The World’s Biomes

What is a Biome? Areas of the Earth that are defined by: Climate Geography Precipitation Vegetation Species variety

Tropical Rainforest Dense vegetation Wide variety of species Tall trees Little light reaches forest floor Hot, humid climate Rainfall: 155 in./yr. Temp: 34°C

Grassland Also called prairies or plains Wide variety of grasses Limited variety of species because of protection Rainfall: 20 in./yr. Temp: 30°C

Desert Rainfall: less than 10 in./yr. Temp: 38°C Very limited species and vegetation variety Cacti and reptiles

Deciduous Forest Hardwood trees, that shed their leaves in autumn (Why?) Four distinct seasons A fair variety of species Rainfall: 40 in./yr. Average temp: 28°C

Tundra Permafrost Extremely cold winter climate Very little vegetation Limited species variety Rainfall: 15 in./yr. Temp: 12°C – (-26°C) Alpine: above tree line of very high mts.

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) Coniferous trees Fairly limited variety of plants and animals Very cold winters, warm summers Wet climate all year round Rainfall: 23 in/yr Temp: 14°C

Savanna Dry winters, wet summers Warm temps, but not extremely hot Limited plant and vegetation variety Good species variety Rainfall: 59 in./yr. Temp: 25°C

Make a Graph! Create a bar graph of the average rainfall of each biome. Use proper graphing skills!

What is Antarctica?

What is Minnesota?

Introduction to Ecology

What is Ecology? Ecology – study of interactions between living organisms and the other living and non-living components of their environment Biotic Factors – living components Abiotic Factors – Non-living components

Levels of Organization Cell Tissue Organ Organ System Organism Population Community Ecosystem

Levels of Organization Organism – a single individual animal, plant, fungus, or other living thing Population – a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area Community – a group of populations that live in the same area Ecosystem – all of the living and non-living things that interact in an area

Levels of Organization Biosphere – the part of Earth where life exists, includes all living organisms on earth

How is energy distributed throughout the ecosystem?

What is a producer? A producer is an organism that makes (produces) its own food through the process of photosynthesis. Also known as an Autotroph

What is a consumer? A consumer is an organism that gets its energy by eating (or consuming) other organisms. Makes energy through cellular respiration

What are primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers? Primary consumers eat producers (ex. grasshoppers, antelope) Secondary consumers eat primary consumers (ex. meadowlarks, wolves) Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers (ex. prairie falcon)

What is a decomposer? A decomposer is an organism that breaks down dead plant and animal matter into simpler compounds. Release the last bit of energy from once-living matter and return it to the soil.

Food Chain vs. Food Web Food Chain – a pathway that tells what eats what Ex. Food Web – the connection of all food chains in a community Ex.

Let’s look at an example…

Food Webs Necessary as a system of checks and balances Population control is important for ecosystem balance

Community Interactions Competition – two or more species compete for the same resource Intraspecific – between members of same species Interspecific – between different species Reasons for competition: Food Mating Living space

Community Interactions Predation – the act of one organism consuming another organism Predator – the hunter Prey – the organism being hunted Symbiosis – close relationship that exists between two or more species (3 types)

What is mutualism? Mutualism is a relationship between two species in which both species benefits from the relationship.

What is commensalism? Commensalism is a relationship where one species benefits while the other neither benefits nor harmed by the relationship.

What is parasitism? Parasitism is a relationship between two species in which one species benefits while the other is harmed by the relationship.

Population size Mortality Natality Immigration Emmigration The death rate of a population Natality The birth rate of a population Immigration When organisms of the same species move into an area where others of their type can be found Emmigration When organisms of the same species move out of an area where others of their type can be found

Population Fluctuation Population Growth = immigration + nataliy > emmigration + mortality Population Decline = immigration + nataliy < emmigration + mortality http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/