Habitats & EcosystemsAn Introduction

IntroductionIntroductionWhat is a habitat?

A habitat is the environment where an organism lives, grows and reproduces.

Habitats can be very diverse:

a tree, a log, a marsh, a pond, a hive, a cactus

A habitat is made up of many factors.

HabitatsHabitats

The living parts of the ecosystem

Biotic Factors

The nonliving parts of the ecosystem

Abiotic Factors

Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors

A habitat is made up of many factors.

HabitatsHabitats

Plants

Biotic Factors

Water

Abiotic Factors

Animals

Decomposers

Bacteria

Sunlight

Temperature

Soil

What are the biotic & abiotic factors in this habitat?

What are the biotic & abiotic factors in this habitat?

What is an ecosystem?

EcosystemsEcosystems

An ecosystem is a large community of living organisms (biotic) and the

nonliving factors (abiotic) in a wide area.

An ecosystem can be a forest,

a stream, coastline or open ocean.

Similar ecosystems can be grouped together.

BiomesBiomes

A biome is a group of ecosystemswith similar climate and organisms.

There are 7 terrestrial (land) biomes.

And 7 aquatic (water) biomes.

BiomesBiomes

Rain Forest

Terrestrial Biomes

Desert

Deciduous Forest

Boreal Forest

Grassland

Tundra

Savannah

Desert

• Receives < 25 cm of rainfall per year• Large changes in temp. from day to night• Organisms are specially adapted

Rainforest

• Receives 250-400 cm of rain per year• Found near the Equator• Huge diversity of plants and animals

Deciduous Forest

• Receive > 50 cm of rain per year•Trees shed leaves in the winter• Many animals hibernate or go dormant

Coniferous (Boreal) Forest

• Winters are very long, cold and snowy• Summers are rainy but short• Trees are coniferous – needle leaves

Grassland

• Moderate rainfall: 50-100 cm per year• Enough rain for grass, not enough for trees• Summers are warm, winters are cold

Savannah

• Found between forest and grassland• Long dry season with short wet season• Organisms adapted for seasonal changes

Tundra

• Extremely cold and dry: very little rain• Most of the soil is frozen year round• Low growing plants, bears, caribou, fox, etc.

BiomesBiomes

Rivers and Streams

Aquatic Biomes

Intertidal Zone

Lakes and Ponds

Wetlands / Estuaries

Open Ocean

Deep Ocean

Coral Reef

Rivers and Streams

• Freshwater biome• Plants grow on banks or float in pools• Animals include fish, turtles, frogs, etc.

Lakes and Ponds

• Freshwater that is not moving• Ponds are shallow, lakes are deeper• Support insects, snakes, fish and others

Wetlands

• Receives < 25 cm of rainfall per year• Large changes in temp. from day to night• Organisms are specially adapted

Estuaries

• End of a river that feeds into a lake or ocean• Transition from fresh to saltwater• Includes marshes, wetlands and bogs

Intertidal Zone

• Forms where tide comes and goes each day• Conditions constantly change• Organisms are adapted to change

Open Ocean

• Sunlight penetrates this top layer• Algae and phytoplankton are the producers• Animals include reptiles, fish and mammals

Deep Ocean

• Sunlight cannot reach here: cold and dark• Animals feed on each or on falling food• Strange and unusual organisms!

Coral Reef

• Shallow area with lots of sunlight• Built on living organisms called corals• Huge diversity: the rainforest of the ocean

Any Questions?