Download 1.1 Safety in the Science Classroom

1.1 Biomes
• The word “biosphere” refers to anywhere on Earth living things exist.
 A biome is a region with similar biotic and abiotic components.
 Biotic = living things
 Abiotic = non-living things (air, water, soil, etc.)
 A biome here in BC can be the same as a biome in
New Zealand.
 If biotic and abiotic conditions are the same, similar
biomes can exist far apart.
• In this course, eight terrestrial biomes will be studied.
 Biomes are classified based on many qualities, such as water availability,
temperature, and interactions between biotic and abiotic factors.
 Boreal forest, desert, grassland, permanent ice, temperate deciduous forest,
temperate rainforest, tropical rainforest and tundra.
See pages 8 -10
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Factors That Influence the Characteristics and
Distribution of Biomes
• Certain characteristics help to identify biomes.
 Temperature and precipitation are two of the
most important abiotic factors.
 Other factors include latitude, elevation and
ocean currents.
See pages 10 - 13
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
PRACTICE
• Practice using the graph on page 13
• Do Practice Questions 1-4 with your partner
• Timed activity 2 minutes
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Answers
• 1. Boreal forest biome; 200cm precipitation, 14*C temperature
• 2. Temperate deciduous forest; 100 cm precipitation, 0-20*C
temperature
• 3. Tundra biome; very low precipitation, -18 to -8*C temperature
• 4. Temperate rainforest; high precipitation, 15*C temperature
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Factors That Influence the Characteristics and
Distribution of Biomes (continued)
• Latitude is an abiotic factor that influences biomes.
 Latitude is the distance north and south from the equator.
 Latitude influences both temperature
and precipitation.
 The tropical zone has very warm
temperatures and high precipitation.
• The sun shines straight down
• warm air holds more moisture
than cooler air.
• Elevation also influences biomes.
 Higher elevations have less air, and therefore less heat is retained.
 Windward sides of mountains are wet, leeward sides are very dry.
• Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas.
 Where warm currents meet land, temperate biomes are found.
See pages 14 - 15
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Climatographs
• Climate refers to the average pattern of weather conditions over a
period of several years.
 A climatograph shows the average temperature and precipitation for a location
over a period of 30 years or more.
• Biomes are often defined using information in climatographs.
 Examine the differences between Tofino and Osoyoos
See pages 16 - 17
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Adaptations and Biomes
•
Biomes are often identified with characteristic biotic factors.
 For example, a cactus in the desert, or a caribou on the tundra.
 Many of these characteristic factors have special adaptations for that biome.
 An adaptation is a characteristic that allows an organism to better survive and
reproduce.
1. Structural adaptation - a physical feature that helps an organism survive.
• A wolf has large paws to help it run in snow.
2. Physiological adaptation - a physical or chemical event
inside the body of an organism that allows it to survive.
• A wolf maintains a constant body temperature.
3. Behavioural adaptation - a behaviour that helps an
organism to survive.
• A wolf hunts in packs to capture large prey.
See pages 18 - 19
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A Survey of Biomes:
Tundra and Boreal Forest
See pages 20 - 21
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Tundra vs Boreal
TUNDRA
BOREAL
Location: upper northern
hemisphere
Location: upper northern
hemisphere across canada, and
across russia, finland,
scandinavia
Plant Adaptaions:
No trees
Roots cannot penetrate
permafrost
Short plants (shield from winds
and get more warmth)
Short grass, lichens, mosses
Have fuzzy coverings on stems
Plant Adaptations:
Coniferous trees (cone-bearing)
Needles on trees to resist water
loss, allow snow to fall off easy
Few under-story plants
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Cont’d
TUNDRA
BOREAL
Animal Adaptations
Hares, foxes have compact
bodies which reduce heat loss
Grow slowly, reproduce less
frequently (less energy)
Marshy conditions ->summer
more insect diversity
Animal Adaptations
Thick insulating coats (body
heat)
Change colours of hair to
camoglage according to season
colours
Some migrate away some stay
year round
Low temperature survival
conditions
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
A Survey of Biomes: Temperate Deciduous
Forest and Temperate Rainforest
See pages 22 - 23
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Temperate vs Deciduous
Temperate Deciduous
Temperate Rainforest
Location: Weastern Canada &
US Easter Asia, Weastern
Europe, Southern Australia &
New zealand
Location: coast line in South
America, north west coat of
north America
Climate:
Temp: 5-25*C
Rainfall: 200cm/yr
Coastal fog
Climate:
Temp: -30-30*C
Rainfall: 75-180 cm/yr
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Cont’d
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Temperate Rainforest
Physical Features:
Physical features:
Drastic seasonal changes
4 distinct seasons
Long, warm growing season
Bioaccumulation provides
nutrients (fallen leaves breaking
down on soil)
Occur on windward side of
mountains
Large rain fall
Along coastlines in narrow
strips
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Cont’d
Plant Adaptations:
Light penetrates layers, understorey present
4-5 layers of plants
1st layer-tall trees
2nd layr-shorter trees
3rd layer-shrubs
4th layer-ferns, herbs, mosses
Plant Adaptations
Very tall trees
Mosses draped on trees
Ferns mosses and fungi survive
in the shade blanket on floor
Animal Adaptations
Many habitats for animals
Tree animals and land animals
hibernate
Animal Adaptations
Animals live on forest floor
Birds & small mammals eat
seeds that have fallen
Insects decompose plant matter
Birds have long beaks
Amphibians sticky tongues(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
A Survey of Biomes:
Grassland (Temperate and Tropical)
See pages 24 - 25
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Temperate vs Tropical Grasslands
Temperate grassland
Tropical grassland
Location: canada, russia
Location: north, south of
equator in Africa, North America,
northern Australia
Physical Features:
Flat land
Rich soil; fertile from decaying
roots
Physical Features:
Flat land
Less rich b/c of rain
High precipitation followed by
dry hot days causing grass fires
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Cont’d
Plant Adaptations:
Trees scarce
Grass well adapted for drought
(deep roots)
Regrow after fire
Flexible stalks (do not break
from wind)
Plant Adaptations
Trees scarce
Deep root grasses
Trees have thorns to prevent
animals from eating them for
water
Bitter, sharp edges
Animal Adaptations:
Grazing animals, have flat teeth
to grind grass
Borrowing animals that escape
extreme conditions
Animal Adaptations:
Herds of animals are present
Predator-prey relationships
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
A Survey of Biomes: Tropical Rainforest and
Desert (Hot and Cold)
See pages 26 - 27
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Tropical Rainforest vs Desert (Hot and Cold)
Tropical Rainforest
Desert (Hot and Cold)
Location:
Around equator, and both
tropics
Location:
Kalahari, sahara of africa,
Physical Features:
Nutrient deficient soil
Rain washes minerals away dark
understory
Physical Features:
Salty soils in warm D
Snow as precipitation
Little water erosion
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
Cont’d
Plant Adaptations:
Largest # of plant species
Shurbs adapted to shade in
understorey
Tall trees (canopy)
Plants grow on tall trees
Plant Adaptation:
Few plants
Fleshy stems conserving water
Roots extend deep
Spines
Animal Adaptations:
Adapted to live in trees
Adapted to particular foods or
habitats(poisons, colour)
Animal Adaptations:
Thick skin reptiles
(c) McGraw Hill Ryerson 2007
A Survey of Biomes:
Permanent Ice (Polar Ice)
See pages 28
Take the Section 1.1 Quiz
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Polar Ice
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Hierarchy
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