Ecological Levels of

Organization

Foldable (outside):

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Taiga/Coniferous Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Grassland (Savanna)

Desert

Tundra

Water Biomes (Marine, Estuary, Freshwater)

Map of Biomes

Earth’sBiomes

To complete the inside of your

foldable…

Use the Information in this PowerPoint

Extra Info: CHAPTER 21 Textbook:

◦ Pgs. 586 – 605 (CLIMATE)

See the next slide for the format to use

inside the foldable.

Land (Terrestrial) Biomes –

Inside the foldable…

Climate: Plants: Animals:

Illustration of biome. Distinguishing characteristics:

(distinguishes it from other biomes)

-Temperature

-Precipitation

-Examples

-Adaptations-Examples

-Adaptations

Fold

Earth’s Biomes

Areas with similar abiotic factors (soil,

water & climate) usually have similar

biotic factors (plants & animals).

Climate – average weather pattern in an

area over a long period of time.

◦ Precipitation & temperature

Biome – a group of ecosystems with

similar climates & organisms

◦ Contain related ecosystems

Terrestrial or Land Biomes

Tundra

Taiga / Coniferous (Boreal) Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Grasslands (Savanna, Steppe, Prairie)

Deserts

Tropical Rain Forest

Temperate Rain Forest

Forest Biomes

Often found in areas that have mild

temperatures and plenty of rain.

3 types (depends on climate):

◦ Temperate deciduous forests

◦ Coniferous forests (Taiga)

◦ Tropical rain forests

Temperate Deciduous Forests

Deciduous – “to fall off” – trees that shed their leaves to save water during the winter or during the dry season

Have 4 distinct seasons in a year (fall, winter, spring, summer)

Climate:◦ Precipitation – 75 – 125 cm of rain/yr.

◦ Average temperature – summer 28˚ C, winter 6 ˚ C

Plants: deciduous trees (oaks, maples); ferns; mosses

Animals: deer, bears, snakes, woodpeckers, chipmunks, opossums, mice, skunks

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Taiga/Coniferous Forests

aka: Taiga

Conifers – trees that produce seeds in cones; needles; aka: evergreen trees

Climate: ◦ Precipitation - 35 – 75 cm of rain or snow/yr.

◦ Average temperature – summer 14˚ C, winter -10˚ C

Plants: coniferous trees (Douglas fir, spruce); few large plants Adaptations: Conifers with thick, waxy coverings

on leaves = keep them from drying out and protect them from cold winter

Animals: squirrels; insects; birds (finches, chickadees, jays); herbivores (porcupines, elk, moose, ); bears; foxes; lynx◦ Migration & hibernation

Taiga/Coniferous Forest

Tropical Rain Forests

Have more biological diversity that any other place on Earth

Climate:◦ Precipitation – 200 – 600 cm of rain/yr.

◦ Average temperature – daytime 34˚ C; nighttime 20˚ C Warmer than temperate rain forests due to location near the

equator

Plants: ferns, orchids, tall trees Adaptation: low growing plants that don’t need

much light

Animals: birds (parrots); insects; snakes; frogs; monkeys; lizards◦ canopy – tree tops

Tropical Rain Forests

Temperate Rain Forests

Found in New Zealand, southern Chile, &

the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.

Climate:

◦ Precipitation – 200 cm – 400 cm of rainfall/yr.

◦ Avg. temperature – 9˚C – 12˚C

Plants: trees with needlelike leaves

(Douglas fir, cedar, spruce)

Animals: black bear; cougar; bobcat;

northern spotted owl; amphibians

Temperate Rain Forests

Grasslands

Also know as:

o Steppes (Asia)

o Prairies (N. America)

o Savannas (Africa)

o Pampas (S. America)

Found on every continent except Antarctica

2 Types:

o Temperate Grasslands

o Savannas

Temperate Grasslands

◦ Climate: Precipitation – 25 – 75 cm of rain/yr.

Average temperature – summer 30˚C; winter 0˚C

◦ Plants: grasses; flowering plants; few

trees; crops – wheat, rye, barley, corn

◦ Animals: small, seed-eating animals

(prairie dogs & mice); large grass-eaters

(bison); kangaroos; cattle & sheep

Savannas

◦ Climate: Precipitation – 50 - 130 cm rain/yr.

Average temperature – dry season 34˚C; wet

season 16˚C

◦ Plants: scattered clumps of trees; grasses

◦ Animals: large herbivores (elephants,

giraffes, zebras, wildebeests)

Savanna

Grasslands

Deserts

Driest biome on Earth

Climate:◦ Precipitation – less than 25 cm of rain/yr.

