (BIOTIC FACTORS) ON LAND ARE DETERMINED BY THE MAJOR CLIMATE ZONES OF THE WORLD, MODIFIED BY LOCAL LAND AND WATER CONDITIONS (ABIOTIC FACTORS). CLIMATES WILL VARY AS TO TEMPERATURE, SOLAR RADIATION, AND PRECIPITATION. THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF WATER IS A MAJOR LIMITING FACTOR FOR TERRESTRIAL BIOMES.

5. MAJOR LAND BIOMES TROPICAL RAIN FOREST TROPICAL DRY FOREST TROPICAL SAVANNA DESERT TERMPERATE GRASSLAND TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND TEMPERATE FOREST NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST BOREAL FOREST (TAIGA) TUNDRA

6. THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST IS CHARACTERIZED BY HEAVY RAINFALL AND CONSTANT WARMTH. ABIOTIC FACTORS = HOT AND WET, THIN NUTRIENT POOR SOIL THE CLIMAX FLORA (PLANTS) = MANY SPECIES OF BROAD-LEAVED PLANTS. THE CLIMAX FAUNA (ANIMALS) = PARROTS, SNAKES, MONKEYS, AND LEOPARDS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = SOUTH/CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH ASIA NORTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA TROPICAL RAIN FOREST MONKEYSANACONDA TEAK

7. TROPICAL DRY FOREST THE TROPICAL DRY FOREST IS CHARACTERIZED BY SEASONS OF RAINFALL OR DRYNESS AND DECIDUOUS TREES THAT SHED LEAVES TO CONSERVE WATER ABIOTIC FACTORS = WARM, WET AND DRY SEASONS, RICH SOILS CLIMAX FLORA = DECIDUOUS TREES, ORCHIDS, ALOES CLIMAX FAUNA = TIGERS, MONKEYS, ELEPHANTS, PELICAN, SNAKES GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = AFRICA, MEXICA, INDIA, AUSTRALIA, TROPICAL ISLANDS

8. TROPICAL SAVANNA SAVANNAS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY GRASSLANDS WITH ISOLATED TREES OR SHRUBS AND LARGE ANIMALS ABIOTIC FACTORS = WARM, COMPACT SOIL, FREQUENT FIRES BY LIGHTNING CLIMAX FLORA = TALL GRASSES, SOME DOUGHT-RESISTANT AND FIRE-RESISTANT TREES/SHRUBS CLIMAX FAUNA = LIONS, HYENAS, ELEPHANTS, GIRAFFES, ZEBRAS, BABOONS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = EASTERN AFRICA, BRAZIL, NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

9. DESERT A DESERT IS CHARACTERIZED BY SPARSE RAINFALL AND EXTREME DAILY TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS. ABIOTIC FACTORS = LOW PRECIPITATION, VARIABLE TEMPERATURES, DRY SOIL THE CLIMAX FLORA = CACTI AND SUCCULENTS THE CLIMAX FAUNA = MOUNTAIN LIONS, BOBCATS, KANGAROO RATS, BATS, OWLS, RATTLESNAKS, AND LIZARDS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = AFRICA, ASIZ, MIDDLE EAST, U.S., MEXICO, SOUTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA

10. TEMPERATE GRASSLAND GRASSLANDS HAVE CONSIDERABLE VARIABILITY IN RAINFALL, FERTILE SOIL AND A WARM TEMPERATURE WITH STRONG PREVAILING WINDS. ABIOTIC FACTORS = SEASONS, PRECIPTIATION, FERTILE SOIL, OCCASIONAL FIRES CLIMAX FLORA = GRASSES AND HERBS CLIMAX FAUNA = COYOTES, WOLVES, GRIZZLY BEARS, RABBITS, PRAIRE DOGS, HAWKS, OWLS, SNAKES, ANTS AND GRASSHOPPERS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = NORTH AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, EUROPE

