WORLD BIOMES IN OUR WORLDS - SCIENCE .ppt
- 1. Major Ecosystems/Biomes of the World Major Ecosystems/Biomes of the World
- 2. Overview Overview o Earth’s Major Biomes Earth’s Major Biomes • Tundra, Boreal Forests, Temperate Rainforest, Tundra, Boreal Forests, Temperate Rainforest, Temperate Deciduous Forests, Grasslands, Chaparral, Temperate Deciduous Forests, Grasslands, Chaparral, Deserts, Savanna, & Tropical Rainforests Deserts, Savanna, & Tropical Rainforests • Vertical Zonation Vertical Zonation o Aquatic Ecosystems Aquatic Ecosystems • Freshwater ecosystems Freshwater ecosystems • Estuaries Estuaries o Marine Ecosystems Marine Ecosystems o Interaction of Life Zones and Humans Interaction of Life Zones and Humans
- 3. Earth’s Major Biomes Earth’s Major Biomes o Biome Biome • A large, relatively distinct terrestrial region with a similar climate A large, relatively distinct terrestrial region with a similar climate soil, plants, and animals, regardless of where it occurs in the world soil, plants, and animals, regardless of where it occurs in the world • Nine major biomes Nine major biomes o Location of each biome is primarily Location of each biome is primarily determined by: determined by: • Temperature (varies with both latitude and elevation) Temperature (varies with both latitude and elevation) • Precipitation Precipitation o Biomes can also be defined by Biomes can also be defined by • Winds, rapid temperature changes, fires, floods, etc. Winds, rapid temperature changes, fires, floods, etc.
- 7. Vertical Zonation Vertical Zonation o Increasing in Increasing in elevation has elevation has similar effect on similar effect on ecosystem as ecosystem as traveling to traveling to higher latitudes higher latitudes
- 8. Tundra Tundra o Treeless biome in the far north with harsh, cold Treeless biome in the far north with harsh, cold winters and extremely short summers winters and extremely short summers o Precipitation Precipitation • 10-25 cm/yr 10-25 cm/yr o Temperature Temperature • Short growing season Short growing season • 50-160 days 50-160 days
- 9. Tundra Tundra o Nutrient poor soils with little organic material Nutrient poor soils with little organic material • Permafrost present Permafrost present o Low species richness Low species richness • Veg is mostly grasses and Veg is mostly grasses and sedges sedges • Very simple food web Very simple food web o Low primary productivity Low primary productivity
- 10. Boreal Forests Boreal Forests o A region of coniferous forests in the northern A region of coniferous forests in the northern hemisphere hemisphere • Just south of tundra Just south of tundra o Covers 11% of earth’s Covers 11% of earth’s land land o Growing Season Growing Season • A little longer than A little longer than tundra tundra o Precipitation Precipitation • ~ 50 cm/yr ~ 50 cm/yr
- 11. Boreal Forests Boreal Forests o Soils are acidic and mineral poor Soils are acidic and mineral poor o Vegetation comprised of drought resistant conifers Vegetation comprised of drought resistant conifers • White spruce White spruce • Balsam fir Balsam fir • Eastern larch Eastern larch o Mostly small animals and Mostly small animals and migrating birds migrating birds o Some large animals are Some large animals are present present • Wolves, bear, moose Wolves, bear, moose
- 13. Temperate Rainforest Temperate Rainforest o Coniferous biome with cool weather, dense fog and Coniferous biome with cool weather, dense fog and high precipitation high precipitation • Ex: Northwest US Ex: Northwest US o Precipitation Precipitation • > 127 cm/yr > 127 cm/yr • Heaviest in winter Heaviest in winter o Temperature Temperature • Winters are mild Winters are mild • Summers are cool Summers are cool
- 14. Temperate Rainforest Temperate Rainforest o Soils are nutrient-poor, but high in organic material (dropped Soils are nutrient-poor, but high in organic material (dropped needles) needles) • Cool temperatures slow decomposition Cool temperatures slow decomposition o Dominant Vegetation Dominant Vegetation • Large evergreen trees Large evergreen trees • Old-growth forest Old-growth forest o Variety of cool Variety of cool climate animal life climate animal life o Very high species Very high species richness richness o Heavily logged Heavily logged
