Download - Ecosystems of the World
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