11. TEMPERATE WOODLAND AND SHRUBLAND THIS BIOME IS CHARACTERIZED BY A SEMIARID CLIMATE, AND MIX OF OPEN WOODLANDS AND SHRUBS ABIOTIC FACTORS = HOT, DRY SUMMER AND COOL, MOIST WINTER CLIMAX FLORA = EVERGREEN SHRUBS AND FRAGRANT, OILY HERBS CLIMAX FAUNA = COYTOES, FOXES, DEER, RABBITS, QUIRRELS, HAWKS, QUAIL, BUTTERFLIES, SPIDERS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = NORTH/SOUTH AMERICAN COASTS, SOUTH AFRICA, AUSTRALIA

12. TEMPERATE FOREST TEMPERATE FORESTS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A MIX OF CONIFEROUS AND DECIDUOUS TREES, MODERATE PRECIPITATION, COLD WINTERS, AND WARM SUMMERS. ABIOTIC FACTORS = COLD WINTER, WARM SUMMER, YEAR-ROUND PRECIPITATION, FERTILE SOILS THE CLIMAX FLORA= TREES THAT SHED THEIR LEAVES (DECIDUOUS TREES), SOME CONIFERS, FLOWERING SHRUBS, HERBS, MOSSES AND FERNS THE CLIMAX FAUNA = DEER, BLACK BEARS, GRAY SQUIRREL, RACCONS, SHUNKS, AND TURKEYS. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = EASTERN U.S., SOUTHEASTERN CANADA, EUROPE, JAPAN, CHINA, AUSTRALIA

13. NORTHWESTERN CONIFEROUS FOREST THIS BIOME IS CHARACTERIZED BY ABUNDANT RAINFALL AND LUSH VEGATATION ABIOTIC FACTORS = MILD TEMPERATURES, ABUNDANT PRECIPITATION, ROCKY, ACIDIC SOIL CLIMAX FLORA = CONIFERS (GIANT REDWOODS) CLIMAX FAUNA = BEARS, ELK, DEER, BEAVERS, OWLS, WEASELS GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = PACIFIC COAST OF U.S. AND CANADA TO ALASKA

14. BOREAL FOREST (TAIGA) TAIGA HAS LONG SEVERE WINTERS BUT THE SUBSOIL THAWS FOR A FEW FEET DURING THE SUMMER (ABOUT 3 MONTHS) ABIOTIC FACTORS = LONG, COLD WINTER AND SHORT, MILD SUMMER, ACIDIC NUTRIENT POOR SOIL THE CLIMAX FLORA = CONIFERS (EVERGREENS) THE CLIMAX FAUNA = LYNX, MOOSE, BEAVER AND SONGBIRDS. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = NORTH AMERICA, ASIA, EUROPE

15. TUNDRA LICHEN MOSS CARIBOU SNOWY OWL TUNDRA IS CHARACTERIZED BY PERMAFROST = LAYER OF PERMANENTLY FROZEN SUBSOIL ABIOTIC FACTORS = STRONG WINDS, COLD WINTERS, POORLY DEVELOPED SOILS, PERMAFROST THE CLIMAX FLORA = LICHENS AND MOSSES THE CLIMAX FAUNA = THE CARIBOU AND THE SNOWY OWL GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION = NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA, ASIA, EUROPE

16. Section 4-3 Compare/Contrast Table Go to Section: Ten Major Biomes BiomePrecipitationTemperatureSoilDiversityTreesGrasses Tropical Rain Foresthighhotpoorhighdensesparse Tropical Dry Forestvariablemildrichmoderatemedium Tropical Savannavariablemildclaymoderatesparsedense Desertlowvariablepoormoderatesparse Temperate Grasslandmoderatesummer hotrichmoderateabsentdense Temperate woodland and Shrubland summer low, winter moderate summer hotpoorlowmedium Temperate Forestmoderatesummer moderate, winter cold richhighdensesparse Northwestern Coniferous Forest highsummer mild, winter cold rocky, acidiclowdensesparse Boreal Forestmoderatesummer mild, winter cool poor, acidicmoderatedensesparse Tundralowsummer mild, winter cold poorlowabsentmedium

17. Tropical rain forest Tropical dry forest Tropical savanna Temperate woodland and shrubland Desert Temperate grassland Boreal forest (Taiga) Northwestern coniferous forest Temperate forest Mountains and ice caps Tundra Section 4-3 Figure 4-17 The World’s Major Land Biomes Go to Section:

18. Aquatic Ecosystems Habitats in water environments Water biomes are more stable than land biomes. Temperature varies less in water than land because of waters ability to absorb and hold heat.

