Major Ecosystems of the World

1. Chapter 6 Major Ecosystems of the World

2. Earth’s Major Biomes

3. Earth’s Major Biomes • Type of biome controlled by temperature and precipitation

4. Earth’s Major Biomes • Tundra

5. Earth’s Major Biomes • Tundra • Characterized by: • Very short growing season • Little precipitation (10-25 cm / yr) • Permafrost • Low species diversity

6. Earth’s Major Biomes • Boreal Forest (Tiaga)

7. Earth’s Major Biomes • Boreal Forest (Tiaga) • Characterized by: • Short growing season • Low precipitation (~50 cm / yr) • Dominated by conifers (spruce, fir), but also has aspen, birch

8. Earth’s Major Biomes • Temperate Rain Forest

9. Earth’s Major Biomes • Temperate Rain Forest • Characterized by: • Cool; high precipitation (~127 cm / yr) • Dominated by evergreens (hemlock, spruce, cedar) • Heavily logged

10. Earth’s Major Biomes • Temperate Deciduous Forest

11. Earth’s Major Biomes • Temperate Deciduous Forest • Characterized by: • Hot summers, cold winters • Moderate precipitation (75-150 cm / yr) • Dominated by oaks, hickory, maple • Commonly converted to agriculture

12. Earth’s Major Biomes • Grasslands

13. Earth’s Major Biomes • Grasslands • Characterized by: • Hot summers, cold winters • Low to moderate precipitation (25-75 cm / yr) • Dominated tallgrass or shortgrass prairies • Heavily converted to agriculture

14. Earth’s Major Biomes • Chaparral

15. Earth’s Major Biomes • Chaparral • Characterized by: • Dry summers, mild winters • Frequent fires • Dominated by short pines, evergreen shrubs, scrub oak (but varies worldwide)

16. Earth’s Major Biomes • Deserts

17. Earth’s Major Biomes • Deserts • Characterized by: • Wide daily variations in temperature • Very dry (<25 cm precipitation / yr) • Sparse plant coverage

18. Earth’s Major Biomes • Savanna

19. Earth’s Major Biomes • Savanna • Characterized by: • Precipitation 76-150 cm / yr, but very seasonal with extended dry periods • Dominated by grasses, with occasional trees • African most famous for herds of wildebeest, antelope, zebra

20. Earth’s Major Biomes • Tropical Rain Forests

21. Earth’s Major Biomes • Tropical Rain Forests • Characterized by: • Very high precipitation 200-450 cm / yr • Very nutrient-poor soil • Extremely high primary productivity • Extremely high species richness

22. Earth’s Major Biomes • Vertical Zonation: The Distribution of Vegetation on Mountains

23. Aquatic Ecosystems Free floating plankton Strongly swimming nekton Bottom-dwelling benthos • Fundamental division: Freshwater vs. Saltwater • But, both contain 3 ecological category of organisms:

24. Aquatic Ecosystems • Tend to be narrow, swift, clear, cold, nutrient poor, and highly oxygenated • Tend to be wide, slow, cloudy, warm, nutrient rich, and less oxygenated • Freshwater Ecosystems • Rivers and Streams

25. Aquatic Ecosystems Photosynthetically productive; large fish Highly productive, high species richness • Freshwater Ecosystems • Lakes and Ponds

26. Aquatic Ecosystems Not always present; anaerobic, dominated by decomposers • Freshwater Ecosystems • Lakes and Ponds

27. Aquatic Ecosystems • Freshwater Ecosystems • Thermal stratification in temperate lakes

28. Aquatic Ecosystems • Freshwater Ecosystems • Turnover in temperate lakes

29. Aquatic Ecosystems • Freshwater Ecosystems • Marshes and Swamps • Highly productive • Nutrient rich due to slow decomposition • Remove many pollutants

30. Aquatic Ecosystems • Estuaries: Where freshwater and saltwater meet. • Highly variable environment • (salinity, temperature, light penetration rapidly changes). • Many fishes and shellfish spend larval stages here.

31. Aquatic Ecosystems 2) Mangrove forests • Estuaries • Two general types: 1) Salt marshes

32. Aquatic Ecosystems • Case-in-Point: The Chesapeake Bay

33. Aquatic Ecosystems • Marine Ecosystems

34. Aquatic Ecosystems • Marine Ecosystems • Intertidal Zone

35. Aquatic Ecosystems 1) Sea grasses • Marine Ecosystems • Benthic Environment Photic benthic environments include:

36. Aquatic Ecosystems • Marine Ecosystems • Benthic Environment Photic benthic environments include: 1) Sea grasses 2) Kelp forests

37. Aquatic Ecosystems • Marine Ecosystems • Benthic Environment Photic benthic environments include: 1) Sea grasses 2) Kelp forests 3) Coral reefs

38. Aquatic Ecosystems • Types of Coral Reefs (a) Fringing reef

39. Aquatic Ecosystems • Types of Coral Reefs (b) Atoll

40. Aquatic Ecosystems • Types of Coral Reefs (c) Barrier reef

41. Aquatic Ecosystems • Human Impacts on Coral Reefs • Sedimentation / siltation • Pollution • Overfishing • Direct disturbance (anchor dragging, divers damaging / collecting specimens)

42. Aquatic Ecosystems • Marine Ecosystems • The Neritic Province Dominated by floating and swimming organisms. Such as many large fishes, sea jellies, various plankton.

43. Aquatic Ecosystems • Marine Ecosystems • The Oceanic Province Largest area of ocean Least explored area

44. Aquatic Ecosystems • Human Impacts on the Ocean

45. Aquatic Ecosystems • Human Impacts on the Ocean

46. Interaction of Life Zones • Case-in-Point: The Everglades