EcosystemsEcosystemsof the of the WorldWorld

DesertDesert

DesertDesert

Landscape: rocky and sandyLandscape: rocky and sandy

Climate: hot and dryClimate: hot and dry

Dominant plant life: cactus, small shrubsDominant plant life: cactus, small shrubs

Dominant animal life: reptiles, birds, rodents, sheepDominant animal life: reptiles, birds, rodents, sheep

Main feature: dryMain feature: dry

TundraTundra

TUNDRATUNDRA

Landscape: treeless plainLandscape: treeless plain

Climate: extremely cold and dryClimate: extremely cold and dry

Dominant plant life: small grasses, shrubsDominant plant life: small grasses, shrubs

Dominant animal life: caribou, birds, fox, owls, lemmingsDominant animal life: caribou, birds, fox, owls, lemmings

Main feature: frozen soil most of the yearMain feature: frozen soil most of the year

Temperate Temperate Deciduous ForestDeciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous forestTemperate Deciduous forest

Landscape: deciduous treesLandscape: deciduous trees

Climate: wet and moderate temperatureClimate: wet and moderate temperature

Dominant plant life: deciduous trees, ferns, mossesDominant plant life: deciduous trees, ferns, mosses

Dominant animal life: squirrels, birds, deer, fox, raccoon, insectsDominant animal life: squirrels, birds, deer, fox, raccoon, insects

TROPICAL TROPICAL Rain ForestRain Forest

Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest

Landscape: trees – near equatorLandscape: trees – near equator

Climate: hot and very wetClimate: hot and very wet

Dominant plant life: large trees, vinesDominant plant life: large trees, vines

Dominant animal life: monkeys, insects, mammals, Dominant animal life: monkeys, insects, mammals, frogs, birds, reptilesfrogs, birds, reptiles

ChaparralChaparral

chaparral

Landscape: dirt, shrubsLandscape: dirt, shrubs

Climate: dry, hot summers, cool, wet wintersClimate: dry, hot summers, cool, wet winters

Dominant plant life: shrubs, small grassesDominant plant life: shrubs, small grasses

Dominant animal life: owls, chipmunks, lizardsDominant animal life: owls, chipmunks, lizards

grasslandgrassland

grasslandgrassland

Landscape: plainsLandscape: plains

Climate: dry, warmClimate: dry, warm

Dominant plant life: grassesDominant plant life: grasses

Dominant animal life: grazing animals Dominant animal life: grazing animals (cows, antelope, bison), coyotes, squirrels, snakes(cows, antelope, bison), coyotes, squirrels, snakes

Temperate rain forestTemperate rain forest

Temperate rain forestTemperate rain forest

Landscape: forestLandscape: forest

Climate: very wet, moderate temperaturesClimate: very wet, moderate temperatures

Dominant plant life: conifer trees, ferns, mossesDominant plant life: conifer trees, ferns, mosses

Dominant animal life: salmon, deer, arachnidsDominant animal life: salmon, deer, arachnids

TaigaTaiga

taigataiga

Landscape: coniferous forestLandscape: coniferous forest

Climate: long, cold winters, short summersClimate: long, cold winters, short summers

Dominant plant life: evergreen treesDominant plant life: evergreen trees

Dominant animal life: deer, elk, caribou, mountain lions, Dominant animal life: deer, elk, caribou, mountain lions, wolves, bears, chipmunks, beaverswolves, bears, chipmunks, beavers

WetlandsWetlands

wetlandswetlands

Landscape: shorelines, lagoons, and marshesLandscape: shorelines, lagoons, and marshes

Climate: wet, varying temperaturesClimate: wet, varying temperatures

Dominant plant life: sea grasses, phytoplankton, algaeDominant plant life: sea grasses, phytoplankton, algae

Dominant animal life: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insectsDominant animal life: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects

Aquatic: freshwaterAquatic: freshwater

Aquatic: freshwaterAquatic: freshwater

Feature: fresh (non-salty) waterFeature: fresh (non-salty) water

Dominant plant life: algae, aquatic plants, grassesDominant plant life: algae, aquatic plants, grasses

Dominant animal life: insects, fishDominant animal life: insects, fish, snails, beaver, birdssnails, beaver, birds

Aquatic: MarineAquatic: Marine

Aquatic: MarineAquatic: Marine

Feature: saltwaterFeature: saltwater

Dominant plant life: seaweed, algae, phytoplanktonDominant plant life: seaweed, algae, phytoplankton

Dominant animal life: zooplankton, crustaceans, sea creatures, fishDominant animal life: zooplankton, crustaceans, sea creatures, fish

Some things to know about ecosystems . . .

