Biomes & SuccessionEnvironmental Science

Review Organism Organization

▪ Molecules

▪ Cells

▪ (Tissue Organ Organ system)

▪ Organisms

▪ Population

▪ Community

▪ Ecosystem

▪ Biome

▪ Biosphere

Large region characterized by its particular climate and plant/animal communitiesA global ecosystem

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Terrestrial Biomes

Climate determines how biomes are distributed.Species (plants/animals)are adapted for particular climates.

Major Factors: precipitation & temperature

Climate is determined by latitude and altitude

Latitude– distance from equator Altitude– height above sea level

As latitude and altitude increase, average temperatures decrease.

Tropical Rain Forest• Most biodiverse

terrestrial biome• Canopy &

understory• High

precipitation, high temperatures

Savanna• Equatorial • Seasonal precipitation• Warm, stable

temperatures• Grazing animals

Desert

• Very low precipitation

• Varying temperatures

Chaparral

• Hot & dry• Fires are common

Temperate Grasslands• Variable temperature &

precipitation• Prone to fires• Very fertile soil (due to

short life-span of grasses)

Temperate Forest (deciduous)

• Varying temperatures & precipitation

• Trees shed their leaves in fall

Coniferous Forest (Taiga)

• Very cold• Only snow• Conifers (evergreens)• aka “Boreal”

Tundra

• Very low precipitation

• Very low temperatures

• Permafrost

Aquatic Biomes/Ecosystems

Freshwater Factors that determine characteristics: oxygen, temperature, pH, sunlight, nutrients

• Photosynthesis occurs mostly near the surface

• Colder water holds more oxygen

• Quickly moving water holds more oxygen

Lake Zones

Wetlands (swamps, marshes, estuaries)

• Areas that are covered by water at least part of the year

• Nature’s filters

Marine Ecosystems (coral reefs, open oceans, tidal areas, coast)

Photosynthesis on the surface and in shallow areas

Marine Zones

Eutrophication1.Excess nutrients from pollutants… fertilizers, detergents,

organic materials. 2.Algal bloom3.Algae grow…..algae die4.Bacteria & other decomposers thrive, robbing other organisms

of oxygen

Succession– gradual process of change and replacement of the types of species in an ecosystem

▪ Species that are more adapted for survival can replace the previous species

▪ The ecosystem can over time change to another type of ecosystem

Title and Content Layout with Chart

Primary Succession– a new ecosystem forms where there has never been an ecosystem before

New land… a glacier recedes or volcanic lava forms new land

Secondary Succession– an ecosystem goes through trauma or change, becomes new ecosystem

Fire impacts the ecosystem, causes decades-long change