Unit 7 - Our Biosphere

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Unit 7 - Our Biosphere

• Climatic Influences
• Terrestrial Biomes
• Aquatic Ecosystems

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Vocabulary Unit 7 (22)

• Aphotic zone Hibernation
• Benthic zone Littoral zone
• Biome Limnetic zone
• Climate Permafrost
• Coniferous Photic zone
• Deciduous Thermohaline circulation
• El Nino Topography
• Estivation Upwelling
• Estuary Weather
• Flood plain Wetland
• Greenhouse effect
• Greenhouse gas

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Unit 7AClimatic InfluencesChps. 16.1 16.2
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Weather

• Weatherwhat is it?
• What is happening in the atmosphere at a
  particular place at a particular moment
• The temperature is 82º with winds coming out of
  the southwest.

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Climate

• Climate is the average weather in an area over
  a long period of time
• Summer temperatures usually reach into the low
  90s with scattered afternoon thunderstorms.
• Factors temperature, humidity, winds,
  precipitations
• These factors determine what types of organisms
  live in a region

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What factors determine climate?

1. Latitude
2. Atmospheric circulation patterns
3. Ocean circulation patterns
4. Local geography
5. Seasonal changes in climate

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1. Latitude

• The distance from the equator measured in degrees
  north and south of the equator
• Determines the amount of solar energy an area
  receives
• Vertical concentrated rays v.s. oblique dispersed
  rays

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Oblique Rays
Vertical Rays
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2. Atmospheric circulation patterns

• Cold air sinks, warm air rises
• Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air
• Cooler air causes water vapor to condense into
  liquid
• Solar energy warms the air closest to the Earths
  surface, causing it to rise
• Theres more

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• Rising air is replaced by cooler air flowing in
  from further north and south
• Resulting in a circulation cell
• Cool air over the equator cannot sink and is
  forced away, sinking at about 30º latitude
• This causes warmer dry air, and is why most of
  the Earths deserts are at this latitude

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Atmospheric Circulation Patterns
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3. Ocean circulation patterns

• Water holds heat
• Currents redistribute warm and cool masses of
  water
• Coastal areas have a more moderate climate with
  more moisture
• U.S. temperate rain forest

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Surface Ocean Currents
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4. Local geography

• Temperatures fall with increase in elevation (air
  cools as it rises)
• Mountains influence distribution of precipitation
• Warming air draws up moisture from the surface of
  the Earth
• Cooling air releases its moisture
• Rain on the west side, deserts in the rain
  shadow of the mountains

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coastal side
Rain shadow
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5. Seasonal changes

• Seasons result from the Earths orbit around the
  sun and the tilt of the Earth relative to its
  path
• Four seasons occur, except in the Tropics where
  it remains constant

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the 4 seasons
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Greenhouse Effect

• What is it?
• Light energy goes through the atmosphere and
  heats the Earth
• As heat rises, some of it escapes back into space
• The rest of the heat is trapped by gases in the
  troposphere, which then warm the air

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Greenhouse Effect
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Greenhouse Gases

• The gases that trap and radiate heat back to the
  Earth
• The major greenhouse gases
• Water vapor, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons
  (CFCs), methane, and nitrous oxide

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Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Fluctuation

• Seasonal lower in the summer as plants use it
  up higher in the winter as dying plants release
  carbon
• Why?
• Burning fossil fuels releases stored carbon
• Burning living plants releases carbon
• Oceans absorb 50 times more CO2 than air

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Global warming

• Increasing levels of greenhouse gases increases
  the average temperature of the Earth
• This produces a warmer climate
• Oceans absorb more heat, increasing hurricanes
  and typhoons
• Disrupted weather patterns could alter
  agriculture
• Sea levels will rise due to melting glaciers

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How to slow down global warming

• Use less fossil fuels, reducing the amount of
  carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
• Preserve existing forests
• Plant more trees

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Plant a tree for life
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How oceans affect climate

• By transporting heat and absorbing CO2
• Thermohaline circulation warmer, less salty
  water moves along the surface colder, saltier,
  denser water moves deep
• Colder, saltier water at the poles sinks while
  warmer, less salty from the equator moves to take
  the place of the cooler water

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El Niño La Niña

• Interactions between the oceans the atmosphere
  that affect climate
• Change in air pressure, wind patterns, ocean
  temperature ocean circulation in the Pacific
  Ocean
• Normally, winds and currents move warm water west
  along the equator
• El Niño winds weaken warm water flows back
  towards S. America, rains in S. Cali.
• La Niña opposite, cooler water in the eastern
  Pacific Ocean

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El Niño La Niña
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Unit 7 BTerrestrial BiomesChapter 6
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Biomes

• Biomes - areas that have distinctive climates
  and organisms
• Biomes are named according to their plant life
• Climate is the main determinant