An ECOSYSTEM is the total community of

living organisms in a particular area plus the nonliving factors of the environment.

A BIOME includes any ecosystems found in a

regional area. (For example, one

geographic area may contain a freshwater

pond, as well as wetland swamps, and a

deciduous forest, that all interact in the given

region making up a biome.)

BIOTIC factors of an ecosystem are all of its

living components.

ABIOTIC factors are the nonliving components

of the ecosystem.

A TROPHIC LEVEL is the particular place an organism

maintains in a food chain.

A FOOD CHAIN is a simple representation of the trophic levels in order from producers

through all levels of consumers, then decomposers.

A FOOD WEB is an illustration of the complex interrelationships

between all trophic levels where a particular organism may function in more than one

trophic level.

PRODUCERS are the organisms in an ecosystem that harness energy (usually from the sun) and make it available as food

to . . .

PRIMARY CONSUMERS who get energy by feeding on producers. They then become a food source

for . . .

SECONDARY CONSUMERS, etc.

DECOMPOSERS break down dead plant and animal material making the raw materials

available for producers to reuse.

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES function to recycle nutrients throughout the

ecosystem.

Some examples. . .

Plants use Carbon Dioxide for photosynthesis and produce Oxygen.

The oxygen is used in animal respiration and Carbon Dioxide is

produced.

Water cycles throughout ecosystems via evaporation, rain, runoff, etc.

Nitrogen and Carbon are released from dead organisms by decomposers so

that they may be reused by producers and cycle throughout the food web.

A NICHE is the function a particular organism performs in a given

ecosystem.

EcosystemsEcosystemsof the of the WorldWorld

QuizQuiz

Which of the following would NOT be considered to be a

biotic factor of a taiga ecosystem?

A: bacterial decomposersB: deer and elk

C: coniferous treesD: short summers

In an aquatic marine ecosystem a killer whale feeds on krill (primary

consumers), birds (third-level consumers), and penguins (fourth-level consumers). What would be the best way to illustrate these

relationships?

A: food webB: food chain

C: photographsD: phylogenetic tree

Which of the following would not commonly be found in a

desert ecosystem?

A: snakeB: bacteria

C: deciduous treeD: cactus

A food chain shows

A: the order of trophic levels of a particular ecosystem from

producer to decomposerB: the complex web of

interrelationships between many trophic levels

C: the development of plants from seed to adult

D: the organisms that are not found in a given ecosystem

A trophic level is

A: an organism's place in the food web.

B: an organism's dwelling place in an ecosystem.

C: an organism's niche in an ecosystem.

D: an aquatic organism's place in the water column

In which ecosystem would you be most likely to find a

coniferous tree?

A: temperate rain forestB: tundra

C: aquatic marineD: desert

Which of the following most accurately describes the carbon dioxide/oxygen

cycle in terrestrial biomes?

A: plants produce oxygen and carbon dioxide that are used by animals in

respirationB: plants use carbon dioxide and

produce oxygen, while animals use oxygen and produce carbon dioxideC: animals produce carbon dioxide

and oxygen which are used by plants in photosynthesis

D: plants produce carbon dioxide and use oxygen, while animals produce

oxygen and use carbon dioxide

One abiotic factor of a tropical rain forest is

A: large vinesB: parrots

C: abundant rainD: monkeys

One important function of bacteria in an ecosystem is to

A: build habitats for larger animals

B: kill lethal virusesC: recycle nitrogen from

dead organisms back into the food web

D: keep populations of large animals in check

Which of the following would be a producer in a temperate deciduous forest ecosystem?

A: snailsB: large deciduous treesC: insects (such as bees)

D: nutrient-rich soil