◦ Avg. temperature – summer 38˚C; winter 7˚C Temperature shifts from day to night

Ex: Gobi desert in Asia – freezing temperatures in the winter

Plants: cacti◦ Adaptations – grow far apart; shallow roots; store

water; waxy-coated leaves

Animals: toads, tortoises, kangaroo rat, scorpions, few large animals; reptiles◦ Adaptations – nocturnal (active at night); dormant

during dry season; store water; big ears

Deserts

Deserts

Tundra

Cold, dry region; cold desert

Climate:

◦ Precipitation – 30 – 50 cm of rain/yr.

◦ Avg. temperature – summer 12˚C; winter -

26˚C

Slow decomposition due to cold temperatures.

• 2 Types:

Polar tundra

Alpine tundra

Polar Tundras

Found near the North Pole

◦ permafrost – layer of soil that stays frozen

all the time; only the surface thaws

◦ Plants: shallow-rooted plants (grasses &

small shrubs); mosses; lichens; no trees

◦ Animals: insects, migratory birds (ducks,

geese, shorebirds & songbirds); hawks; owls;

arctic hares; musk oxen; wolves; caribou;

reindeer

Polar Tundra

Alpine Tundra

Top of tall mountains

◦ Also has permafrost

◦ Found above the “tree line”

◦ Gets plenty of sunlight & precipitation

Mountains & Ice

Mountains can contain many different

biomes.

◦ Temperature & precipitation change with

elevation

Ice

◦ Usually fits in with the tundra biome

Mountains

Water Biomes – Inside the foldable…

1. What are three

abiotic factors that

shape marine

ecosystems? Explain

each.

1. Describe one abiotic

factor that affects

freshwater

ecosystems.

2. Describe:

1. Streams &

Rivers

2. Ponds & Lakes

3. Wetlands

1. Marsh

2. Swamp

1. Define estuary –

2. Why is an estuary a

rich habitat for living

things?

Illustration of

Marine Biome

(Ocean)

Illustration of

Freshwater

Biome

(Pond Water)

Illustration of

Estuary

Marine Biomes

Oceans cover almost ¾ of the Earth’s surface.

Abiotic factors that affect marine

ecosystems:

◦ Water temperature

◦ Water depth

◦ Amount of sunlight that passes into the water

Marine Biomes

Water temperature

◦ Decreases as the depth of the water increases

◦ Temperatures at the surface zone vary

Latitude

Time of year

Marine Biomes

Water temperature

◦ Affects the animals that life in marine

ecosystems

Adaptations to warm or cold water

Migration to warmer areas

Impacts whether some animals can eat

Marine Biomes

Water depth and sunlight

Estuaries

Areas where fresh water from streams

and rivers spill into the ocean

◦ Fresh water + Salt water

Plants and animals must be able to adapt to the

changing concentrations of salt.

◦ Rich in nutrients

Rivers and streams carry silt and nutrient-rich soil

Freshwater Biomes

An important abiotic factor that affects

freshwater biomes is how quickly water

moves.

◦ Streams & Rivers

Plants line the edges of streams & rivers

Fish live in open waters

Clams & snails live in mud at the bottom

◦ Adaptations to fast moving water

Algae & moss are attached to rocks

Tadpoles & frogs use suction disks to hold onto

rocks

Insects live under rocks

Rivers & Streams

Freshwater Biomes

Ponds & Lakes

◦ Water depth and sunlight are important

abiotic factors

Ponds & Lakes

Littoral zone

◦ Sunlight reaches the bottom

Plants and algae can grow here

Small animals – frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, snakes, snails,

insects, clams & worms

Open-water zone

◦ Top “layer” of water

As deep as sunlight can reach

Bass, lake trout, other fishes

Photosynthetic plankton

Deep-water zone

◦ No sunlight

◦ Catfish, carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi & bacteria

Feed on dead organisms that sink from above

Freshwater Biomes

Wetlands

◦ An area of land that is sometimes underwater

or whose soil contains a great deal of

moisture

◦ Benefits

Support many different plants & animals

Flood control

Replenishing underground water supplies

◦ 2 types

Marshes

Swamps

Marshes

Treeless wetland ecosystems where

plants grow

Often found in shallow areas along the

shores of lakes, ponds, rivers & streams

Plants

◦ Grasses, reeds & wild rice

Animals

◦ Muskrats, turtles, frogs, birds

Marshes

Swamps

Wetland ecosystems in which trees and

vines grow

Found in low-lying areas and beside slow-

moving rivers

Plants

◦ Willows, bald cypresses, oaks, vines, orchids,

water lilies

Animals

◦ Fishes, snakes, birds

Swamps