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The Earth’s Ecosystems Chapter 4 TCAP Review A Biome is a large region characterized by the type of climate and certain kinds of animal and plant communities. Biomes Temperate Deciduous Forest Deciduous means to fall off. This is what the leaves in a deciduous forest do every year in autumn. It has four seasons The Temperate Deciduous Forest has many trees, such as the Maple, Elm, Oak, and more. It also has a diverse amount of flowers (mostly springtime) and animals. The animals include Black Bears, Foxes, Squirrels, deer, ect. The soil it very rich, so it supports much plant life. This is because of decomposition of the leaves that fall off during the fall of each year. The characteristics of a temperate forest are: - varied temperatures ranging from -30 degrees C to 30 degrees C - annual precipitation ranging from 75-150cm - fertile enriched soil Temperate Deciduios Forests Temperate Deciduous Forest The Coniferous Forest is a forest of Conifers. Conifer is a tree that produces its seeds in cones. The Pine tree is the most common example. Conifer leaves conserve water with the thick, waxy layer that covers their leaves, also known as needles. The vegetation in the Coniferous forest is small in size, but large enough to feed the vast herbivore population. Most of these animals survive the brutal winters by migrating or hibernating. Average Annual Rainfall- 14-29.5 in. Average Temperatures in the Summer- 57.2°F Average Temperatures in the Winter- 14°F PLANTS Many softwood trees such as fir, pine, spruce, and hemlock. ANIMALS Most animals are herbivores, however some carnivores and omnivores are thrown in. Animals in Coniferous Forests include the red fox, moose, snowshoe hare, great horned owl, and the crossbill. Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest Tropical rain forests are characterized by dense vegetation, seasonally warm temperatures, and abundant rainfall. The animals that dwell here depend on trees for housing and food. Tropical rain forests are very hot and wet. A great variety of plants can be found in tropical rain forests. Enormous trees as tall as 150 feet tall form an umbrella canopy over the forest that blocks out the sunlight for plants in the lower canopy and forest floor. Some examples of rain forest plants include: kapok trees, palm trees, strangler fig trees, banana trees, orange trees, ferns, and orchids. Tropical rain forests are home to the majority of plant and animal species in the world. Wildlife in the tropical rain forest is very diverse. Animals include a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects. Examples are: monkeys, gorillas, jaguars, anteaters, lemurs, bats, frogs, butterflies, and ants. Rain forest creatures have characteristics such as bright colors, distinctive markings, and grasping appendages. These traits help the animals adapt to life in the rain forest. Tropical Rainforest Tropical Rainforest It has very cold temperatures and very little rainfall. The soil beneath the surface soil stays frozen all of the time. This is called permafrost. Plants have very shallow roots. In the arctic tundra there are two seasons: winter and summer. Precipitation levels in the tundra are from 6 to 10 inches a year On a relative scale, the arctic tundra biome has a relatively low biodiversity. However, even though this zone has very few species the number of individuals in each species that make this biome a home for part of the year is very large. Take the massive herds of caribou or flocks of migratory birds as an example. Many animals migrate to the tundra in the summer months to take advantage of the lack of predators, abundant plants, insects, and fish. Snowy Owls breed on the ground in the summer months, and prey on voles, lemmings and other small rodents. Musk oxen, a smaller cousin of the Ox feeds on the grasses in small herds. They defend themselves from one of the few predators, packs of wolves. Tundra Tundra The mountain biome is one of the coldest biomes on Earth. It is cold, snowy and windy. It is usually below freezing at night. Alpine biomes are located on mountains. They are below the snow line. The altitude is high. The word alpine comes from the word “alps." Alps mean high mountains. The temperature in an alpine biome can change from warm to freezing in one day! Plants must adapt to heavy snow and wind in an alpine biome. Plants grow in sandy and rocky soil. Most plants protect themselves by hugging the ground. They are small and grow slowly. Only warm-blooded animals live in the alpine biome. Some alpine animals adapt to the cold by hibernating. Some move to warmer areas. Others insulate their bodies with layers of fat. Alpine animals will often have shorter legs, tails and ears. The shorter body parts help keep the heat in the body. Alpine animals also have larger lungs. This helps them breathe in high altitudes. Mountain (Alpine) Mountain (Alpine) Grassland biomes are large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs. A grassland is a region where the average annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses, and in some areas a few trees.. Grasses can survive fires because they grow from the bottom instead of the top. Their stems can grow again after being burned off. The soil of most grasslands is also too thin and dry for trees to survive. The most common types of plant life on the North American prairie are Buffalo Grass, Sunflower, Crazy Weed, Asters, Blazing Stars, Coneflowers, Goldenrods, Clover, and Wild Indigos. Some common animals in the grasslands are Coyotes, Eagles, Bobcats, the Gray Wolf, Wild Turkey, Fly Catcher, Canadian Geese, Crickets, Dung Beetle, Bison, and Prairie Chicken Temperate Grassland (Prairie) Temperate Grassland (Prairie) The annual rainfall in a savanna biome is 59 inches. During the dry season the average daily temperature is 93 degrees. During the rainy season it drops to a more comfortable average of 61 degrees. Savanna The annual rainfall in a savanna biome is 59 inches. During the dry season the average daily temperature is 93 degrees. During the rainy season it drops to a more comfortable average of 61 degrees. There are also many larger animals that are found in the savanna biome. They include lions, leopards, deer, elephants, zebra, and the kangaroo. The meat eating animals depend on there being enough herds out there eating the grass and shrubs that they can all survive. There is a huge interdependence among animals and plants in the savanna biome. Wild grass is the biggest type of plant life that grows in the savanna biome. It is also one of the most important. It