19. Aquatic ecosystems are determined primarily by the depth, flow, temperature, and chemistry of the overlying water (abiotic factors)

20. Major Aquatic Biomes Freshwater Estuaries Marine water

21. Freshwater ecosystems Flowing-water ecosystems = rivers, streams, creeks, etc – Organisms are well adapted to the rate of flow – Usually turbulent water at beginning with plenty of oxygen – As water flows downhill, it slows and sediments build up, plants grow, and organisms can make homes

22. Standing-water ecosystems = lakes and ponds with water circulating within them – Water circulation distributes heat, oxygen, and nutrients – Phytoplankton = single celled algae forming base of aquatic food webs – Zooplankton = planktonic animals that feed on phytoplankton – Plankton = tiny, free-floating or weakly swimming organisms that live in both freshwater and saltwater environments

23. Freshwater wetlands Freshwater wetlands = water covers soil or it is present near the surface of the soil for part of the year and are usually breeding grounds for insects, fishes, amphibians, and migratory birds – Bogs = form in depressions left by ice that melted thousands of years ago – Marshes = shallow wetlands along rivers and contain cattails – Swamps = water flows slowly and tress and shrubs are present

24. Spoonbill Duck Dragonfly Phytoplankton Frog Water lilies Mosquito larvae Snail Diving beetle Trout Pickerel Duckweed Snail Benthic crustaceans Hydra Frogs lay eggs in the shallow water near shore.The eggs hatch in the water as tadpoles and move to the land as adults. The shore is lined with grasses that provide shelter and nesting places for birds and other organisms. The roots of water lilies cling to the pond bottom, while their leaves, on long flexible stems, float on the surface. The bottom of the pond is inhabited by decomposers and other organisms that feed on particles drifting down from the surface. Fish share the pond with turtles and other animals. Many of them feed on insects at the water’s edge. Plankton and the organisms that feed on them live near the surface where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Microscopic algae are among the most important producers. Section 4-4 Freshwater Pond Ecosystem Go to Section: Crayfish

25. Estuaries Brackish wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea (mix of fresh and salt water) Detritus = tiny pieces of organic material that provide food for organisms at the bottom of estuary’s food web (worms, clams, sponges) Serve as spawning and nursery grounds – Salt marshes = temperate-zone, grasses above tide and seagrasses under water – Mangrove swamps = coastal, tropical zone, mangrove trees

26. Marine ecosystems Photic zone = well-lit upper layer where photosynthesis can occur allowing algae and other producers to grow – Intertidal zone = organisms are submerged part of the day and exposed to air, sunlight and temperature changes the remainder of the day while battered by waves – Coastal ocean = rich in photosynthetic organisms, plankton, and other organisms including kelp forests and coral reefs Aphotic zone = permanently dark where chemosynthetic autotrophs survive – Open ocean = aka “oceanic zone” = largest marine zone with low nutrients, small producers, low productivity, fish of all shapes and sizes (swordfish to octopus to dolphins to whales) – Ocean trench = high pressure, frigid temperatures, and total darkness with chemosynthetic producers – Benthic zone = ocean floor contains benthos (sea stars, anemones, marine worms) feeding on detritus that drifts down from the produces near the surface

27. land Coastal ocean Open ocean Ocean trench Aphotic zone Photic zone Continental shelf Continental slope and continental rise Abyssal plain 200m 1000m 4000m 6000m 10,000m Section 4-4 Figure 4-17 Zones of a Marine Ecosystem Go to Section: