Download Earth`s Biomes

Earth’s Biomes
Unit 3
Biology 1
Levels of Organization of Matter
Universe
Galaxies
Stars
Planets
Earth
Ecosphere
Ecosystems
Organs
Communities
Tissues
Populations
Cells
Organisms
Organ Systems
Protoplasm
Molecules
Atoms
Terrestrial Ecosystems or Biomes
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Biomes are determined by average temperature
and annual rainfall
Each Biome has a unique set or organisms
Tundra
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North of tree line and near
Arctic circle
Has a unique angle of the
sun so it is much colder
Long winter nights and
short summers
Winters have almost 24
hours of night and summers
have almost 24 hours of
daylight
Few plant species and
animal species
Tundra
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Only about a 60 day
growing season
Not enough time for trees to
grow so there are no trees in
tundra (only small bushes)
Usually less than 10 inches
or precipitation a year
Has a frozen layer of
permafrost that does not
allow root or water
penetration
Tundra
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Less complex of all the ecosystems
Two types of tundra
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Alpine tundra: above the tree line on mountains
Arctic tundra: in the Arctic circle
Northern Coniferous Forest
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Also known at the Taiga
Found in Canada, Northern US and parts of
Europe and Asia
Less severe as the tundra, but still very cold
More precipitation and a longer growing
season
Northern Coniferous Forest
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Defined by the coniferous or
evergreen trees
Coniferous or evergreen
trees has needles and cones
Has large mammals (deer,
elk, moose, bear, wolverine,
lynx, fox and wolf)
Once widely used for
energy and building, but
now largely protected
Deciduous Forest
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Much of the Eastern half of
the US
Moderate climate with
abundant moisture and
distinct seasons
Defined by the many
deciduous trees
Deciduous trees have
leaves, which are shed
yearly
Many variety of trees
Has deer, squirrels, skunks,
birds and some bears
Grasslands
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Often called prairies, plains
or Savannas
Found in central US, South
America, Russia, Asia,
some parts of Europe,
Africa and Australia
Little precipitation and
moderate temperatures
Many are used for
farmlands
Once support bison, but
now mainly used for cattle
and sheep
Grasslands
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Other animals include antelope, coyote, fox,
badgers and prairie dogs
Defined by the abundant grasses
Deserts
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Less than 10 inches of
yearly precipitation
Plants will complete most of
the life cycle when there is
moisture and survive the
droughts in seed form
About 1/7 of the Earth’s
surface is deserts
In the past humans had little
impact on the desert biome,
but irrigation has increased
human activity
Tropical Rain Forest
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An area of the world with
no freezing and plentiful
moisture
They are usually near the
equator
Contains the most diversity
of all the ecosystems
The most threatened
ecosystem because of
human impact and poor soil
Hawaii is the only tropical
rain forest in the US
Aquatic Ecosystems
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Freshwater
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Inland with little to no soluble
salts
Can be flowing or standing water
Populations become more
complex as the flowing or
standing water increases in size
Marine
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All oceans are connected are one
large ecosystem
They absorb a great deal of solar
energy in the summer and release
the energy in the winter (this
stabilizes the Earth’s climate
Aquatic Ecosystems
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Estuaries
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The transitional zone
between freshwater and
salt water
Aquatic Ecosystems
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The most plentiful
areas are occur in the
continental shelf,
shorelines and
estuaries where it is
less saline
The consumers of the
oceans are called
phytoplankton