- 15. Temperature Deciduous Temperature Deciduous Forests Forests o Forest biome that occurs in Forest biome that occurs in temperate areas with a moderate temperate areas with a moderate amount of precipitation amount of precipitation o Precipitation Precipitation • 75-150 cm/yr 75-150 cm/yr o Temperature Temperature • Seasonality Seasonality • Hot summers and cold winters Hot summers and cold winters
- 17. Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest o Topsoil is rich in organic material and underlain by Topsoil is rich in organic material and underlain by clay clay o Vegetation is primarily deciduous Vegetation is primarily deciduous • Oak, maple, beech Oak, maple, beech o Animals Animals • Deer, bear and small animals Deer, bear and small animals o Most of this biome land area has Most of this biome land area has been regenerated after farming & been regenerated after farming & timber harvest timber harvest
- 18. Grassland Grassland o Grasslands with hot summers, cold Grasslands with hot summers, cold winters and too little precipitation winters and too little precipitation to support trees to support trees o Precipitation Precipitation • 25-75 cm/yr 25-75 cm/yr o Tall grass prairies Tall grass prairies o Short grass prairies Short grass prairies o 90% of this biome has been lost to 90% of this biome has been lost to farmland farmland
- 19. Grassland Grassland o Soil has thick, organic material Soil has thick, organic material rich organic horizon. rich organic horizon. o Periodic fires keep the dominant vegetation Periodic fires keep the dominant vegetation grasses grasses o Animals Animals • Once covered with Once covered with bison- no longer true bison- no longer true • Smaller animals are still Smaller animals are still present (ex: prairie dogs) present (ex: prairie dogs)
- 20. Chaparral Chaparral o Also called a Mediterranean Also called a Mediterranean Climate Climate • Ex: Southern California Ex: Southern California • Ex: Greece Ex: Greece o Temperature Temperature • Mild, moist winters Mild, moist winters • Hot, dry summers Hot, dry summers o Frequent fires Frequent fires
- 21. Chaparral Chaparral o Soil is thin and often not Soil is thin and often not fertile fertile o Vegetation Vegetation • Dense growth of evergreen Dense growth of evergreen shrubs shrubs • Lush during the growing Lush during the growing season season o Animals Animals • Mule deer, chipmunks, many Mule deer, chipmunks, many species of birds species of birds
- 22. Deserts Deserts o Biome where lack of Biome where lack of precipitation limits plant precipitation limits plant growth growth o Temperature Temperature • Can very greatly in 24-hr Can very greatly in 24-hr period, as well as yearly period, as well as yearly (based on location) (based on location) o Precipitation Precipitation • < 25 cm/yr < 25 cm/yr
- 23. Deserts Deserts o Soils low in nutrients, high in salts Soils low in nutrients, high in salts o Vegetation sparse Vegetation sparse • cactus and sagebrush cactus and sagebrush o Animals are very small to regulate temperature Animals are very small to regulate temperature Sonoran Desert
- 24. Savanna Savanna o Tropical grassland with Tropical grassland with widely scattered trees widely scattered trees o Temperature Temperature • Varies little throughout the Varies little throughout the year year o Precipitation Precipitation • Seasons regulated by Seasons regulated by precipitation, not temperature precipitation, not temperature • 76-150 cm/yr 76-150 cm/yr
- 25. Savanna Savanna o Soil low in nutrients due to leaching Soil low in nutrients due to leaching o Vegetation Vegetation • Wide expanses of grass Wide expanses of grass • Occasional Acacia trees Occasional Acacia trees • Have fire adaptive Have fire adaptive characteristics characteristics o Animals Animals • Herds of hoofed animals Herds of hoofed animals • Large predators- lions, Large predators- lions, hyenas, etc. hyenas, etc.
