1. Essential Question: How diverse is our Earth?
Day 1 1

2. Biomes
Biome – large region characterized by specific climate & certain types of plants & animals
i.e., similar ecosystems
Biomes are determined by Climate – weather conditions in an area over long time; includes:
Temperature
Precipitation = rainfall
Humidity
Winds
Day 1
-biomes are described by their plant types, which then determines what other organisms live there
-climate ultimately determines the types of plants 2

3. Biomes Type of biome changes with:
Latitude – distance north or south of equator
Altitude – height above sea level
Day 1 3

4. Biomes Biomes are characterized by:
Abiotic factors – the non-living part of the environment, including water, rocks, light & temperature
Biotic factors – factors that are associated with or results from the activities of living organisms, including
Predation
Decomposition
Reproduction
Day 1 4

5. Biome Graphic Organizer: Record COMPLETELY & TURN IN!
Cold
Arctic
Tundra
Subarctic
Taiga
Decreasing temperature
Temperate
Temperate forest
Temperate Grassland
Desert
Day 1
Tropical
Hot
Tropical rain forest
Savanna
Desert
Wet
Dry
Decreasing precipitation 5

6. Forest Biomes 1. Taiga = northern coniferous forest
Long winters (6-10 months); average temp. below freezing
Plant growth occurs in summer - constant daylight & high precipitation (~10cm/month)
Plants: conifers
shape of leaves & waxy coating prevent H2O loss
Cone shape prevents snow build up
Pine needles makes oil acidic
Animals: summer birds; mice; hares, lynx, foxes, wolves
Day 2 6

7. Agafia’s Taiga Life
Taiga life

8. Forest Biomes 2. Tropical Rain Forest
Near equator (South America, Africa, SE Asia, Australia)
High precipitation & moderate temps year round
Helps regulate world climate by sucking up CO2
Day 2 8

9. Forest Biomes 3. Temperate Deciduous Forest Eastern US, Europe & Asia
Abundant rainfall, moderate temp.
Trees: maple, oak, birch
Plant adaptation: trees lose leaves each fall
Animals: deer, squirrel, bears, insects, birds
Some hibernate
Threats: development, logging
Day 2 9

10. Forest Biomes 4. Temperate Rain Forest Trees: spruce, fir, redwood
Pacific Northwest US, Australia (coastal areas)
High precipitation & moderate temps year round
Trees: spruce, fir, redwood
Animals: flying squirrel, bears, insects, cougars, birds – northern spotted owl
Threats: development
Planet Earth Seasonal Forest: Summary of forest biomes
Day 2 10

11. Forest Biomes Tropical Rain Forest continued Layers :
Plants: buttress root trees, orchids, epiphytes, etc.
Animals: parrots, monkeys, snakes, tons of insects
Soil is nutrient poor b/c decomposition happens so fast & all the plants suck up nutrients
Layers :
Day 2 11

12. Forest Biomes Tropical Rain Forest continued Provides food & medicines
Biodiversity fact: tropical rainforest covers <7% of Earth’s surface, but contains 50% of all plant & animal species
Day 2
Tropical Rainforest
Human Planet: Jungles 12

13. Forest Biomes Tropical Rain Forest continued
Threats: logging, agriculture, & oil exploration
Plants & animals face habitat loss & poaching
Years of Living Dangerously
Day 2 13

14. Grassland Biomes 1. Temperate Grassland
Interior of North America (prairies), South America & Asia
Moderate rainfall, but too little for trees
Lightning-caused fires in summer
Root systems form dense layers to survive drought & fire
Soil is very fertile!
Day 3 14

15. Grassland Biomes Temperate Grassland cont.
Animals: antelope, bison, badgers, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, hawks
Threats: farming & overgrazing → soil erosion
Dust bowl 1930s
Day 3 15

16. Grassland Biomes 2. Savanna (tropical grassland)
Parts of Africa, South America, India, & Australia
Rain falls in spring & late-fall; drought in between
Plants: adapted to survive drought
Lose leaves; body parts die off except for near ground
Large, horizontal root system to collect water
Day 3 16

17. Grassland Biomes Savanna cont. Animals: lots of big herbivores
Elephants, giraffe, antelopes, zebra, wildebeest, rhinos
Predators: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, crocs, snakes
Day 3 17

18. Grassland Biomes 3. Tundra Found in northern arctic regions
Winters too cold & dry for trees to grow
Has permafrost: permanently frozen soil layer
Plants: mosses & lichens
Dwarf shrubs – keeps plants out of wind & increased area for sunlight
Day 4 18

19. Grassland Biomes Tundra cont.
Animals: mosquitoes!, migratory birds, caribou, wolves, moose, mice, hares, foxes, polar bear
Threats: oil – pollution & habitat destruction
Day 4 19

20. Desert Biomes Desert = Low Precipitation 1. Tropical Desert
Ex: Sahara desert in Africa
Temperature changes during day: 100°F + in day to cool at night; daytime temps hot all year long
Very few plants
Day 4 20

21. Desert Biomes 2. Temperate Desert
North & South America, Asia, Australia
Daytime temps high in summer, low in winter
Plants: adapted to obtaining & conserving H2O
Cacti: thick, fleshy stems that store water; leaves have waxy cuticle
Day 4 21

