Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh Edition Solomon Berg Martin Chapter 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Biome A large, relatively distinct terrestrial region with characteristic –Climate –Soil –Plants –Animals –Interacting landscapes
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Using precipitation and temperature to identify biomes
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Tundra Northernmost biome –Frozen layer of subsoil (permafrost) –Low-growing vegetation adapted to extreme cold/short growing season Taiga Coniferous trees dominate the taiga, or boreal forest –Cold winters, short growing season, and acidic, mineral-poor soil
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Arctic tundra
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Taiga
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Temperate rain forest Large conifers High precipitation Temperate deciduous forest Precipitation relatively high Soils rich in organic matter Broad-leaf trees that lose their leaves seasonally dominate
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Temperate rain forest
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Temperate deciduous forest
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Temperate grassland Deep, mineral-rich soil Moderate but uncertain precipitation Well suited to growing grain crops Chaparral Thickets of small-leaf evergreens Climate of wet, mild winters and dry summers
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Temperate grassland
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Chaparral
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Significance of precipitation in temperate biomes
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Desert Cold deserts in temperate climates Warm deserts in subtropical or tropical regions Low levels of precipitation Organisms with specialized water- conserving adaptations
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Savanna
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Savanna Tropical grassland Widely scattered trees interspersed with grassy areas Occurs in topical areas with low or seasonal rainfall
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Tropical rain forest Mineral-poor soil High rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year High species richness and high productivity
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Tropical rain forest
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life The world’s major biomes
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Human effect on biomes Tundra –Oil exploration and military exercises result in long-lasting damage Taiga and temperate rain forests –Clearcut logging destructive Temperate and deciduous forests and tropical rain forests –Removed by logging and development
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Aquatic ecosystems Important environmental factors –Salinity –Amount of dissolved oxygen –Availability of light for photosynthesis
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Aquatic life divided into Plankton –Free-floating organisms Nekton –Strongly swimming organisms Benthos –Bottom-dwelling organisms
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Freshwater ecosystems include Flowing-water ecosystems –Streams and rivers Standing-water ecosystems –Ponds and lakes Freshwater wetlands
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Features of a typical river
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Freshwater ecosystems include Streams and rivers Ponds and lakes Freshwater wetlands Estuaries Coastal body of water with access to both the ocean and fresh water from rivers
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Zonation in a large lake
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Thermal stratification in a temperate lake
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Freshwater swamp
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Mangroves
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Marine environments Intertidal zone –Shoreline between low and high tides Benthic environment –The ocean floor Neritic province –Open ocean from shoreline to depth of 200 m Oceanic province –Ocean deeper than 200 m
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Zonation in the ocean
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Seaweeds in a rocky intertidal zone
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Seagrass bed
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Coral reef organisms
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Ecotone Transition zone where two communities meet and intergrade Provide habitat diversity Often inhabited by a greater variety and density of organisms than either adjacent community
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Biogeography Study of the geographic distribution of plants and animals Each species originated from its center of origin Alfred Wallace divided the Earth’s land areas into six major biogeographic realms
Copyright © 2005 Brooks/Cole — Thomson Learning Biology, Seventh EditionCHAPTER 54 Ecology and the Geography of Life Wallace’s biogeographic realms