- 26. Tropical Rainforest Tropical Rainforest o Lush, species-rich biome Lush, species-rich biome that occurs where climate is that occurs where climate is warm and moist warm and moist throughout the year throughout the year o Precipitation Precipitation • 200-450 cm/yr 200-450 cm/yr o Very productive biome Very productive biome o Most species-rich biome Most species-rich biome
- 27. Tropical Rainforest Tropical Rainforest o Ancient, weathered, nutrient- Ancient, weathered, nutrient- poor soil poor soil • Nutrients tied up in Nutrients tied up in vegetation, not soil vegetation, not soil o Vegetation Vegetation • 3 distinct canopy layers 3 distinct canopy layers o Animals Animals • Most abundant insect, reptiles Most abundant insect, reptiles and amphibians on earth and amphibians on earth
- 28. Aquatic Ecosystem Aquatic Ecosystem o Fundamental Division Fundamental Division • Freshwater Freshwater • Saltwater Saltwater o Aquatic Ecosystems also affected by Aquatic Ecosystems also affected by • Dissolved oxygen level, light penetration, pH, Dissolved oxygen level, light penetration, pH, presence/absence of currents presence/absence of currents o Three main ecological categories of organisms Three main ecological categories of organisms • Plankton- free floating Plankton- free floating • Nekton- strong swimming Nekton- strong swimming • Benthos- bottom dwelling Benthos- bottom dwelling
- 29. Freshwater Ecosystems Freshwater Ecosystems o Includes: Includes: • Rivers and streams Rivers and streams • Lakes and ponds Lakes and ponds • Marshes and swamps Marshes and swamps o Represent 2% of earth’s surface Represent 2% of earth’s surface o Assist in recycling water back to the oceans Assist in recycling water back to the oceans (Biogeochemical Cycling) (Biogeochemical Cycling)
- 30. Rivers and Streams Rivers and Streams o Changes greatly from Changes greatly from headwater to mouth headwater to mouth o Headwaters Headwaters • Shallow, cool, swiftly Shallow, cool, swiftly flowing, high oxygenated flowing, high oxygenated o Mouth Mouth • Not as cool, slower Not as cool, slower flowing, less oxygen in flowing, less oxygen in water water
- 31. Lakes and Ponds Lakes and Ponds o Body of freshwater that does not flow Body of freshwater that does not flow o Three zones Three zones • Littoral Littoral • Limnetic Limnetic • Profundal Profundal o Experience thermal stratification (depending on Experience thermal stratification (depending on depth) depth)
- 32. Lakes and Ponds Lakes and Ponds o Littoral Zone Littoral Zone - shallow water area along the shore - shallow water area along the shore o Limnetic Zone Limnetic Zone - open water beyond the littoral - open water beyond the littoral zone zone o Profundal Zone Profundal Zone - beneath the limnetic zone of - beneath the limnetic zone of deep lakes deep lakes
- 33. Thermal Stratification Thermal Stratification o Temperature changes Temperature changes sharply with depth sharply with depth o Thermocline Thermocline • Temperature transition Temperature transition between warmer between warmer surface water and surface water and colder water at depth colder water at depth • Only present in warm Only present in warm months months
- 35. Marshes and Swamps Marshes and Swamps o Lands that shallow, fresh water covers for at least part Lands that shallow, fresh water covers for at least part of the year of the year • Characteristic soil- water logged and anaerobic for periods Characteristic soil- water logged and anaerobic for periods of time of time • Water tolerant vegetation Water tolerant vegetation o Were once regularly filled in Were once regularly filled in • More recently their ecosystem More recently their ecosystem services have been better services have been better recognized recognized • Flood protection, water Flood protection, water filtering, etc. filtering, etc.