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1. Tropical Rain Forests

• Occur in a belt around the Earth near the equator
• Always humid and warm
• Get about 100 of rain a year strong sunlight
  year-round
• Ideal climate for growing plants
• Soil is thin and poor

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Plant adaptations Tropical Rain Forests

• Plants grow in layers
• Dense canopy at top absorbs most of the sunlight
• Little light reaches the understory
• Epiphytes plants that grow on other plants
  instead of soil

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Animal adaptations Tropical Rain Forests

• Great diversity of animals, each adapted to
  exploit a specific resource
• Camouflage is common

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Threats to Rain Forests

• Decreased from covering 20 to 7 of the Earth
• Destroyed by logging or clearing for ranches
• Animals and native people are becoming extinct

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• The canopy receives over 95 of available
  sunlight, leaving very little for vegetation
  below. How would this affect photosynthesis at
  the lower levels?
• Where would you find the greatest amount of
  biomass in the rain forest?
• At what level of the rain forest would you most
  likely find herbivores? Decomposers?
• How is a rain forest like the ocean?
• Because of the dense shade on the forest floor, a
  rain forest is NOT a jungle. Why?

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Countries that have Tropical Rain Forests

• Brazil
• Ecuador
• Thailand
• Cambodia
• Venezuela
• Columbia
• Guatemala
• Costa Rica

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2. Tropical Dry Forest

• Rainfall is highly seasonal wet dry seasons
  span about ½ year each
• India, southern N. American, Central America, S.
  America, SE Asia
• Wet season rains are very heavy
• Organisms must adapt to fluctuations in
  precipitation and temperature
• Most trees are deciduous roots deeper than
  tropical rain forest some store water
• Animals migrate, estivate

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3. Temperate Rain Forests

• Occur in North South America, Australia, New
  Zealand
• Pacific northwest is only one in U.S.
• Cool, humid forests pervaded by moisture and
  abundant moss
• High rainfall moderate temperatures provide
  ideal climate for lots of plant growth
• Coniferous (cone-bearing) trees like cedars,
  spruces, hemlocks, firs

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4. Temperate Deciduous Forests

• Trees drop their broad, flat leaves each fall
• Generally occur between 30 and 50 north latitude
• Seasonal variations can be extreme
• Only 4 - 6 months of growing season
• Moist (30-100 rainfall per year)
• Soil is rich and deep

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Animal AdaptationsTemperate Deciduous Forests

• Numerous habitats, generally organized by layers
• Birds migrate, animals become inactive, insects
  enter a state of very low metabolic activity

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5. Boreal Forests/Taiga

• The northern coniferous forest
• Terrain is rough and forest floor is sparsely
  vegetated
• Winters are long and extremely cold
• Frost-free growing season is short, but enhanced
  by constant daylight
• Most of precipitation falls as snow

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Plant adaptations - Boreal

• Conifers do not shed their needles, whose narrow
  shape waxy coat helps the conifer to retain
  water
• Conifers cone shape helps it shed snow, thick
  bark protects it from frost, shallow root
  system uses water immediately
• Needles are acidic, deterring competitive plant
  growth
• Soil forms slowly because climate acidity
  hinder decomposition

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Animal adaptationsBoreal Forests

• Lakes and swamps attract birds in summer.lots of
  insects!
• Fur color changes
• Underground burrows for insulation

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Countries that have Boreal Forests

• Norway
• Sweden
• Finland
• Russia
• Canada
• Alaska (U.S.)
• Germany
• Northern China

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Grassland, Deserts, Tundra

• Characterized by less rainfall and less diversity
  of species

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1. Tropical Savannas

• Found in the tropics, inland, near the equator
• Contain the greatest of grazing animals on
  Earth
• Too little rain for many trees to grow
• Grass fires are common

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Plant adaptations Tropical Savannas

• Large underground root systems that survive fire
  drought
• Vertical leaves of grasses help conserve water
• Thorns deter hungry herbivores

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Animal adaptationsTropical Savannas

• Herbivores migrate to follow rains
• Competition avoided by eating different height
  vegetation.

