BiomesBiomes

BiomeBiome

A group of similar ecosystemsA group of similar ecosystems Usually defined by the types of plants that Usually defined by the types of plants that

grow there, based on climategrow there, based on climate

Main Climate Factors areMain Climate Factors are

Temperature Temperature RainfallRainfall

Factors influenced byFactors influenced by

Sun Wind and waterSun Wind and water

The Sun and SeasonsThe Sun and Seasons

The angle of the earth to sun determines The angle of the earth to sun determines seasonsseasons

WindWind

Generated by Sun Generated by Sun

Coriolis effectCoriolis effect

Earth’s rotation turns the winds and Earth’s rotation turns the winds and currents to the right in N. Hemispherecurrents to the right in N. Hemisphere

World winds effect climateWorld winds effect climate

Winds effect ocean currentsWinds effect ocean currents

Currents also affect climateCurrents also affect climate Gulf stream brings warmer water to Gulf stream brings warmer water to

eastern US shoreeastern US shore

Mountains cause rain shadowMountains cause rain shadow

Windward side – air rises, RainWindward side – air rises, Rain Leeward side – air sinks. NO rainLeeward side – air sinks. NO rain

Elevation changes climateElevation changes climate

Similar to change in latitudeSimilar to change in latitude

Terrestrial BiomesTerrestrial Biomes

Large ecosystemsLarge ecosystems

First Biome: TundraFirst Biome: Tundra

What is the tundra?What is the tundra? No not thisNo not this

TundraTundra

cold year roundcold year round Permafrost - permanently frozen groundPermafrost - permanently frozen ground Plants: very small plants and shrubsPlants: very small plants and shrubs Animals: caribou, arctic fox, snowshoe Animals: caribou, arctic fox, snowshoe

harehare

TaigaTaiga (Coniferous forest) (Coniferous forest)

Cold, much winter snow, conifer treesCold, much winter snow, conifer trees Plants: cone bearing: pines, firs, sprucePlants: cone bearing: pines, firs, spruce Animals: moose, bear, wolves and lynxAnimals: moose, bear, wolves and lynx

Deciduous forestDeciduous forest Temperate, trees lose leaves, lots of rain. Temperate, trees lose leaves, lots of rain.

Many dormant winter speciesMany dormant winter species Plants: maples, oaks, willow, birch, Plants: maples, oaks, willow, birch,

blueberriesblueberries Animals: deer, fox, raccoon, squirrelsAnimals: deer, fox, raccoon, squirrels

GrasslandsGrasslands

Temperate, seasonal drought, firesTemperate, seasonal drought, fires Mostly grasses, flat, dry, fertile Mostly grasses, flat, dry, fertile Plants: wheat, corn, hay, grassPlants: wheat, corn, hay, grass Animals: grazers; bison, prairie dogsAnimals: grazers; bison, prairie dogs

ChaparralChaparral

Brush land communities along mid latitude Brush land communities along mid latitude coastlinescoastlines

Plants: spiny shrubs, heat and fire resistant Plants: spiny shrubs, heat and fire resistant plants plants

Animals: deer, rodents, lizards, roadrunnersAnimals: deer, rodents, lizards, roadrunners

DesertDesert Very little rainfall (< 30 cm/year), hot day, Very little rainfall (< 30 cm/year), hot day,

cold nightcold night Plants: store water (CAM plants) cactus, Plants: store water (CAM plants) cactus,

sage bush, creosote bushsage bush, creosote bush Animals: lizards, snakes, kit foxes, road Animals: lizards, snakes, kit foxes, road

runnerrunner

Some desert mice NEVER drinkSome desert mice NEVER drink

Kangaroo mouseKangaroo mouse Gets water from food and from cellular Gets water from food and from cellular

respirationrespiration

SavannasSavannas

Grassland with more moisture. Wet and Grassland with more moisture. Wet and dry seasonsdry seasons

Plants: scattered trees, shrubs :grassesPlants: scattered trees, shrubs :grasses Animals: zebra, giraffes, gazelles, lions, Animals: zebra, giraffes, gazelles, lions,

hyenashyenas

Tropical rainforestTropical rainforest

Very wet and hot, found along equatorVery wet and hot, found along equator Plants: very tall trees, orchids, mossesPlants: very tall trees, orchids, mosses Animals: parrots, monkeys, sloth, jaguarAnimals: parrots, monkeys, sloth, jaguar

Tropical rainforestsTropical rainforests

The most biomassThe most biomass Pronounced vertical stratificationPronounced vertical stratification

Tropical rainforestsTropical rainforests

Canopy species at the topCanopy species at the top Jungle – thick growth to replace openingJungle – thick growth to replace opening Epiphytes – air plants grow on other plants Epiphytes – air plants grow on other plants

Alpine Alpine

Alpine biomes are at high altitudesAlpine biomes are at high altitudes Similar to taiga and tundraSimilar to taiga and tundra

Locations of BiomesLocations of Biomes

Quiz – Name that biomeQuiz – Name that biome

SavannahSavannah

What Biome?What Biome?

DesertDesert

What Biome?What Biome?

Deciduous forestDeciduous forest

What Biome?What Biome?

TundraTundra

What Biome?What Biome?

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

What Biome?What Biome?

ChaparralChaparral

What Biome?What Biome?

TaigaTaiga

What Biome?What Biome?

GrasslandGrassland

Aquatic BiomesAquatic Biomes Fresh and salt waterFresh and salt water

Salt water biomesSalt water biomes

Organisms must be adapted to higher salt Organisms must be adapted to higher salt content so they do not dehydratecontent so they do not dehydrate

Called osmoregulationCalled osmoregulation

Photic zonesPhotic zones

Where Light reaches (photo = light)Where Light reaches (photo = light)

Aphotic zonesAphotic zones

Light does not reachLight does not reach

ThermoclineThermocline

Temperature layer where temperature Temperature layer where temperature drops sharply with depthdrops sharply with depth

Benthic ZoneBenthic Zone

The zone below the surface.The zone below the surface.

Freshwater biomesFreshwater biomes

Ponds, Lakes and streamsPonds, Lakes and streams

Estuary Estuary

Where fresh water meets salt waterWhere fresh water meets salt water

Freshwater biomesFreshwater biomes

Oligotrophic LakesOligotrophic Lakes – Deep, nutrient poor, – Deep, nutrient poor, with small surface area. with small surface area.

Low photosynthesisLow photosynthesis

Eutrophic lakeEutrophic lake

Nutrient-rich, large surface area relative to Nutrient-rich, large surface area relative to depth. High photosynthesisdepth. High photosynthesis

Too much algae growing on surface Too much algae growing on surface blocks light and kills other plantsblocks light and kills other plants

This can kill animal life, destroying pond This can kill animal life, destroying pond ecosystemecosystem

Healthiest lakes are balanced Healthiest lakes are balanced

Oligotrophic = EutrophicOligotrophic = Eutrophic