Transcript 4-8-15 Biomes PPT - Madison County Schools

The Biosphere: Earth’s
Diverse Environment
Chapter 34
• Ecology – the study of the interactions of
organisms with their environments.
• Biosphere – extends from the atmosphere
to the depths of the ocean.
• Biomes – major types of ecological
associations that occupy broad geographic
regions of land or water.
8 major terrestrial biomes
• Distinguished by:
– vegetation
– temperature
– rainfall
– biological community
Tropical forests
• Temperature: warm to high
• Rainfall: varied - heavy
• Plants: thorny shrubs, deciduous trees, &
succulents. (very diverse)
• Sunlight: little reaches the forest floor.
• Habitats: floor –> canopy.
– Poor soil, due to high temp & heavy rains (leaching).
• Animals: monkeys, birds, snakes, bats, frogs –
tree dwelling.
Savannas
• Temperature: warm year round
• Rainfall: moderate rainfall (with long periods of
drought) – BIOME DEFINED MAINLY BY THIS
• Plants: grasses & scattered trees.
– growing point below ground & resistance to periods of
drought.
• Habitats: migratory
– Poor soil, lack of moisture, grazing animals, & fires
inhibit most trees.
• Animals: large grazing mammals, insects,
burrowing animals, predators (lions & cheetahs).
Deserts
• Temperature: very hot,
and cold (Antarctica)
• Rainfall: dry
• Plants: none, deep rooted shrubs, succulents.
– waxy coating to prevent water loss
– many seeds that remain dormant until it rains
• Sunlight: extreme
• Habitats: burrows, active at night
• Animals: ants, birds, rodents, lizards, snakes, &
hawks.
Chaparral
• Temperature: mild winter, hot summer
• Rainfall: rain in winter, dry in summer
• Plants: dense shrubs with tough evergreen
leaves. Seasonal plants.
– Food reserves in roots allow for rapid growth after
frequent fires.
– Seeds only germinate
after hot fire.
• Animals: deer, birds, rodents,
lizards & snakes
Temperate
grasslands (prairies)
• Temperature: relatively cold
• Rainfall: rain, but periodic severe droughts
• Plants: grass, mostly treeless
– fire & grazing prevents tree growth
• Habitats: bird nests on ground, burrows.
• Animals: large grazing mammals (bison, wild
horses).
– Soil supports diverse microorganisms & small
animals.
• One of the most productive agricultural regions
in the world
Temperate
(Deciduous)
forests
•
•
•
•
•
Temperature: cold winter, hot summer
Rainfall: high precipitation
Plants: deciduous trees (oak, hickory, maple)
Habitats: rich soil, leaf litter, burrow
Animals: invertebrates, mice, shrew, squirrels,
birds, bobcats, foxes, bears, & mountain lions.
• Most destroyed by loggers & urban
development.
Taiga (Coniferous forests)
• Temperature: long cold winters, short wet
summers
• Rainfall: considerable precipitation (snow)
• Plants: cone bearing evergreens
– (spruce, pine, fur)
• Habitats: soil thin & acidic
• Animals: moose, elk, bears,
wolves, hares, migratory birds.
• Heavily logged.
• Largest terrestrial biome!
Tundra
• Temperature: extremely cold
• Rainfall: little
• Plants: no trees, shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens.
– Permafrost prevents deep root penetration
• Sunlight: little light for much of the winter, constant
daylight in summer
• Habitats: migratory (summer is a breeding ground), high
altitude, permafrost, soil continually saturated due to
poor drainage and slow evaporation.
• Animals: well insulated (oxen & caribou), lemmings, fox,
snowy owl.
• During the summer, clouds of
mosquitoes fill the air due to the
marshy ground.
Aquatic Biomes
• Oceans cover about 75% of the Earth’s surface
• Light and the availability of nutrients are the
major factors that shape aquatic communities.
• photic zone is the portion of the ocean into
which light penetrates.
• continental shelf where coral reefs are found in
warm tropical waters.
• The pelagic zone is the open ocean
• aphotic zone is a vast, dark region of the
ocean.
• benthic zone is the
ocean bottom
• The pelagic zone is the open ocean
• Estuaries are productive areas where
rivers meet the ocean.
– They are often bordered by wetlands
• The intertidal zone is the wetland at the
edge of an estuary or ocean, where water
meets land
– Freshwater biomes include lakes,
ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands
Review Questions
• Describe the chemical and physical
factors that affect the biosphere
• Discuss the role of abiotic and biotic
factors in the survival of an organism
• Describe the characteristics of aquatic
biomes
• Explain the factors contributing to the
characteristics of terrestrial biomes
• Describe the eight major terrestrial
biomes