Unit 1Unit 1

Biomes and ecosystems are divisions Biomes and ecosystems are divisions of the Biosphereof the Biosphere

Biotic VS AbioticBiotic VS Abiotic

�� Biotic components of an ecosystem Biotic components of an ecosystem

are livingare living

Ex) Plants, animals, fungi and Ex) Plants, animals, fungi and

bacteriabacteria

�� Abiotic components are nonAbiotic components are non--livingliving

Ex) Sunlight, soil, moisture, and Ex) Sunlight, soil, moisture, and

temperature, rockstemperature, rocks

What are Biomes?What are Biomes?

�� Biomes are large regions that have Biomes are large regions that have

similar biotic and abiotic components:similar biotic and abiotic components:

--Similar plants and animalsSimilar plants and animals

--Similar temperatures and Similar temperatures and

annual rainfallannual rainfall

8 Terrestrial Biomes8 Terrestrial Biomes

Factors that Affect Placement of Factors that Affect Placement of

BiomesBiomes

�� Temperature and PrecipitationTemperature and Precipitation

Factors that Affect Characteristics Factors that Affect Characteristics

and Distribution of Biomesand Distribution of Biomes

The following influence The following influence temptemp and and

rainfall:rainfall:

•• LatitudeLatitude

•• ElevationElevation

•• WindWind

•• Ocean CurrentsOcean Currents

ClimatographsClimatographs

�� ClimateClimate-- average average

pattern of weather pattern of weather

conditions in a region conditions in a region

�� ClimatographClimatograph-- graph graph

of climate data for a of climate data for a

specific region (~30 specific region (~30

years of data)years of data)

AdaptationsAdaptations�� Enable organisms to better survive and Enable organisms to better survive and

reproducereproduce

�� This type of caterpillar mimics a viper which This type of caterpillar mimics a viper which

reduces the chance of it being eaten by reduces the chance of it being eaten by

predatorspredators

AdaptationsAdaptations

��Certain flowers have evolved petals Certain flowers have evolved petals

that resemble insectsthat resemble insects

��The male insect lands on the insectThe male insect lands on the insect--like like

petal and pollinates the flowerpetal and pollinates the flower

AdaptationsAdaptations�� Three types of adaptationThree types of adaptation

1) Structural1) Structural-- parts or features of an organism’s parts or features of an organism’s

body that enables it to survive or reproducebody that enables it to survive or reproduce

Ex) Porcupine quills, Arctic fox’s thick, white coatEx) Porcupine quills, Arctic fox’s thick, white coat

AdaptationsAdaptations2) Physiological2) Physiological-- physical or chemical event that physical or chemical event that

occurs within the body of an organism that occurs within the body of an organism that

enables survivalenables survival

Ex) Wolves can maintain a constant body Ex) Wolves can maintain a constant body

temperature regardless of temperaturetemperature regardless of temperature

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEl6TXrkZnk

AdaptationsAdaptations3) 3) BehaviouralBehavioural-- unique things that an organism unique things that an organism

does to survivedoes to survive

Ex) Burrowing owlEx) Burrowing owl-- uses old prairie dog hole for uses old prairie dog hole for

nest, lines nest with grass to keep cool, and nest, lines nest with grass to keep cool, and

places cow dung at entrance to hide scentplaces cow dung at entrance to hide scent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjE0Kdfos4Y http://www.youtube.com/v/jsNjz4NRFrg

TundraTundra

��Located in the upper northern hemisphereLocated in the upper northern hemisphere

��Very coldVery cold

��Very dryVery dry

��Permanently frozen soil (few plants)Permanently frozen soil (few plants)

Boreal ForestBoreal Forest

��Far northFar north

��Below freezing half the yearBelow freezing half the year

��Coniferous treesConiferous trees

Temperate Deciduous ForestTemperate Deciduous Forest

�� E. Canada, E. USA, E. Asia, W. EuropeE. Canada, E. USA, E. Asia, W. Europe

��Trees lose leaves in winterTrees lose leaves in winter

��4 seasons4 seasons

Temperate RainforestTemperate Rainforest

��Along coastlinesAlong coastlines

��Cool and very wetCool and very wet

��Trees grow tallTrees grow tall

GrasslandGrassland

��Temperate and tropical regionsTemperate and tropical regions

��Grass with deep rootsGrass with deep roots

Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest

��Found around the equatorFound around the equator

��Wet and warm all year roundWet and warm all year round

��Dense canopy of tall treesDense canopy of tall trees

Desert (Hot and cold)Desert (Hot and cold)

��Temperate and tropical regionsTemperate and tropical regions

��Days are hot, nights are coldDays are hot, nights are cold

��Minimal rainfallMinimal rainfall

Permanent Ice (Polar Ice)Permanent Ice (Polar Ice)

��Polar land masses and polar ice capsPolar land masses and polar ice caps

��Few animalsFew animals

��Extreme coldExtreme cold