1. 17- 3 Major Biological Communities (pg. 371) Climate’s Effect on Where Species Live Climate – the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

2. Biome – a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities

3. Tropical Rainforests - biome in which the temperatures stay warm and rain falls year round Found: equatorial regions (0 o ) Most Characteristic Abiotic factors: warm temperatures year round rainfall year round (200-400 cm/yr) ***thin, nutrient-poor soil **Home to MORE species than all other land biomes combined!

4. Dominant plants: Broad-leaf evergreens, ferns, large, woody vines, orchids, bromeliads

7. Savanna - characterized by perennial grasses, spotted with isolated trees and/or small groves of trees Found: tropical areas on either side of the equator Abiotic factors: warm temperatures year round seasonal rainfall (wet and dry seasons)

8. Animals - Herds of grazing animals (giraffes, wildebeasts, zebras, gazelles), large carnivores (lions, cheetahs) Plants – grasses, scattered trees

11. Taiga (or Boreal Forest) – biome dominated by great coniferous (cone-bearing, with needles) forests Found: across northern N. America, N. Europe, N. Asia Abiotic factors: long, cold winters and mild summers moderate precipitation (50-100 cm/yr)

12. Dominant plants: coniferous forests (pines, spruces, firs)

13. Animals – black bears, moose, wolves, birds, etc.

15. Tundra – northernmost land biome covered by mosses, lichens and grasses and characterized by permafrost Abiotic factors Permafrost – layer of permanently frozen subsoil “Frozen desert” 10-15 cm/yr precipitation

16. Arctic moss Arctic willow Reindeer lichen Tundra Dominant plants: lichens, mosses, perennial grasses, stunted shrubs

17. Arctic fox Polar bearCaribou (reindeer) Snowy Owl Tundra swans Mosquito larva Lemming Animals

18. 3 rd T.L. 2 nd T.L. 1 st T.L.

19. Desert – biome that receives less than 25 cm of rainfall per year Found: 30 o N & S of equator and leeward side of mountains Abiotic factors: LOW precipitation extreme temperature variations from day to night

20. Desert life MUST adapt to very low precipitation

21. Kangaroo rat Armadillo Lizard Kit Fox

22. Grasslands – biome consisting of vast area covered with grasses and small leafy plants Found: interior portions of continents Abiotic factors: cold winters, warm summers moderate rainfall (25-75 cm/yr) * Deep, rich soils

23. Dominant plants: perennial grasses, herbs and flowers

24. Animals: prairie dogs, rabbits, coyotes, ferrets,antelope, birds

25. Temperate Deciduous Forest – biome characterized by changing seasons and leaf fall Found: E. U.S., SE Canada, most of Europe, parts of Japan, China and Australia Abiotic factors: hot summers, cold winters year-round precipitation (75-150 cm/yr) fertile soils

26. Dominant plants: broad leaf deciduous trees (maples, oaks), flowering ground plants, ferns and moss

30. Aquatic Ecosystems (pg. 106) Nearly 75% of Earth’s surface covered with water Aquatic Biomes: Freshwater, Estuary, Marine

31. A. Freshwater Ecosystems – only 3% of surface water on Earth is fresh water Affected more by seasonal variations 1. Flowing-Water Ecosystems Types: rivers, streams, creeks and brooks flow over land Yukon River, Alaska

32. 2. Standing-water Ecosystems Lakes and ponds Piseco Lake, N.Y.

33. 3. Freshwater Wetlands wetlands – ecosystems in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil for at least part of the year Water may be: flowing or standing fresh, salty or brackish Many wetlands are very productive ecosystems serving as breeding grounds for: insects, fishes and other aquatic animals, amphibians and migratory birds 3 main types of freshwater wetlands are: Bogs, Marshes, Swamps

34. Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey

35. B. Estuaries – wetlands formed where rivers meet the ocean; contain a mixture of fresh water and salt water and are affected by ocean tides (brackish water) Many are shallow so: sunlight reaches bottom (lots of photosynthesis) Estuaries support an astonishing amount of biomass Serves as spawning and nursery ground for fish, shellfish Waterfowl use for nesting, feeding and resting migration

37. Chesapeake Bay

39. Florida Everglades - Mangrove Swamps

40. A great egret gliding along the high grass on the Hackensack River Hackensack Meadowlands, N.J. Fresh-water and estuary

41. De Korte Park, The Meadowlands Tree Swallow

42. C. Marine Ecosystems - Oceans Photic zone – Typically to a depth of about 200 m Algae and other producers can grow Aphotic zone – Chemosynthetic autotrophs the only producers

43. Lavallette, N.J.