Transcript The Earth’s Ecosystems

The Earth’s Ecosystems
Chapter 4 TCAP Review
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A Biome is a large region characterized by
the type of climate and certain kinds of
animal and plant communities.
Biomes
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Deciduous means to fall off. This is what the leaves
in a deciduous forest do every year in autumn.
 It has four seasons
 The Temperate Deciduous Forest has many trees,
such as the Maple, Elm, Oak, and more. It also has a
diverse amount of flowers (mostly springtime) and
animals. The animals include Black Bears, Foxes,
Squirrels, deer, ect. The soil it very rich, so it
supports much plant life. This is because of
decomposition of the leaves that fall off during the fall
of each year.
The characteristics of a temperate forest are:
- varied temperatures ranging from -30 degrees C to
30 degrees C
- annual precipitation ranging from 75-150cm
- fertile enriched soil
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Temperate Deciduios Forests
Temperate Deciduous Forest
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The Coniferous Forest is a forest of Conifers. Conifer is a
tree that produces its seeds in cones. The Pine tree is the
most common example. Conifer leaves conserve water with
the thick, waxy layer that covers their leaves, also known
as needles. The vegetation in the Coniferous forest is small
in size, but large enough to feed the vast herbivore
population. Most of these animals survive the brutal
winters by migrating or hibernating.
Average Annual Rainfall- 14-29.5 in.
Average Temperatures in the Summer- 57.2°F
Average Temperatures in the Winter- 14°F
PLANTS
Many softwood trees such as fir, pine, spruce, and
hemlock.
ANIMALS
Most animals are herbivores, however some carnivores and
omnivores are thrown in. Animals in Coniferous Forests
include the red fox, moose, snowshoe hare, great horned
owl, and the crossbill.
Coniferous Forest
Coniferous Forest
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Tropical rain forests are characterized by dense
vegetation, seasonally warm temperatures, and abundant
rainfall. The animals that dwell here depend on trees for
housing and food.
Tropical rain forests are very hot and wet.
A great variety of plants can be found in tropical rain
forests. Enormous trees as tall as 150 feet tall form an
umbrella canopy over the forest that blocks out the
sunlight for plants in the lower canopy and forest floor.
Some examples of rain forest plants include: kapok trees,
palm trees, strangler fig trees, banana trees, orange
trees, ferns, and orchids.
Tropical rain forests are home to the majority of plant and
animal species in the world. Wildlife in the tropical rain
forest is very diverse. Animals include a variety of
mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects.
Examples are: monkeys, gorillas, jaguars, anteaters,
lemurs, bats, frogs, butterflies, and ants.
Rain forest creatures have characteristics such as bright
colors, distinctive markings, and grasping appendages.
These traits help the animals adapt to life in the rain
forest.
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Rainforest
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It has very cold temperatures and very little rainfall.
The soil beneath the surface soil stays frozen all of the time.
This is called permafrost.
Plants have very shallow roots.
In the arctic tundra there are two seasons: winter and
summer.
Precipitation levels in the tundra are from 6 to 10 inches a
year
On a relative scale, the arctic tundra biome has a relatively
low biodiversity. However, even though this zone has very few
species the number of individuals in each species that make
this biome a home for part of the year is very large. Take the
massive herds of caribou or flocks of migratory birds as an
example.
Many animals migrate to the tundra in the summer months to
take advantage of the lack of predators, abundant plants,
insects, and fish. Snowy Owls breed on the ground in the
summer months, and prey on voles, lemmings and other
small rodents. Musk oxen, a smaller cousin of the Ox feeds on
the grasses in small herds. They defend themselves from one
of the few predators, packs of wolves.
Tundra
Tundra
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The mountain biome is one of the coldest biomes on Earth.
It is cold, snowy and windy. It is usually below freezing at
night. Alpine biomes are located on mountains. They are
below the snow line. The altitude is high. The word alpine
comes from the word “alps." Alps mean high mountains.
The temperature in an alpine biome can change from warm
to freezing in one day!
