1. Biomes

2. Blue Marble Photograph (pg.6)

3. Blue Marble Photograph
What did you observe in this photograph?
What do you wonder about?
How can 13 million different species of life exist on Earth?
What factors determine whether a species lives in North America or Africa?
This picture greatly influenced the environmental movement – why might this be so?

4. Ecosystem What is an ecosystem?
A part of a biome in which abiotic components interact with biotic components
Abiotic: non-living components of an environment
Ex: sunlight, soil, moisture/precipitation, temperature
Biotic: living components/organisms of an environment
Ex: plants, animals, fungi, bacteria

5. Biosphere
thin layer of air, land and water on or near Earth’s surface in which all living things on Earth exist
Biosphere: thin layer of air, land and water on or near Earth’s surface in which all living things on Earth Exist
The biosphere consists of biomes. Each biome contains many ecosystems. Each ecosystem contains habitats in which a variety of organisms live.
Figure 1.3 pg. 9

6. Biome
Biome: includes large regions that have similar biotic components and abiotic components
8 terrestrial biomes
Tundra
Boreal Forest
Temperate Rainforest
Deciduous Rainforest
Grasslands (Temperate and Tropical)
Desert
Tropical Rainforest
Polar Ice (Permanent Ice)
Biome: includes large regions that have similar biotic components (similar plants, animals) and similar abiotic components (similar rainfall and temperature
Scientists can classify biomes in different ways and sometimes slightly different terminolgy is used however we will classify biomes by the types of vegetation

7. Observing Patterns in World Biomes
Page 11 – Activity 1-1A
Work with lab bench partner
Write down two patterns you see in the distribution of biomes
Use the equator, Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn as reference points in determining distribution patterns
Compare with another lab bench
In a paragraph, provide an explanation for each of these three patterns based on your general knowledge
Create a class list of all the distribution patterns identified – indicate which ones were identified by more than one pair of students – mark the to 3 patterns

8. Distribution of Biomes
Temperature and Precipitation
Two of the most important abiotic factors that influence the characteristic of biomes and the distribution of biomes on Earth
Types of precipitation: rainfall, snow, mist and fog
Giant trees you find in the rainforest of BC would not survive in a hot, dry desert biome
Need environments that are cool and wet

9. Overlap indicates that other factors influence precipitation and temperature such as latitude, elevation and ocean currents

10. Questions
Practice Problems pg. 13 #1-4

11. Latitude
Distance measured in degrees North or South of the Equator
Equator = 0o
Two hemispheres
Affects Temperature and Precipitation

13. Latitude and Temperature
At Equator – sun shines down almost directly overhead
Results in 12 hours of sunlight every day of the year
Results in little fluctuation in temperature
At the tropical zone (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn)
Close to the equator, therefore receives more direct sunlight than further North or South latitudes
Has warmest temperatures

14. Latitude and Temperature
Temperate Regions and Polar Zones (North or South of the tropical zone)
sun rays are at an angle
Rays are spread over a greater surface area which results in the rays being less intense
The further away from the equator, the lower the temperature

15. Latitude and Precipitation
At Equator
Direct sunlight heats the moist air which causes it to rise (evaporation)
The moist air cools in the upper atmosphere and then falls back to the earth as rain (condensation)
Receives the greatest amount of rainfall
Tropical Zone
Similar to the equator, the sunlight is mostly direct resulting in lots of rainfall

16. Latitude and Precipitation
Polar Regions
Little moisture can be picked up (evaporate) and carried in cold air so clouds do not readily form
Little precipitation
Temperate Regions
Cold air masses from the polar regions collide with warm moist air masses from the tropics
Results in seasonal rainfall patterns

17. Exit Slip Which biome(s) do you know the most about?
Which biome(s) are you most interested in learning about and why?

18. Homework
Due tomorrow:
Reading Check pg. 12 #1-4