LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biosphere: the zone around Earth where life can exist LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biosphere: the zone around Earth where life can exist -includes 3 overlapping zones Atmosphere: the layer of gases surrounding Earth LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biosphere: the zone around Earth where life can exist -includes 3 overlapping zones Lithosphere: Earth's solid outer layer LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biosphere: the zone around Earth where life can exist -includes 3 overlapping zones Hydrosphere: all of the Earth's water in solid, liquid, and gas form LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biomes: large geographic regions defined by climate (precipitation & temperature) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biomes: large geographic regions defined by climate (precipitation & temperature) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features Tundra: essentially a cold desert -extremely short growing season and low temperatures -very slow growth of plants -permafrost in many areas means the ground only just below the surface is frozen all year LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biomes: large geographic regions defined by climate (precipitation & temperature) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features Boreal Forest: largest biome in Canada -found just south of the tundra -rainfall and warm summers support growth of trees -conifers (evergreens) are the dominant form of tree LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biomes: large geographic regions defined by climate (precipitation & temperature) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features Grassland: otherwise known as prairie -moderate rainfall supports grasses but not trees -hot, dry summers cause frequent fires which also suppress tree growth LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Biomes: large geographic regions defined by climate (precipitation & temperature) with a specific set of biotic and abiotic features Temperate Deciduous Forest: dominated by deciduous trees (oak, maple, & ash) -long growing season because temperatures don't reach extreme lows of boreal region -very diverse vegetation, including a layer of canopy trees, understorey trees, shrubs, and herbaceous (non wood) plants LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Major Aquatic Ecosystems: Freshwater: moving bodies of water, such as rivers, and nearly stationary bodies, such as lakes LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Major Aquatic Ecosystems: Freshwater: moving bodies of water, such as rivers, and nearly stationary bodies, such as lakes Classification based on nutrient levels: Oligotrophic: low in nutrients Eutrophic: high in nutrients LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Major Aquatic Ecosystems: Freshwater: moving bodies of water, such as rivers, and nearly stationary bodies, such as lakes Watershed: the land area drained by a particular river, (drainage basin) -important ecological concept since whatever goes on in the watershed (pollution, farming, etc) has an impact on water quality LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Major Aquatic Ecosystems: Marine: the oceans make up 70% of the Earth's surface -much of the open ocean supports very little life due to low nutrient levels -deep ocean has little life due to low light -shallow waters near shore are nutrient rich and support an abundance of life LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres

LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres Life on Planet Earth Major Aquatic Ecosystems: Marine: the oceans make up 70% of the Earth's surface -much of the open ocean supports very little life due to low nutrient levels -deep ocean has little life due to low light -shallow waters near shore are nutrient rich and support an abundance of life Intertidal Zone: the shoreline between high and low tide are part-time terrestrial and part time marine -provides for unique life forms LG: to identify Earth's 4 spheres