21.4 Biomes and Aquatic Ecosystems

• What are the six major biomes found on Earth?• What factors determine the types

of biomes found in an area?• What do freshwater and marine

ecosystems include?

• Biomes – Group of land ecosystems with similar climates and organisms–Mostly determine by the climate –

temperature and precipitation – in an area

Deciduous Forest Biome

• WE LIVE HERE!!!!• Deciduous Trees –

shed their leaves and replace them each year– Oaks & Maples

• 50 cm rain/year• Organism adaptions

– migrate, hibernate

Deciduous Forest Biome

• Also called Temperate Forest– Moderate temperature and rainfall

Tropical Rain Forest

• At or near the equator• Warm & Wet• 200 – 400 cm

rain/year• Forest layers – Canopy– Understory

• Abundance of species, especially insects

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/tropicalrainforests/

Grassland/Savannah Biome

• Populated mostly by grasses and other non-woody plants

• moderate rainfall, 25 to 120 cm rain/year (not enough to support trees)

• Hot summer, Cold winter• Rich fertile soil• Also called prairies

Grassland Biomes

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/savanna/

Home to large herbivores - grazers

Desert Biome

• Receives less than 25 cm rain/year

• Hot days, cold nights• Few plants, cacti• Organisms = highly

adapted– Animals burrow– Plants store water

Desert Biomes

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/deserts/

Taiga Biome• Boreal Forest• Coniferous trees – seeds in cones,

needle leaves = spruce, fir

• Cold winter, mild rainy summer

• Little water – frozen much of the year

Boreal Forest Biome• Squirrels, Moose,

Wolves• Adaptions = waxy

leaves to prevent water loss

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/taiga/

Tundra Biomes• Cold & Dry• Less than 25 cm

PRECIPITATION/year, snow

• Permafrost – some soil remains frozen throughout the year

• NO trees• Spring = covered in moss• Summer = grasses

Tundra Biome

Mountains• Have different climates

because of their elevation

• Top/Peak is colder than base

• Wet side & dry side because of wind

• Characteristics of several biomes

Freshwater Ecosystems

• Includes streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands such as swamps, bogs, and marshes

Freshwater Ecosystems

• Ponds & Lakes – Do not flow over land• Lakes = larger, longer lasting– Fed by rivers or underground sources

• Many fish, amphibians, insects, birds nearby

• Lake Tahoe = Utah– 22 miles x 12 miles– 2 to 3 million years old– Filled by rivers

Freshwater Ecosystems

• Rivers and Streams = moving water–Change as they move,

starts cool and clear and ends warm and murky–Adaptions = hooks,

suckers to hang on to rocks, swim against currents

Freshwater Ecosystems

• Wetlands – aquatic and terrestrial–Moving and still– Some are temporary• Always covered to only

a few weeks a year–Home for many

species

Marine Ecosystems• Oceans – Salty waters• Estuaries – where fresh and saltwater meet• Covers over 70% of Earths surface

Marine Ecosystem

• Intertidal Zone – where ocean meets land–Waves, mud, sand, few

plants– Shorebirds, crabs

(burrow)

Marine Ecosystems

• Ocean zones

Marine Ecosystem

• Neritic Zone – Shallow waters– Seaweed, Algae– Hiding for small fish, turtle food– Coral Reef – in tropical neritic• Coral skeleton

– Octopus, Squid, Turtles

Marine Ecosystem

• Oceanic Zone– Deep Ocean– Cold and Dark– Many fish & marine mammals

• Benthic Zone– Just above floor– Sponges, sea stars

http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/landbiomes/

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/biomes-desert-tropical-rainforest-savanna-coral-reefs-more.html

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/biomes-desert-tropical-rainforest-savanna-coral-reefs-more.html