BIOMES

Terrestrial Biomes – large land ecosystems with characteristic plants and climate (temp./rainfall)

Plants are the foundation of ecosystems.

Energy enters an ecosystem through it’s plants and photosynthetic organisms (like algae, bacteria).

A biome’s climate is the limiting factor that

determines which plants can survive there.

The type of plants in a biome determine the type of animals which can survive there.

Energy flows from producers, to consumers,

to the decomposers.

Biotic Groups – Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

1. Bacteria Kingdoms Archaebacteria/Eubacteria –

2. Kingdom Protista – algae, protozoan, etc.

3. Kingdom Plantae – all plants

4. Kingdom Animalia – all animals

5. Kingdom Fungi – all mushrooms, mold, yeast, etc.

Tundra

Located near the poles

Permafrost – area just below the soil surface that stays permanently frozen

Tundra

Tundra

Rainfall – light

Summer temperature – 34oF

Mosses, lichens, grasses

Reindeer, foxes, artic wolves, lemmings

Taiga/Boreal Forest/Coniferous Forest

Taiga

http://www.scsc.k12.ar.us/2005outwest/Projects/Coniferous%20Forest/default.htm

Taiga/Coniferous forest

Found above 60o N latitude

Medium rainfall

Summer temperature - 54oF

Taiga

Trees produce cones – conifers spruce, fir, pines (Christmas Trees)

They have cones and keep their needles all winter

Moose, black bears, lynx, wolverines

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tempded.htm

20o – 60o N latitudes

Summer temperature – 75oF

Medium Rainfall

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Trees change colors in the fall and

lose their leaves in the winter.

Oaks, poplars, sweet gum, sycamores

Deer, rabbits, squirrels, raccoon, opossums

Grassland

Grassland

Grassland

http://www.bcgrasslands.org/library/world.htm

Middle latitudes

Low rainfall

Average summer temperature – 70oF

Grass dominant plant

Grassland

Sunflower, goldenrods, clover

Bison, pronghorn antelopes, prairie dogs

The Midwest is considered the bread basket of America because of the large amount of wheat (a grass) grown there.

Desert

Desert

Desert

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/what/world.html

0o – 20o latitude

Very little rain

86oF

Desert

Cacti , sage-brush, mesquite

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/plants/types/cactus/

Kangaroo rat, snakes, lizards, birds, insects

Rainforest

Rainforest

Rainforest

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/troprain.htm

Found near equators

A lot of rainfall/humid

77oF

Rainforest

Tall trees with dense canopies

Lots of biodiversity - plants and animals

Aquatic Ecosystems – Freshwater

Freshwater Ecosystems

Rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps

Lots of variation in plants and animals from freshwater ecosystem to another

Aquatic Ecosystems - Marine - saltwater

Marine Ecosystems – 3 distinct areas

1. Intertidal zone – shoreline between low and high tide – available light and nutrients but

most stressed because of changing tides

2. Pelagic zone – 0-200 m – light available – lots of organisms

3. Benthic – ocean floor – bacteria, worms, crabs

Aquatic Ecosystems – Estuary – freshwater

meets saltwater

http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookcommecosys.html

http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookcommecosys.html

http://www-pub.naz.edu:9000/~jwitten2/about.htm