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2. Temperate GrasslandsPrairies, Steppes
Pampas

• Low rainfall, periodic droughts, and high
  temperatures
• The most fertile soil of any biome
• Found in the interiors of continents where there
  is too little rainfall for trees to grow
• Fire is common due to low rainfall, high
  temperatures

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Location of Grasslands

• Prairies N. America
• Steppes Russia Ukraine
• Pampas S. America

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Plant adaptationsTemperate Grasslands

• Grasses are perennials with dense matted root
  systems that help them survive drought and fire
  and hold soil
• Amount of rainfall determines type of grasses

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Animal adaptationsTemperate Grasslands

• Burrowing animals protected from fires the
  elements

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Threats to Temperate Grasslands

• Overgrazing decreases regeneration increases
  soil erosion
• Grain crops cannot hold the soil in place,
  increasing soil erosion

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3. Deserts

• Driest places on Earth
• Defined as areas that receive less than 10
  annual rainfall
• Dryness hinders decay, so soil is very poor in
  organic matter
• Few nutrients are washed out, so soil is high in
  minerals

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Plant adaptations - Deserts

• Getting and conserving water
• Thick fleshy stems, waxy leaves, spines for
  protection
• Shallow wide root systems
• Drought-resistance a survival strategy to
  live through the worst desert conditions
• New plants germinate, grow and bloom very rapidly

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Animal adaptations - Desert

• Dry, scaly skin that prevents water loss
• Estivating burying themselves in the ground
  and sleeping through the dry season
• Most animals are partially nocturnal

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Threats to Deserts

• Residential development spurs water rights
  battles
• Off-road vehicles destroy vegetation/habitat

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4. Tundra

• Definition a biome without trees, where grasses
  and tough shrubs grow in the frozen soil
• Permafrost permanently frozen soil,
  impermeable
• Top few inches of soil thaws in the summer,
  causing bogs and swamps to form as water cannot
  penetrate the permafrost

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Tundra Plant Adaptations

• Mosses and lichens grow without soil
• Most plants are tiny and short to keep them out
  of the wind and help in absorbing heat from the
  soil
• Dwarf forms have adapted
• Brief summers cause rapid growth and flowering

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Tundra Animal Adaptations

• Migratory birds feed on swamp/bog insects
• Winter camouflage and underground burrows
• Well insulated fur and feathers

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Threats to the Tundra

• One of the most fragile biomes on Earth as food
  chains are simple and easily disrupted
• Extreme conditions cause land to be easily
  damaged and slow to recover

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• How many major land biomes are on Earth?
• 7
• Describe the distribution of tropical
  rainforests.
• Tropical rainforests are found mostly between the
  Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer
• In what country is ice found as a land biome?
• Greenland

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• Describe the distribution of tundra.
• Tundra is found near the Arctic Circle.
• Which three terrestrial biomes can be found in
  large areas of the U.S.?
• Temperate grasslands, temperate forests, and
  deserts
• Which continent was once practically covered in
  temperate forest?
• Europe

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Unit 7 CAquatic EcosystemsChapter 6
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Freshwater Ecosystems

• Freshwater water that contains relatively
  little dissolved salt
• Life depends on depth of the water, how fast the
  water moves and the amount of mineral nutrients,
  sunlight and oxygen

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1. Lakes and Ponds

• littoral zone the nutrient rich area along
  the shore where sunlight reaches the bottom
• Phytoplankton, zooplankton and the organisms that
  feed on them live in open water where there is
  enough sunlight for photosynthesis

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• benthic zone the bottom of a body of water
  which is inhabited by decomposers, insect larvae
  and clams
• eutrophic lake a lake with a large amount of
  plant nutrients
• As plants and algae numbers increase, so do the
  number of bacteria growing. The bacteria use up
  the oxygen dissolved in the lakes waters

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What does the benthic zone have lots of?

• C.R.A.P.
• Carbon
• Rich
• Anaerobic
• Product

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Plant and Animal Adaptations

• Floating plants in deeper waters
• Trapped air in the hairs of some insects
• Whiskers on catfish help sense food in the dark

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Questions

• What process allows an abundance of life near the
  surface of a lake?
• Photosynthesis
• If light never penetrates into the deepest of
  lakes, how can life exist?
• Bacteria and decomposers feed on debris from
  above
• In the picture, the benthic zone is larger than
  the littoral zone. Is this always the case?
• Usually it is.

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• Explain how the benthic zone can be located in
  areas where light does and does not reach.
• It is primarily located at the bottom, but some
  lakes are shallow enough that light penetrates to
  the bottom
• Which of the following bodies of water would
  contain a benthic zone where light does not
  reach Lake Erie, Lake Michigan, Mississippi
  River, Walden Pond, Great Salt Lake, Lake
  Okeechobee?
• They all do

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2. Wetlands

• Areas of land that are covered with water for at
  least part of the year
• marshes contain non-woody plants
• swamps contain woody plants and shrubs
• Many fish use freshwater wetlands for breeding
  and feeding

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• Wetlands are home for migrating and native
  wildlife
• Wetland vegetation traps carbon, decreasing
  atmospheric carbon dioxide and global warming
• Wetlands remove pollutants from the water and
  control flooding

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Marshes

• Shallow water, rich bottom sediment
• Nesting birds attracted to marshes
• brackish marshes slightly saline water
• tidal marshes contain saltier water
• Everglades is the largest freshwater marsh in the
  U.S.