Plants must adapt to heavy snow and wind in an alpine
biome. Plants grow in sandy and rocky soil. Most plants
protect themselves by hugging the ground. They are small
and grow slowly.
Only warm-blooded animals live in the alpine biome. Some
alpine animals adapt to the cold by hibernating. Some move
to warmer areas. Others insulate their bodies with layers of
fat. Alpine animals will often have shorter legs, tails and
ears. The shorter body parts help keep the heat in the body.
Alpine animals also have larger lungs. This helps them
breathe in high altitudes.
Mountain (Alpine)
Mountain (Alpine)
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Grassland biomes are large, rolling terrains of grasses,
flowers and herbs. A grassland is a region where the
average annual precipitation is great enough to support
grasses, and in some areas a few trees.. Grasses can
survive fires because they grow from the bottom instead of
the top. Their stems can grow again after being burned off.
The soil of most grasslands is also too thin and dry for
trees to survive.
The most common types of plant life on the North
American prairie are Buffalo Grass, Sunflower, Crazy Weed,
Asters, Blazing Stars, Coneflowers, Goldenrods, Clover, and
Wild Indigos.
Some common animals in the grasslands are Coyotes,
Eagles, Bobcats, the Gray Wolf, Wild Turkey, Fly Catcher,
Canadian Geese, Crickets, Dung Beetle, Bison, and Prairie
Chicken
Temperate Grassland (Prairie)
Temperate Grassland (Prairie)
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The annual rainfall in a savanna biome is
59 inches. During the dry season the
average daily temperature is 93 degrees.
During the rainy season it drops to a more
comfortable average of 61 degrees.
Savanna
The annual rainfall in a savanna biome is 59 inches. During the
dry season the average daily temperature is 93 degrees.
During the rainy season it drops to a more comfortable
average of 61 degrees.
 There are also many larger animals that are found in the
savanna biome. They include lions, leopards, deer, elephants,
zebra, and the kangaroo. The meat eating animals depend
on there being enough herds out there eating the grass and
shrubs that they can all survive. There is a huge
interdependence among animals and plants in the savanna
biome.
 Wild grass is the biggest type of plant life that grows in the
savanna biome. It is also one of the most important. It
provides food for plenty of types of animals. Without it, they
would starve. That would in turn make it very hard for larger
meat eating animals to survive. That is because they hunt
down those wild grass eating animals.
 There are various types of trees that will grow in particular
areas of a savanna biome. They include pine trees, palm trees,
and acacia trees. They can grow in clumps and that offers
some shade to the various animals that live in this type of
environment.
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Savanna
Savanna
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Temperatures exhibit daily extremes because the atmosphere contains
little humidity to block the Sun's rays.
Rainfall is usually very low and/or concentrated in short bursts between
long rainless periods.
Soils are course-textured, shallow, rocky or gravely with good drainage
and have no subsurface water.
The animals include small nocturnal (active at night) carnivores.
The desert biome has two extremes that make it difficult to survive. First,
it is extremely hot and second, it is extremely dry. Most people don’t
realize though that it can be come cold as the sun goes down in the
desert.. This means they sleep during the heat of the day and they are
active at night when the sun goes down.
Desert
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In order for any plants to survive in the desert biome, they
have to be able to collect and store what water is present.
They also have to be able to reduce the water evaporating
from them. The cactus is the number one plant you will
find living in a desert biome. The design of this plant
makes it possible for them to hold onto the moisture they
have.
The hard leaves make it possible for them to handle the
extreme changes in temperature from day to night that
occur in a desert biome. The cactus also has a hairy
texture that helps the plants to reflect the heat from the
sun. This is why they are able to withstand that high level
of heat without suffering.
Desert
Desert
The ocean has four zones and each has its own unique
characteristics.
 The Intertidal Zone: Sea grasses, periwinkle snails, and herons
are common in an intertidal mudflat. Sea stars and anemones
often live on rocky shores, while clams, crabs, snails, and conchs
are common on sandy beaches.
