BIOMES
What determines a terrestrial Climate Temperature Precipitation Similarly adapted plants & animals Can vary depending on external forces- human disturbance Fire important to many Controls tree pop. Adds nutrients to soil Plant seeds germinate biome?
Extreme northern hemisphere Long cold winters, short cool summers; very little precip.- called arctic desert Permafrost- soil frozen Short plants, lichen, mossno trees (too windy, thin soil) short growing season Large broad feet to stand in snow, fat stores, thick fur Threats: fragile food webs, oil spills, global warming TUNDRA
Below tundra Long cold winters, summer 3-4 months; more precip than tundra (snow) Soil acidic due to evergreen needles. Mostly coniferous treesplant biodiversity low due to acidic soil. Arboreal, fur blends in, broad hooves Threats- deforestation TAIGA
TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST Mid-latitudes Moderate winters & summers; moderate precip. Soil rich in humusdecaying matter. Deciduous trees- drop leaves in winter to conserve water. Brown fur to camouflage, arboreal, some hibernate Threats: Deforestation
TROPICAL RAINFOREST Located around equator- most biodiverse place on planet. Warm & wet all year- 250cm rain/year, no distinct seasons. Soil- low nutrients due to high # of decomposers Plants- drip tips, epiphytes (grow on limbs to reach light), viney roots to reach soil Diverse Plant life Forest floor- moss, ferns Understory- saplings, shrubs Canopy- most trees Emergent Layer- a few taller trees Long tails as additional appendage when in trees; camouflage; gliding adaptations Threats: deforestation, farming
DESERT Arid regions can be hot or cold deserts. Receives 10-25 cm of rain each year. Hot days/cold nights (no clouds to hold heat in) Soil high in minerals, low in organic matter- slow decomposition (due to lack of rain) Plants adapted to dry conditions Thick stems to store water Thorns to deter herbivores & conserve water Shallow roots- infrequent rains Rodents, reptiles, raptors, camels, jackrabbits, coyote Nocturnal Large ears to dissipate heat Threats- ATV s, only growing biome
Compare desert adaptations vs. arctic adaptations
Edges of deserts Mild rainy winter, long hot summers Soil- more nutrients due to higher rain Shrubs, cacti- adapted to frequent fires- seed germination, soil nutrients Seed eating birds, rodents, deer, rodents Threats- land development CHAPPARAL
TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS Eastern side of mountains Cold winters, hot summers- more rainfall than desert Soil- rich in nutrients due to regulated decomposition & grazing animal poop Grasses dominant plant- thick mat-like roots; increased rainfall = taller grasses; few trees due to fires & grazers Brown fur to blend in, burrows to withstand fires Threats: desertification; misuse by ranchers/farmers; replace strong roots of prairie grass with shallow roots of crops
Compare plant adaptations in grassland CROP ROOTS Shallow, lead to erosion PRAIRIE GRASS ROOTS Mat-like, absorb water, hold soil
SODDIES cool in summer, warm in winter lack of trees to build homes
TROPICAL SAVANNAS Most of Africa, some of S. America & Australia Receive a little more rainfall than prairie. Soil- rich in nutrients More trees here due to increased rain- Acacia trees Herd animals, brown fur blends in with dry grass; horizontal feeding patterns Threats: habitat destruction, poaching
Importance of Natural Fire Important to grassland & chaparral biomes Clears out undergrowth which prevents accidental fires from becoming bigger problem Plants Animals Many plants need intense heat to sprout seeds from cones (jack pine) Controls tree population Makes soil fertile Deep plant roots protected from fire have burrows to hide in during fire After fire, easier to catch bugs to eat (less cover to hide in) Herd animals can run to get away from fire
What determines water biomes? Salinity Animals must be adapted to varying levels Light availability Photic zone- light penetrates Aphotic zone- no/very little light
Less than 3% salt Moving waters Rivers, streams Fast, highly oxygenated Colder, clear Algae attached to rocks, some streamlined plants Insect larvae, trout Standing waters Lakes, ponds Slow, low oxygen Warmer, murky Algae, cattails, lily pads, etc. Catfish, frogs, snakes, salamanders AQUATIC BIOME
Littoral- closest to shore Limnetic/pelagicopen water; well lit; plankton Profundal- deep water; colder; lower oxygen; less light so fewer plants/algae which means fewer animals. Zones of Lakes
Transitional Aquatic Ecosystems Wetlands- soil is saturated with water Swamps- dominated by trees Marshes- dominated by grasses Bogs- nitrogen poor soil; carnivorous plants All are important to prevent flooding, provide habitat for numerous species, filter pollutants Estuaries- where freshwater rivers dump into oceans Almost as biodiverse as coral reefs or rainforests Organisms adapted to changes in salinity
3% Salt Zones of Ocean: Intertidal zone- flooded by high tides, dry during low tides Pelagic zone- open water; most of phytoplankton lives here Benthic zone- bottom of ocean- little/no light, limits life. Abyssal zone- deepest trenches; organisms feed on food that drifts down; may find hydrothermal vents with invertebrates. MARINE BIOME