- 36. Estuaries Estuaries o Where freshwater and saltwater mix Where freshwater and saltwater mix o Highly variable environment Highly variable environment • Temperature, salinity, depth of light penetration Temperature, salinity, depth of light penetration o Highly productive Highly productive • Nutrients transported from land Nutrients transported from land • Tidal action promotes rapid circulation of Tidal action promotes rapid circulation of nutrients nutrients • High level of light penetrates shallow High level of light penetrates shallow water water • Many plants provide photosynthetic Many plants provide photosynthetic carpet carpet
- 37. Estuaries Estuaries ..VideosScientists fear 'tipping point ' in Pacific Ocean.flv
- 38. Marine Ecosystems Marine Ecosystems o Subdivided into Subdivided into life zones life zones • Intertidal zone Intertidal zone • Benthic zone Benthic zone • Pelagic Pelagic environment environment • Neritic Province Neritic Province • Oceanic Province Oceanic Province
- 40. Intertidal Zone Intertidal Zone o Area of shoreline between low and high tides Area of shoreline between low and high tides o Habitat Habitat • Sandy or rocky Sandy or rocky o Muscles Muscles o Crabs Crabs o Algae Algae o Oysters Oysters o Barnacles Barnacles o Animals must Animals must adapts to changing adapts to changing conditions conditions
- 42. Benthic Zone Benthic Zone o Ocean floor, extending from tidal zone to deep sea Ocean floor, extending from tidal zone to deep sea trenches trenches o Sediment is mostly mud Sediment is mostly mud • Burrowing worms and clams Burrowing worms and clams o Three zone Three zone • Bathyal: 200m - 4000m deep Bathyal: 200m - 4000m deep • Abyssal: 4000m -6000m deep Abyssal: 4000m -6000m deep • Hadal: 6000m – bottom of deep sea trenches Hadal: 6000m – bottom of deep sea trenches
- 43. Productive Benthic Communities Productive Benthic Communities o Seagrass Beds Seagrass Beds • Present to depth of 10 m Present to depth of 10 m • Provide food and habitat to Provide food and habitat to ecosystem ecosystem o Kelp Forest Kelp Forest • 60-m long brown algae found off rocky shores 60-m long brown algae found off rocky shores • Diversity of life supported by kelp rivals coral reefs Diversity of life supported by kelp rivals coral reefs o Coral Reefs Coral Reefs • Built from accumulated layers of CaCO Built from accumulated layers of CaCO3 3 • Colonies of millions of tiny coral animals Colonies of millions of tiny coral animals • Found in shallow warm water Found in shallow warm water • Most diverse of all marine environments Most diverse of all marine environments
- 44. Productive Benthic Communities Productive Benthic Communities Left: Seagrass Bed Left: Seagrass Bed Right: Kelp Forest Right: Kelp Forest
- 45. Coral Reef Coral Reef Environments Environments o Three types of coral Three types of coral reefs reefs • Fringing reef- directly Fringing reef- directly attach to continent- no attach to continent- no lagoon lagoon • Atoll- circular reef in a Atoll- circular reef in a lagoon lagoon • Barrier reef- separates Barrier reef- separates lagoon from ocean lagoon from ocean
- 47. Human Impact on Coral Reefs Human Impact on Coral Reefs o Sedimentation Sedimentation • From clear-cutting From clear-cutting upstream upstream o Overfishing Overfishing o Coral bleaching Coral bleaching o Mining of corals as Mining of corals as building materials building materials o Runoff pollution Runoff pollution www.marinebiology.org
- 48. Pelagic Environment Pelagic Environment o All the open ocean water All the open ocean water o Two main divisions Two main divisions • Neritic Province Neritic Province • Water that overlies the continental shelf (to depth of 200 m) Water that overlies the continental shelf (to depth of 200 m) • Organisms are all floaters or swimmers Organisms are all floaters or swimmers • Oceanic Province Oceanic Province • Water that overlies depths greater than 200 m Water that overlies depths greater than 200 m • 75% of world’s ocean 75% of world’s ocean • Most organisms are dependent on marine snow Most organisms are dependent on marine snow • Organisms are filter feeders, scavengers and predators Organisms are filter feeders, scavengers and predators
- 49. Human Impacts on the Ocean Human Impacts on the Ocean