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Swamps

• Occur on flat, poorly drained land
• Often located near streams
• Dominated by shrubs or water-tolerant trees

Cypress Swamp
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Mangrove Estuarine Forests
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Values of Wetlands

• Purifiers of wastewater and absorbers of
  hazardous flood waters
• Important habitats for wildlife
• Wetlands are threatened by development today

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3. Rivers

• Usually originate from snowmelt in mountains
• Headwaters are cold and highly oxygenated
• Varies with changes in land and climate through
  which it flows
• Slows down with deeper, less oxygenated water as
  it gets further from its origin

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River Plant and Animal Adaptations

• Churning headwaters support mosses which can
  anchor to rocks
• Fishs streamlined bodies present less resistance
  to strong currents
• Long, thin-leafed plants near the faster moving
  headwaters

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Threats to Rivers

• Industries and people use rivers as waste dumps
• Run-offs from land put in pesticides and other
  poisons
• Dam-building alters flow and destroys fish
  habitats

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Marine Ecosystems

• Ocean environment
• Lack of water is not a problem
• Temperature and amount of sunlight and nutrients
  are the determining factors

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1. Estuaries

• An ecosystem in which fresh water from rivers
  mixes with salt water from the ocean
• The waters trap nutrients, which fall to the
  bottom
• Very nutrient-rich ecosystem

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Plant Animal Adaptations

• Light and rich nutrients support large
  populations of plants, phytoplankton and
  zooplankton
• All organisms are adapted to tolerate variations
  in salinity
• Find lots of filter feeders in this biome

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Threats to Estuaries

• Large ports often result in dumped wastes and
  small oil leaks/spillage
• Fill-ins from building sites
• Sediments and run-offs

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2. Coral Reefs

• Limestone islands in the sea built by coral
  animals
• One of the most diverse ecosystems
• Only in salt water with enough sunlight for
  photosynthesis
• Found in shallow tropical seas
• Cover less than .2 of the ocean floor, yet it
  contains 25 of its species

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Animal Adaptations

• Parrotfish have beaklike teeth to scrape algae
  and corals off
• Anemonefish have slime resistant to sea anemone
  poison

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Threats to Coral Reefs

• Temperature, salinity changes and pollutants
  decrease limestone production
• Overfishing upsets the balance of a reefs
  ecosystem
• Oil spills, sewage, and pesticide silt runoff
• Muddy or polluted water prohibits sun from
  reaching the algae
• Coral grow very slowly
• Dropped anchors, tourism

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3. The Ocean

• Covers nearly 75 of the Earths surface
• Plants grow only where there are nutrients and
  enough light for photosynthesis
• Much of the life is concentrated in shallow water
  around the edges of the continents
• Open ocean is one of the least productive of all
  ecosystems

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Plant Adaptations

• Flowering plants are absent from oceans except
  around the edges (no pollinators)
• Phytoplankton provides food for herbivores
• Buoyancy devices prevent sinkage into deep water

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Kelp Distribution
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Animal adaptations

• Zooplankton are the smallest herbivores
• Many creatures evolved sleek, taper shapes for
  moving through dense water
• Sharks have oily livers to float, fish have
  gas-filled swim bladders
• Sound carries very well over long distances, so
  creatures use it for communication

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Threat to the Oceans

• Pollution increasing, including radioactive
  wastes, industrial pollution and plant nutrient
  run-off
• Overfishing and nets reduce reproduction

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4. Polar Ecosystems

• Ice-covered polar caps at both Poles
• Considered marine ecosystems as nearly all the
  food is provided by phytoplankton in the ocean

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The Arctic

• The Arctic Ocean is relatively shallow, so rich
  in nutrients from the surrounding land masses
• Rich diversity of fish

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The Antarctic

• Only continent never colonized by humans
• Fish feed on plankton

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Threat to Polar Ecosystems

• Reserves of minerals (like oil) would cause
  disruption of untouched ecosystems is extracted
• Increase in tourism threatens wildlife with
  garbage

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Test Review

• Know the vocabulary terms
• Know the distinctive characteristics of all the
  major ecosystems around the world, including
  savannas, grassland, tropical rain forests, open
  ocean, deserts, tundra, taiga, rivers, estuaries,
  and temperate deciduous forests

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• Know how animals and plants adapt for survival in
  some of the harshest biomes
• Know how human activities threaten some of the
  more fragile biomes
• Be prepared to give examples of countries that
  contain biomes often found between 24º N latitude
  and 24º S latitude, as well as between 55º and
  70º N latitude
• Be prepared to write about one particular biome
  in detail

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References

• Pearson Environmental Science
• Environmental Science Holt
• Environmental Science Enger Smith
• Florida Wildlife magazine
• National Geographic magazine
• Google images