22. Desert Biomes Desert cont.
Animals: some mammals, snakes, lizards, tortoises
Have thick skin to prevent water loss
Amphibians burrow & go dormant during “dry” season
Most are nocturnal
Day 4 22

23. Desert Biomes 3. Cold Desert Ex: China’s Gobi Desert
Winters are quite cold, summers are warm/hot
Animals: lizards, gazelle, bactrian camel
Day 4 23

24. Aquatic Life Zones
Freshwater ecosystems – lakes, rivers, wetlands (marshes & swamps)
Marine ecosystems – coastal marshes, estuaries, coral reefs, ocean
Abiotic factors that affect life : temperature, light, dissolved oxygen, nutrients
Day 5 24

25. Freshwater Ecosystems
Wetlands – areas of land covered with fresh water for at least part of the year
Important b/c:
Remove pollutants & improve water quality
Control flooding
Home for native & migratory
wildlife
Day 5 25

26. Marine Ecosystems
Estuaries –where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean
Home for many organisms, very productive
Animals : fish, dolphins, manatees, otters, crabs, birds
Threats: pollution, human development
Day 5 26

27. Marine Ecosystems
Coral reefs – areas where coral animals build skeletons & support thousands of organisms (= high biodiversity)
Found in shallow, clear tropical waters
Threats: Coral bleaching – high water temperatures causes coral to die
Day 5 27

28. Marine Ecosystems Ocean
Open ocean – phytoplankton perform photosynthesis → eaten by zooplankton → eaten by fish
Deep ocean is dark, cold
Supports decomposers, filter feeders
Threats: pollution (runoff, city waste), overfishing, global warming
Day 5 28

29. Aquatic Biomes Review
Aquatic biomes are divided into two major types: marine (saltwater) & freshwater 29

30. Aquatic Biomes: Marine & Freshwater
High O2, Low CO2 b/c of photosynthesis
Generally divided into three layers:
Surface
Middle
Bottom
Environmental factors (temperature, sunlight, dissolved oxygen) vary among the layers 30

31. Freshwater Biomes Includes: Provides many services:
Standing bodies of H2O: lakes, ponds, wetlands
Flowing H2O: rivers, streams
Wetlands: marshes, swamps, floodplains
Provides many services:
nutrient cycling
groundwater recharge
food, drinking water
electricity
Transportation
Recreation
Employment
etc. 31

32. Freshwater Biomes: Lake Zones
Top layer = littoral zone
2nd layer = limnetic zone
Open, sunlit water
3rd layer = profundal zone
Cool, dark water
Bottom = benthic zone 32

33. Marine Biomes Covers 71% of Earth’s surface
~250,000 plant & animal species
Performs climate control, CO2 absorption
Provides food, medicines, recreation, employment, etc. 33

34. Coastal Marine Biomes
Estuary: area where saltwater mixes w/ freshwater & nutrients from rivers & runoff from land
Includes:
Inlets, bays, sounds, mangrove swamps, & salt marshes
Is a harsh environment b/c of changes in temp, salinity, etc. due to tides 34

35. Coastal Marine Biomes
Coral reef: complex ecosystem that forms in clear, warm tropical coastal waters
High biodiversity
Vulnerable due to sensitivity to temperature changes & pollution → coral bleaching 35

36. Marine Biome: Open Ocean
Based on sunlight, divided into 3 layers:
Euphotic zone: upper zone of ocean where photosynthesis occurs
High O2, low nutrients (except where brought up from bottom)
Have large, fast fish like tuna & sharks
Bathyal Zone: middle zone of ocean
Abyssal Zone: bottom zone of ocean
Dark & cold
Low O2, high nutrients
Includes hydrothermal vents
Organisms adapted to low light, high pressure 36

37. 37

38. Ecological Succession
= gradual process of change of species in a community over time
Organisms occupy a site & change the environmental so that other organisms can come in
Two types of succession:
Primary
Secondary
Day 8 38

39. 1. Pioneer species arrive (lichens): don’t need soil to survive
Primary succession - occurs on lifeless, rocky ground (such as after volcano); steps:
1. Pioneer species arrive (lichens): don’t need soil to survive
2. Lichens die & decompose → organic matter mixes with rock to start making soil
3. Mosses & ferns can grow in new soil → die & add more nutrients to soil
4. Grasses & wildflowers can move in → die & add more nutrients to soil
5. Shrubs & trees can survive
6. End in Climax community
Day 8 39

40. Climax Community lots of hardwood, shade-loving trees
Day 8 40

41. Secondary Succession - occurs after a disturbance (flood, fire, etc.)
Disturbance can be by nature, animals, or humans (forestry, agriculture, construction)
Soil & seeds still present, so takes shorter amount of time
Start with grasses → herbs, shrubs, small trees → hardwood trees (climax community)
Day 8 41

42. Is Disturbance Good?
Mild disturbance helps set back super competitors & allows other species to live
Some ecosystems are adapted to disturbances (long-leaf pine!)
Need fire to germinate seeds or to open cones
Management now includes disturbances – controlled burns
Day 8 42