The%20Biosphere:%20An%20Introduction%20to%20Biomes

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The Biosphere An Introduction to Biomes
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Earths Biomes
Ecology





Organization
Population

Community

Ecosystem

• scientific study of the interactions between
  living organisms and their physical environments
• No organism exists alone
• - each is part of a linked system of living and
  nonliving elements
• - all the members of a species living in a given
  location
• - all the interacting populations in a given
  area
• -the biotic and abiotic factors functioning
  together in a given area

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Biosphere

Biomes











- the part of earth where life exists (the
outer surface of earth)
large geographic areas that havesimilar climates
and ecosystems Climate average weather pattern
in an area over a long period of time. Includes
temperature precipitation Vegetation (plant
types) depends on climate -affects which animals
and other organisms the area can support a
biome is defined by its plants Location
relates to latitude on earth and elevation
share similar traits
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Regional Climate influences distribution of
biological communities
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Types of
biomes


Limiting
factors







2 broad classifications Terrestrial land
biomes Aquatic water biomes - the supply of
certain abiotic factors will control what types
of species can adapt and survive in the
area These abiotic factors include temperature
precipitation soils wind sunlight
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Terrestrial Biomes
Aquatic Biomes

• Marine (salt water)
• Ocean
• Estuaries
• Freshwater
• Lakes and Ponds
• Rivers and Streams

• Tropical rain forest
• Grassland
• Desert
• Deciduous forest
• Boreal (coniferous forest)
• Tundra

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Tropical Rainforests
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm
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Tropical Rainforest

• At or near equator
• Greatest diversity of living organisms
• Large number of different animals, adapted to
  diverse niches
• Lush, diverse plant growth
• Different ecosystems within tree layers
• The most rainfall
• Very warm and wet
• Good drainage
• Rapid decomposition poor soil

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Grassland
Hagemann, Judy. antelopeislandhillsprairie.jpg.
August 1, 2005. Pics4Learning. 24 Jan 2008
http//pics.tech4learning.com http//www.omega.i
t/p/pa/pampa.html
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Grasslands
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Grassland

• Unbroken sea of grass
• Plants adapted to grazing by animals
• Many herbivores
• and their predators
• Fires are important
• Not enough water to support trees
• Grazing and fire inhibit other trees

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Deserts
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Deserts
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Desert

• More N S of equator
• Climate dry (duh)
• Plants adapted to scarce water
• Many plants spread seeds (e.g. annual
  wildflowers)
• Water conservation (cactus)
• Many types of animals very well adapted
• Burrowing
• Nocturnal
• Small

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Deciduous Forest
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Deciduous Forest
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Temperate deciduous forests

• Mostly northern regions
• Deciduous lose leaves each winter
• Plenty of moisture
• Cold winters / warm to hot summers
• Some animals hibernate
• Diverse animal habitats
• Foliage to hide in
• Seed fruit-eaters
• and their predators

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http//users.tellurian.com/teach/biomes/informatio
n.html
Kolk, Melinda. taiga1.jpg. September 2002.
Pics4Learning. 24 Jan 2008 http//pics.tech4learn
ing.com
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Coniferous Forests

• Also called
• Taiga
• Boreal forest

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Coniferous forests

• Far north of equator and high latitudes
• Harsh winters (much snow), short summers, rich
  soil
• Abundant, open water
• Plants adapted to cold
• Animals adapted for cold
• Fur
• Hibernate
• Migrate

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http//www.bergoiata.org/fe/national-parks-america
n/Denali20Tundra.jpg
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Tundra
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Tundra

• Only in Northern hemisphere
• Permafrost (frozen soil)
• Small plants because of limited soil depth
  (treeless)
• Short growing season
• Lichens, small herbs, mosses
• Birds cold-adapted animals
• Will migrate to avoid coldest part of winter
• large small herbivores
• and their predators

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Aquatic Biomes
-represent the largest ecosystem on earth (over
70 of earth)

• Marine Biomes
• Ocean
• Intertidal Zones
• Estuaries

• Freshwater Biomes
• Lakes and Ponds
• Rivers and Streams

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Marine Biomes
Oceans - continuous body of water that provides
stable environment for a diverse group of
organisms - absorbs and holds large quantities
of solar heat that helps to stabilize the earths
atmosphere
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Marine Mammals
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Estuaries -found where rivers and streams flow
into the ocean (bays, mud flats, salt
marshes) -organisms must adapt to frequent
changes (nutrient and salt concentration,
temperature)
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Freshwater Biomes

• Lakes and Ponds
• Rivers and Streams

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• Lakes and Ponds
• standing bodies of water that vary in size
• lakes that are rich in organic matter and
  vegetation tend to be murky
• lakes that contain little organic matter tend to
  be clear

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• Rivers and Streams
• - bodies of water that move continuously in one
• direction
• organisms must adapt to the current
• slower moving rivers contain more nutrients and
  thus can support a greater diversity of life

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Biomes

• Heavily modified by human activity
• US grasslands barely exist
• Overtaken by farming
• Rainforest destruction
• Deciduous forest destruction for homes
• Biomes are defined by potential, not actual
  plants and animals
• Biomes defined by climate of region
• Limiting factors
• mostly temperature
• rainfall