Chapter 3, Section 2 and 3

 Biome is a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climate community.  Marine ecosystems  Terrestrial ecosystems  Freshwater ecosystems

 Oceans contain the largest amount of biomass or living material.  Most of this biomass is small.  Ecologist separate the biomes into different zones  Shallow, sunlit zones  Deep, unlit zones

 Photic zone is a marine biome that is shallow for sunlight to penetrate.  Ex- rocky shores, sandy beaches, and mud flats.  Plankton is a small organism that lives in the photic zone.

 Aphotic zone is deeper water that receives no sunlight  These consist of the deepest part of the ocean and include many organisms that are adapted to dark condition, food is also scarce.

 Estuary is a costal body that partially receives freshwater and salt water.

 Twice a day the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon causes the rise and fall of ocean tides.  Intertidal zone is the portion of the shoreline that lies between the high and low tide lines.

 Sun may heat the top but the deep waters are cooler.  Not much algae grows in the deeper water.  Populations of organisms are low  Decay takes place at the bottom of the body of water.

 Eutrophication is a natural process that occurs in an aging lake or pond as that body of water gradually builds up its concentration of plant nutrients.

 Areas vary, different climates, moisture level, and temperature.

 Tundra – a treeless land with long summers days and short periods of winter sunlight.  There is a layer of ground beneath the topsoil called permafrost.

 Taiga – (Northern Coniferous forest) is a land with larch, fir, hemlock and spruce trees, (pine trees).

 Grassland – large communities covered with grasses and small plants (prairies)

 Desert – an arid region with sparse to almost non-existent plant life.

 Temperate forest – Dominated by broad-leaved hardwood trees that lose their foliage ever year.

 Tropical forest – home to the most diverse group of species than any place on earth.  Warm temperature, wet weather, and lush plant growth.  They are near the equator.