2.4.1

2.4.1 Biomes and aquatic ecosystems

5/11/2013 Author-Guru IB/ESS 1

Major Ecosystems of the World

Biomes


Biomes of the World

1. The Tundra

2. Low biotic diversity

alpine vs arctic tundra

1. Extremely cold climate

3. Simple vegetation structure

4. Permafrost limited drainage

5. Short growing season

6. Energy and nutrients in the form

of dead organic material

7. Large population oscillations


Biomes of the World

2. The Taiga

1. Band of coniferous trees located

just south of tundra

aka: boreal forest

2. Milder climate and more diverse

biota than tundra 3. Forests subject to heavy logging

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Biomes of the World

3. Temperate Rain

Forest 1. Located on NW coast of No. America

2. Moderate climate and high annual

rainfall

3. Relatively nutrient-poor soils

4. Forests subject to heavy logging

pressure.


Biomes of the World 4. Temperate Deciduous Forest

1. Located in the mid-latitude areas

2. Four distinct seasons

3. Short, cold winters & long, hot, wet

summers

4. Trees adapted to the winter with a period

of dormancy and thick bark to protect

them from the cold weather 5/11/2013 Author-Guru IB/ESS 6

Biomes of the World

5. Grasslands 1. Composed of a rich mix of

grasses and forbs and some of

the world's most fertile soils 2. Semiarid, continental climate

3. Summers tend to be dry

4. Most precipitation falls at start of

growing season


Biomes of the World 6. Chaparral (aka: scrub forest)

1. Composed of drought tolerant trees, shrubs,

and grasses

2. Occur in California, coastal Mediterranean,

and south coast of Australia

3. Plants go dormant during very dry summer

4. Most precipitation falls in winter


Biomes of the World 7. Deserts

1. Arid, with annual rainfall less than 10 in.

2. Plants adapted to conserve water over

long periods (e.g. cacti, sagebrush, and

mesquite) or germinate, develop to

maturity, flower, and produce a new

crop of seeds within a few weeks

following a rain event

3. Animals burrow to escape the heat of the

desert sun


Biomes of the World 8. Savanna

1. Tropical grasslands

2. Tropical climate with alternate

wet and dry seasons

3. Characterized by a continuous

cover of perennial grasses


Biomes of the World 9. Tropical Rain Forests

1. Earth's most complex biome in terms

of structure and species diversity 2. Climate characterized by abundant

precipitation and year round warmth

3. Trees vertically stratification into

three distinct layers


Aquatic Ecosystems Trophic Levels


Aquatic Ecosystems Environmental Factors

Temperature



Light



Salinity

Lake Michigan 0.5 PPT

Baltic Sea

5-15 PPT

The Dead Sea

332 PPT

The Black Sea

16 PPT

The Red Sea & The Persian Gulf

40 PPT

Pacific Ocean

36 PPT


Aquatic Ecosystems

Environmental Factors

Currents


Aquatic Ecosystems

Environmental Factors

Dissolved Oxygen

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) D

ep

th (

m)

De

pth

(m

) Temperature (ºC)

Dissolved

Oxygen

Temperature


Aquatic Ecosystems Zonation


Aquatic Ecosystems Human Impacts

Waterways across the United States are

contaminated by a medicine chest of antibiotics,

hormones, caffeine, painkillers and other drugs

Agricultural runoff can carry fertilizers, including

traces of antibiotics and hormones, into waterways


Education

2.4.1