Biomes & Succession Environmental Science

Review Organism Organization ▪M▪M olecules ▪C▪C ells ▪(▪( Tissue  Organ  Organ system) ▪O▪O rganisms ▪P▪P opulation ▪C▪C ommunity ▪E▪E cosystem ▪B▪B iome ▪B▪B iosphere Large region characterized by its particular climate and plant/animal communities A global ecosystem

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Terrestrial Biomes Climate determines how biomes are distributed. Species (plants/animals)are adapted for particular climates.

Major Factors: precipitation & temperature

Climate is determined by latitude and altitude Latitude– distance from equator Altitude– height above sea level As latitude and altitude increase, average temperatures decrease.

Tropical Rain Forest Most biodiverse terrestrial biome Canopy & understory High precipitation, high temperatures

Savanna Equatorial Seasonal precipitation Warm, stable temperatures Grazing animals

Desert Very low precipitation Varying temperatures

Chaparral Hot & dry Fires are common

Temperate Grasslands Variable temperature & precipitation Prone to fires Very fertile soil (due to short life-span of grasses)

Temperate Forest (deciduous) Varying temperatures & precipitation Trees shed their leaves in fall

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) Very cold Only snow Conifers (evergreens) aka “Boreal”

Tundra Very low precipitation Very low temperatures Permafrost

Aquatic Biomes/Ecosystems

Freshwater Factors that determine characteristics: oxygen, temperature, pH, sunlight, nutrients Photosynthesis occurs mostly near the surface Colder water holds more oxygen Quickly moving water holds more oxygen

Lake Zones

Wetlands (swamps, marshes, estuaries) Areas that are covered by water at least part of the year Nature’s filters

Marine Ecosystems (coral reefs, open oceans, tidal areas, coast) Photosynthesis on the surface and in shallow areas

Marine Zones

Eutrophication 1.Excess nutrients from pollutants… fertilizers, detergents, organic materials. 2.Algal bloom 3.Algae grow…..algae die 4.Bacteria & other decomposers thrive, robbing other organisms of oxygen

Succession – gradual process of change and replacement of the types of species in an ecosystem ▪ Species that are more adapted for survival can replace the previous species ▪ The ecosystem can over time change to another type of ecosystem

Title and Content Layout with Chart

Primary Succession– a new ecosystem forms where there has never been an ecosystem before New land… a glacier recedes or volcanic lava forms new land

Secondary Succession– an ecosystem goes through trauma or change, becomes new ecosystem Fire impacts the ecosystem, causes decades-long change