provides food for plenty of types of animals. Without it, they would starve. That would in turn make it very hard for larger meat eating animals to survive. That is because they hunt down those wild grass eating animals. There are various types of trees that will grow in particular areas of a savanna biome. They include pine trees, palm trees, and acacia trees. They can grow in clumps and that offers some shade to the various animals that live in this type of environment. Savanna Savanna Temperatures exhibit daily extremes because the atmosphere contains little humidity to block the Sun's rays. Rainfall is usually very low and/or concentrated in short bursts between long rainless periods. Soils are course-textured, shallow, rocky or gravely with good drainage and have no subsurface water. The animals include small nocturnal (active at night) carnivores. The desert biome has two extremes that make it difficult to survive. First, it is extremely hot and second, it is extremely dry. Most people don’t realize though that it can be come cold as the sun goes down in the desert.. This means they sleep during the heat of the day and they are active at night when the sun goes down. Desert In order for any plants to survive in the desert biome, they have to be able to collect and store what water is present. They also have to be able to reduce the water evaporating from them. The cactus is the number one plant you will find living in a desert biome. The design of this plant makes it possible for them to hold onto the moisture they have. The hard leaves make it possible for them to handle the extreme changes in temperature from day to night that occur in a desert biome. The cactus also has a hairy texture that helps the plants to reflect the heat from the sun. This is why they are able to withstand that high level of heat without suffering. Desert Desert The ocean has four zones and each has its own unique characteristics. The Intertidal Zone: Sea grasses, periwinkle snails, and herons are common in an intertidal mudflat. Sea stars and anemones often live on rocky shores, while clams, crabs, snails, and conchs are common on sandy beaches. Oceans Most coral reefs are found in warm, shallow areas of the neritic zone. The reefs are made up of small animals called corals. Corals live in large groups. When corals die, they leave their skeletons behind. New corals grow on these remains. Over time, layers of skeletons build up and form a reef. This reef provides a home for many marine animals and plants. These organisms include algae, brightly colored fishes, sponges, sea stars, and sea urchins Coral Reefs An area where fresh water from streams and rivers spills into the ocean is called an estuary (ES tyoo er ee). In estuaries, the fresh water from rivers and the salt water from the ocean are always mixing. Therefore, the amount of salt in the water is always changing. Plants and animals that live in estuaries must be able to survive the changing concentrations of salt. The fresh water that spills into an estuary is rich in nutrients. Because estuaries are so nutrient rich, they support large numbers of plankton. The plankton, in turn, provide food for many animals. Estuaries The Arctic Ocean and the ocean around Antarctica make up another marine ecosystem. These icy waters are rich in nutrients, which support large numbers of plankton. Many fishes, birds, and mammals rely on the plankton for food. Animals, such as polar bears and penguins, live on the polar ice. Polar Ice Strems are flowing water. The stream becomes stronger and wider. A very strong, wide stream is called a river. Like other ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems are characterized by their abiotic factors. An important abiotic factor in freshwater ecosystems is how quickly water moves. Streams and rivers are full of life. Plants line the edges of streams and rivers. Fish live in the open waters. And clams and snails live in the mud at the bottom of a stream or river. Organisms that live in fast-moving water have adaptations to keep from being washed away. Some producers, such as algae and moss, are attached to rocks. Consumers, such as tadpoles, use suction disks to hold themselves to rocks. Other consumers, such as insects, live under rocks. Freshwater Ecosystems: Stream and River. Ponds and Lakes have different ecosystems than streams and rivers. Pond and lakes are still waters with zones. The area of water closest to the edge of a lake or pond is called the littoral zone (LIT uh ruhl ZOHN). Sunlight reaches the bottom of the littoral zone. This sunlight makes it possible for algae and plants to grow in the littoral zone. The plants of the littoral zone are home to small animals, such as snails and insects. Clams and worms bury themselves in the mud. Frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, and snakes also live in this zone. Life Away from Shore. The area of a lake or pond that extends from the littoral zone across the top of the water is called the open-water zone. The openwater zone goes as deep as sunlight can reach. This zone is home to bass, lake trout, and other fishes. Beneath the open-water zone is the deep-water zone, where no sunlight reaches. Catfish, carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi, and bacteria live here. These organisms often feed on dead organisms that sink from above. Pond and Lake An area of land that is sometimes underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture is called a wetland. Wetlands support many different plants and animals. Wetlands also play an important role in flood control. During heavy rains or spring snow melt, wetlands soak up large amounts of water. The water in wetlands also moves deeper into the ground. So, wetlands help replenish underground water supplies. Wetland Ecosystem A treeless wetland ecosystem where plants, such as grasses, grow is called a marsh. Freshwater marshes are often found in shallow areas along the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. The plants in a marsh vary depending on the depth of the water and the location of the marsh. Grasses, reeds, bulrushes, and wild rice are common marsh plants. Muskrats, turtles, frogs, and birds also live in marshes. Marshes A wetland ecosystem in which trees and vines grow is called a swamp. Most swamps are flooded part of the year, depending on rainfall. Willows, bald cypresses, and oaks are common swamp trees. Vines, such as poison ivy, grow up tree trunks. Plants, such as orchids, may hang from tree branches. Water lilies and other plants grow in standing water. Many fishes, snakes, and birds also live in . swamps Swamps