1. ECOLOGY
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

2. What is a biome? (Write this definition on your paper)
Biomes are large regions characterized by a specific type of climate and the plants and animals that live there.
Biomes are made up of many similar ecosystems.

3. Biomes of the World

4. Tropical Rain Forest Biome Climate
Receives inches of rain a year.
Most biologically diverse land biome.
Soil is very thin and poor in nutrients.
Found near the equator.
All tropical rainforest are endangered
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Animal Adaptations
Many animals have camouflage to aid in their survival.
Some animals are poisonous, and use bright colors to warn predators to leave them alone.
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Desert Biome
Very dry and usually very hot.
Areas that receive less than 25cm of rain per year.
Most deserts get very hot during the day and get very cold at night.
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Adaptations
Long root systems spread out wide or go deep into the ground to absorb water
Waxy coating on stem to help prevent water loss.
Large fleshy leaves and stems to store water
Most animals are nocturnal.
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Grassland Biome
Temperate Grasslands
Grasses are mixed with
flowering plants, very few trees
Wild fires are very common
Animals: bison, prairie dogs, mice
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Grassland Biome
Adaptations
Some prairie trees have thick bark to resist fire
Many grasses take advantage of exposed, windy conditions and are wind pollinated.
Many prairie animals have front legs and paws that allow them to burrow into the ground, where they are protected from predators.
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10. Temperate Deciduous Forest
The weather in this area changes with the seasons.
It becomes very cold in the winter and hot in the summer.
There is enough rainfall to support large trees.
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Adaptations
Trees in this biome drop their leaves in the fall and new ones sprout each spring.
A great variety of birds migrate to warmer places where they can find food more easily.
Some mammals (bears) hibernate during the cold winter months.
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12. Coniferous Forest (Taiga)
Winters are long and cold.
Coniferous trees (evergreens) make-up most of the plant life here.
Location: mostly Canada and Russia
Animals: elk, moose, wolves
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Adaptations
Conifers have special needle like leaves with a thick waxy coating that stops them form drying out and being damaged during the winter.
Some animal’s fur will change colors as the seasons get colder to provide camouflage in the snow.
Ex: Snowshoe Hare
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Tundra
The land here is very cold and dry.
Low biotic diversity
It has a permanent layer of frost all year (permafrost).
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Adaptations
Animals such as wolves, arctic foxes, and caribou grow thick fur during the winter to keep warm.
Plants are short and group together to resist the cold temperatures and are protected by the snow during the winter. (Ex: Lichens and Mosses)
They can carry out photosynthesis at low temperatures and low light intensities.
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Freshwater Biomes
Algae is the most abundant plant in the water biomes because sunlight has to be there in order for photosynthesis to occur.
Freshwater biomes are divided into 2 groups: ponds and lakes and streams and rivers
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Marine Biomes
Largest and most diverse biome on Earth.
Divided into 4 sections: Estuaries, Intertidal Zone, Neritic (Coastal) Zone, and Surface/Deep Zone.
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18. Temperate Rainforest Epiphytes such as mosses and
ferns grow atop other plants to
reach light.
cool temperatures and humid conditions lead to slow decomposition but seedlings grow on "nurse logs" to take advantage of the nutrients from the decomposing fallen logs.
trees can grow very tall due to amount of precipitation.