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Biomes. Biome. A group of similar ecosystems Usually defined by the types of plants that grow there, based on climate. Main Climate Factors are. Temperature Rainfall. Factors influenced by. Sun Wind and water. The Sun and Seasons. The angle of the earth to sun determines seasons. Wind.
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Biome • A group of similar ecosystems • Usually defined by the types of plants that grow there, based on climate
Main Climate Factors are • Temperature • Rainfall
Factors influenced by • Sun Wind and water
The Sun and Seasons • The angle of the earth to sun determines seasons
Wind • Generated by Sun
Coriolis effect • Earth’s rotation turns the winds and currents to the right in N. Hemisphere
Winds effect ocean currents • Currents also affect climate • Gulf stream brings warmer water to eastern US shore
Windward side – air rises, Rain Leeward side – air sinks. NO rain Mountains cause rain shadow
Elevation changes climate • Similar to change in latitude
Terrestrial Biomes Large ecosystems
First Biome: Tundra • What is the tundra? • No not this
Tundra • cold year round • Permafrost - permanently frozen ground • Plants: very small plants and shrubs • Animals: caribou, arctic fox, snowshoe hare
Taiga (Coniferous forest) • Cold, much winter snow, conifer trees • Plants: cone bearing: pines, firs, spruce • Animals: moose, bear, wolves and lynx
Deciduous forest • Temperate, trees lose leaves, lots of rain. Many dormant winter species • Plants: maples, oaks, willow, birch, blueberries • Animals: deer, fox, raccoon, squirrels
Grasslands • Temperate, seasonal drought, fires • Mostly grasses, flat, dry, fertile • Plants: wheat, corn, hay, grass • Animals: grazers; bison, prairie dogs
Chaparral • Brush land communities along mid latitude coastlines • Plants: spiny shrubs, heat and fire resistant plants • Animals: deer, rodents, lizards, roadrunners
Desert • Very little rainfall (< 30 cm/year), hot day, cold night • Plants: store water (CAM plants) cactus, sage bush, creosote bush • Animals: lizards, snakes, kit foxes, road runner
Some desert mice NEVER drink • Kangaroo mouse • Gets water from food and from cellular respiration
Savannas • Grassland with more moisture. Wet and dry seasons • Plants: scattered trees, shrubs :grasses • Animals: zebra, giraffes, gazelles, lions, hyenas
Tropical rainforest • Very wet and hot, found along equator • Plants: very tall trees, orchids, mosses • Animals: parrots, monkeys, sloth, jaguar
Tropical rainforests • The most biomass • Pronounced vertical stratification
Tropical rainforests • Canopy species at the top • Jungle – thick growth to replace opening • Epiphytes – air plants grow on other plants
Alpine • Alpine biomes are at high altitudes • Similar to taiga and tundra
Quiz – Name that biome • Savannah
What Biome? • Desert
What Biome? • Deciduous forest
What Biome? • Tundra
What Biome? • Tropical Rain Forest
What Biome? • Chaparral
What Biome? • Taiga
What Biome? • Grassland
Aquatic Biomes • Fresh and salt water
Salt water biomes • Organisms must be adapted to higher salt content so they do not dehydrate • Called osmoregulation
Photic zones • Where Light reaches (photo = light)
Aphotic zones • Light does not reach
Thermocline • Temperature layer where temperature drops sharply with depth
Benthic Zone • The zone below the surface.
Freshwater biomes • Ponds, Lakes and streams
Estuary • Where fresh water meets salt water
Freshwater biomes • Oligotrophic Lakes – Deep, nutrient poor, with small surface area. • Low photosynthesis
Eutrophic lake • Nutrient-rich, large surface area relative to depth. High photosynthesis • Too much algae growing on surface blocks light and kills other plants • This can kill animal life, destroying pond ecosystem
Healthiest lakes are balanced • Oligotrophic = Eutrophic