SNC1D BIOLOGY SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS L Biomes (P.16-17) Biomes Areas of the world that have a similar climate and similar organisms are known as biomes. Desert, coral reef, tundra, and tropical rainforest biomes are common and have distinct features. Similar ecosystems appear where there are similar abiotic conditions such as temperature, moisture, and light. May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 1 BIOME Biomes large geographical regions defined by climate with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features desert, coral reef, tundra,... May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 2 1
NOTE! Climate (which includes temperature, precipitation,...) is the most important factor that determines the location and makeup of a terrestrial (land) biome. Canada s five main terrestrial biomes are defined by their dominant vegetation. May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 3 TERRESTRIAL BIOMES location and make up (vegetation) are defined by the climate Canada has five main terrestrial biomes May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 4 BOREAL FOREST (TAIGA) trees have cones and needles (spruce, fir,...) most of northern Ontario (and Canada) May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 5 2
DECIDUOUS FOREST trees lose their leaves in autumn (maple, oak,...) most of southern Ontario May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 6 GRASSLANDS few trees but various kinds of grasses and shrubs mainly western Canada May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 7 MOUNTAIN FOREST trees have cones and needles but different from Boreal (Douglas fir, Sitka spruce,...) most of western British Columbia May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 8 3
TUNDRA no trees only shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens northern Canada May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 9 Over two-thirds of our planet is covered with water. 97% is salt water. Waterbased, or aquatic, biomes are divided into two broad categories: freshwater biomes and saltwater (marine) biomes. AQUATIC BIOMES water-based biomes freshwater saltwater (marine) May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 10 FRESHWATER BIOMES includes lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, and wetlands wetlands (bogs and marshes) play a critical role in filtering water (part of the water cycle) also rich in nutrients and support many species NOTE! Since water flows downhill, if pollution enters a watershed (a land area drained by a river or lake), it could pollute areas downstream as well. May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 11 4
Lakes and ponds are classified based on their nutrient levels. Oligotrophic bodies of water (often clear and deep) are low in nutrients. Eutrophic bodies of water (murky and shallow) are high in nutrients. OLIGOTROPHIC bodies of water low in nutrients often clear and deep EUTROPHIC bodies of water high in nutrients often murky and shallow May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 12 PRACTICE 1. Which body of water shown would support a larger biodiversity? Why? bottom one appears to be eutrophic (murky & shallow) which means it would be high in nutrients May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 13 PRACTICE 2. Would you rather swim in an oligotrophic lake or a eutrophic lake? Explain why? oligotrophic clear & deep (low in nutrients) May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 14 5
SALTWATER (MARINE) BIOMES found in oceans and includes: coral reefs intertidal zones estuaries mangrove forests May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 15 NOTE! The most productive aquatic ecosystems occur in relatively shallow, warm, and nutrient-rich waters. Much of the open ocean supports very little life because it is nutrient poor (and thus supports very few photosynthesizing organisms). May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 16 PRACTICE 3. Most of the open oceans do not support a rich ecosystem. Why? it is nutrient poor no nutrients = no producers = no consumers May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 17 6
U Check Your Learning 1. If you travelled north from southern Ontario to the Arctic, you would pass through several biomes. How would the vegetation change during this trip? lots of large deciduous (leaf) trees, some coniferous (needle) trees, grasses & shrubs,... to few deciduous, lots of coniferous, mosses,... to few trees if any, mostly lichens and mosses May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 18 U Check Your Learning 2. What does eutrophication mean? What causes it? eutrophication is an increase in the amount of nutrients in a body of water it can be (a) human caused (i.e. untreated sewage effluent, farm run-off carrying fertilizers,...) or (b) natural and the effects can be devastating May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 19 U Check Your Learning TEXTBOOK P.21 Q.7,12 WIKI (BIOLOGY) O... 1DBIOL - QUIZ#2 (Nutrient Cycles & Bioaccumulation) May 10, 2013 1DBIOL - Biomes 20 7