1. Ecosystem Basics Vocabulary (Listed in order from smallest concept to largest concept.) Individual: Population: Community: Ecosystem: Biome: Biosphere: Vocabulary Graphic Organizer (Bottom is smallest concept, top is largest concept.) Non-living things (factors) in nature are called: Examples include: Habitat – food, water, shelter, in a convenient arrangement. Abiotic Factors – all the non-living parts of an environment that make life possible.

2. ExamplesName... an individual a population a community an ecosystem the biome List 6 abiotic factors present in the ecosystem. Name... an individual a population a community an ecosystem the biome List 6 abiotic factors present in the ecosystem. Name... an individual a population a community an ecosystem the biome List 6 abiotic factors present in the ecosystem.

3. More on Biomes Biomes are a large geographic feature defined by the annual amount of precipitation and average annual temperature. Other factors that might influence local ecosystems within a biome are altitude, north vs. south facing slopes, local water sources, soil type, etc. The two major variables in determining a biome are temperature and precipitation. The graphic below summarizes the world’s biomes based on these two variables. Questions: 1.Name a biome that is very hot and not dry. 2.What biome is cold, but not in the artic? 3.Much of the continental US lies in the temperate region, what types of biomes would you expect to find in the US? 4.The East Coast of the US has more rainfall that the Southwest, what type of biome do you expect in these two locations? In Colorado elevation has a big affect on the type of biome present at any given location. Questions 1.How do the biomes on a north facing slope differ from those on a south facing slope? 2.Can you spot this difference in the Aspen area? 3.People say “Climbing to higher altitude is like driving towards the north pole.” Does this make sense in terms of biomes?

4. Biome Identification Activity Questions: 1.Name the 3 main biomes of the US. 2.What are two biomes closest to Aspen? 3.What state could a person visit to experience a tropical rainforest biome? 4.If you traveled due north from Aspen, what biomes would you pass through? 5.A person leaves LA and drives to Washington DC, name the biomes the person would pass through in the correct order. (Assume a straight line trip.) 6.A person drives from Alaska to San Diego. Assuming he stays right along the Pacific ocean, name the biomes he would pass through in the correct order. Seattle SF San Diego Denver Phoenix Washington DC Chicago Miami New Orleans Honolulu