TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS

TUNDRA

Soil: moist, thin topsoil over permafrost, nutrient poor, slightly acidic Vegetation: mosses, lichens, dwarf wood plants Precipitation: yearly average is less than 25 centimeters Water: ponds and bogs during summer thaw Temperature: yearly average is -26°C to 12°C

TAIGA

Taiga Soil: low in nutrients, highly acidic Vegetation: needle-leaved evergreen trees Precipitation: yearly average is 35 to 75 cm Water: swamps, marshes, bogs, rivers, and lakes Temperature: yearly average is -10°C to14°C

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

DECIDUOUS FOREST Soil: moist, moderate nutrient levels Vegetation: broad-leaved trees and shrubs Precipitation: yearly average is cm Water: streams, lakes and ponds Temperature: yearly average is 6°C to 28°C

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

GRASSLAND Soil: deep layer of topsoil, very rich in nutrients Vegetation: dense, tall grasses in moist areas, short clumped grasses in dry areas Precipitation: yearly average is 25 to 75 centimeters Water: wetland areas, known as prairie potholes Temperature: yearly average is 0°C to 25°C

DESERT

Soil: dry, often sandy, nutrient poor Vegetation: succulent plants and scattered grasses Precipitation: yearly average is less than 25 centimeters Water: rivers, lakes, springs Temperature: yearly average is 7°C to 38°C

SAVANNA

Soil: dry, thin topsoil, porous, low in nutrients Vegetation: tall grasses, scattered trees Precipitation: yearly average is 75 to 150 centimeters Water: rivers, standing water in rainy season Temperature: yearly average is 16°C to 34°C

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

RAIN FOREST Soil: moist, thin topsoil, low in nutrients Vegetation: broad-leaved evergreens and shrubs Precipitation: yearly average is 200 to 400 centimeters Water: More than 1,100 tributaries flow into the Amazon, and when flooded the river may rise 16 metres. Each second, the Amazon dumps enough fresh water into the Atlantic Ocean to fill 2,000,000 bathtubs. Temperature: yearly average is 20°C to 34°C

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

THE INTERTIDAL ZONE

Topography: rocky, relatively flat Vegetation: variety of seaweeds, sea lettuce, and algae Depth/Light: 10' to 2’ below sea level Water: average ocean salinity is 35 ppt Temperature: that of the area

THE NERITIC ZONE

Topography: spans from the low-tide line to the edge of the continental shelf Vegetation: the bottom is covered with seaweed Depth/Light: receives ample sunlight and extends to a depth of about 656 feet Water: average ocean salinity is 35 ppt Temperature: warm due to sun penetration

THE OCEANIC ZONE

Topography: volcanoes, vents, deep crevices Vegetation: none Depth/Light: extends from 200 meters (656 feet) deep to 2500 meters (8200 feet) Water: average ocean salinity is 35 ppt Temperature: ? To 750°C

ESTUARIES

Topography: flat and exposed during low tide Vegetation: dense grasses, some species of trees Depth/Light: 1 to 30 meters/sunlight rich Water: fresh and salt water mix Temperature: present in many different climate zones

LAKES & PONDS

Topography: depression in Earth Vegetation: grasses, duckweed, lily pads Depth/Light: lakes have a great difference between surface and deep/ponds have strong sun throughout Water: clear to murky Temperature: lakes dramatically different temperatures from the surface to the bottom waters; ponds maintain constant temperature

RIVERS & STREAMS

● Topography: stones, rubble, or bedrock to which animals can cling. Flat rocks and rubble ● Vegetation: overhanging foliage ● Depth/Light: deep shade by foliage on streams; rivers, have more surface exposed to sunlight ● Water: freshwater ● Temperature: found in every climate

The formula used to convert Fahrenheit temperature to Centigrade is: C= 5/9 (F - 32) F = 9/5 (C+32) ● The formula used to convert Centigrade temperature to Fahrenheit is:

Please write your answers down on paper. Test Your Biome Knowledge

Which biome would be best for growing crops, such as wheat and corn? Explain why.

Which biome has the most precipitation and what problems does this cause?

Name and describe the biome you would find this organism in.

Which two biomes are the least hospitable for organisms and why?

Which biome would these organisms be located in? What types of adaptations are needed by organisms that live in the biome and why?

Which biome do you live in and what are the main characteristics of this biome?

Which biome would you find Simba in? Why is this a good place for him to live?

Which biome is shared by these organisms? What features are unique to this biome?

Which biome would be the best location to have a Christmas Tree Farm and why?

Name and describe the type of biome these organisms live in.