Major Ecosystems of

the World

Chapter 6Key Topics1. Fire2. Biomes3. Aquatic Ecosytems

Fire

Fire Triangle?Fires Impact?Which biomes burn regularly?Current state of affairs?Crown Vs. Ground?Prescribed Burning?

Arizona Wallo Wildfire 2011 500K plus acres!

Ponderosa Pine Timber Operations Smoky the Bear Drought 4FRI 20-50 trees Vs. 500-1K

Earth’s Major Biomes

Arizona Biomes

Earth’s Major Biomes

Vertical Zonation: The Distribution of Vegetation on Mountains

Earth’s Major Biomes

Type of biome controlled by temperature and precipitation

9 Major Biomes1.Temperate Rain Forest2.Tropical Rain Forest3.Temperate Deciduous4.Boreal/Taiga5.Tundra6.Chaparral7.Deserts8.Savannah (equatorial)9.Temperate Grasslands

Primary Forest

Aquatic Ecosystems

Divisions:①Degree of Salt②DO③Light Penetration④Nutrients⑤Temperature⑥Wave action

Important Terms①Phytoplankton②Zooplankton③Nekton④Benthos⑤Detritus⑥Eutrophication

Aquatic Ecosystems

Headwaters•Tend to be narrow, swift, clear, cold, nutrient poor, and highly oxygenated

•Tend to be wide, slow, cloudy, warm, nutrient rich, and less oxygenated

Oxbow Lakes & Deltas

Aquatic EcosystemsFreshwater Ecosystems

Lakes and Ponds

Highly productive, high species richness - sunlight penetration / rooted plants

Photosynthetically productive - upper surface with light penetration

Aquatic Ecosystems

Freshwater Ecosystems

Lakes and Ponds

Not always present; anaerobic, dominated by decomposers - below light penetration

Thermocline - lakes

Freshwater Ecosystems

Thermal stratification in temperate lakes

Point of change between warm surface & cold depths

Turnover in Lakes

Nutrients!

Spring Turnover - Melting Ice (40C) & wind

Fall Turnover - cooling surface water & wind

Wetlands - Marshes and Swamps

•Highly productive

•Anaerobic

•Filters pollution

•Flood Control

•Recharging Centers

•Highly Threatened

•Ecosystem Services

Estuaries

Salt Marshes Mangrove Forests

Case-in-Point: The Everglades

Case-in-Point: The Chesapeake Bay

Ecosystem Service

Marine Zones

Marine Provinces1.Neritic2.Oceanic3.Pelagic4.Benthic

Photo BenthicPhoto Benthic Environment

1) Sea grasses

2) Kelp forests

3) Coral reefs

Abyssal

*Marine Snow