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Oceans
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Most coral reefs are found in warm, shallow areas of the neritic
zone. The reefs are made up of small animals called corals. Corals
live in large groups. When corals die, they leave their skeletons
behind. New corals grow on these remains. Over time, layers of
skeletons build up and form a reef. This reef provides a home for
many marine animals and plants. These organisms include algae,
brightly colored fishes, sponges, sea stars, and sea urchins
Coral Reefs
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An area where fresh water from streams and rivers spills into the
ocean is called an estuary (ES tyoo er ee). In estuaries, the fresh
water from rivers and the salt water from the ocean are always
mixing. Therefore, the amount of salt in the water is always
changing. Plants and animals that live in estuaries must be able
to survive the changing concentrations of salt. The fresh water
that spills into an estuary is rich in nutrients. Because estuaries
are so nutrient rich, they support large numbers of plankton. The
plankton, in turn, provide food for many animals.
Estuaries
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The Arctic Ocean and the ocean around Antarctica make up
another marine ecosystem. These icy waters are rich in nutrients,
which support large numbers of plankton. Many fishes, birds, and
mammals rely on the plankton for food. Animals, such as polar
bears and penguins, live on the polar ice.
Polar Ice
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Strems are flowing water. The stream becomes stronger and
wider. A very strong, wide stream is called a river. Like other
ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems are characterized by their
abiotic factors. An important abiotic factor in freshwater
ecosystems is how quickly water moves. Streams and rivers are
full of life. Plants line the edges of streams and rivers. Fish live in
the open waters. And clams and snails live in the mud at the
bottom of a stream or river. Organisms that live in fast-moving
water have adaptations to keep from being washed away. Some
producers, such as algae and moss, are attached to rocks.
Consumers, such as tadpoles, use suction disks to hold
themselves to rocks. Other consumers, such as insects, live under
rocks.
Freshwater Ecosystems: Stream
and River.
Ponds and Lakes have different ecosystems than streams and
rivers. Pond and lakes are still waters with zones.
 The area of water closest to the edge of a lake or pond is called
the littoral zone (LIT uh ruhl ZOHN). Sunlight reaches the bottom
of the littoral zone. This sunlight makes it possible for algae and
plants to grow in the littoral zone. The plants of the littoral zone
are home to small animals, such as snails and insects. Clams and
worms bury themselves in the mud. Frogs, salamanders, turtles,
fish, and snakes also live in this zone. Life Away from Shore. The
area of a lake or pond that extends from the littoral zone across
the top of the water is called the open-water zone. The openwater zone goes as deep as sunlight can reach. This zone is home
to bass, lake trout, and other fishes. Beneath the open-water
zone is the deep-water zone, where no sunlight reaches. Catfish,
carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi, and bacteria live here. These
organisms often feed on dead organisms that sink from above.
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Pond and Lake
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An area of land that is sometimes underwater
or whose soil contains a great deal of
moisture is called a wetland. Wetlands
support many different plants and animals.
Wetlands also play an important role in flood
control. During heavy rains or spring snow
melt, wetlands soak up large amounts of
water. The water in wetlands also moves
deeper into the ground. So, wetlands help
replenish underground water supplies.
Wetland Ecosystem
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A treeless wetland ecosystem where plants, such as grasses,
grow is called a marsh. Freshwater marshes are often found in
shallow areas along the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, and
streams. The plants in a marsh vary depending on the depth of
the water and the location of the marsh. Grasses, reeds,
bulrushes, and wild rice are common marsh plants. Muskrats,
turtles, frogs, and birds also live in marshes.
Marshes
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A wetland ecosystem in which trees and vines grow is called a
swamp. Most swamps are flooded part of the year, depending on
rainfall. Willows, bald cypresses, and oaks are common swamp trees.
Vines, such as poison ivy, grow up tree trunks. Plants, such as
orchids, may hang from tree branches. Water lilies and other plants
grow in standing water. Many fishes, snakes, and birds also live in
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swamps
Swamps