1. Biomes and Aquatic Ecosystems
Aim: What conditions characterize the world’s biomes?

2. What is a Biome?
A biome is a grouping of ecosystems with similar biotic and abiotic conditions

3. World’s Major Biomes Tropical Forest Savanna Desert
Temperate Rain Forest
Grasslands
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
Tundra

4. Tropical Forest (Central America)
Close to equator
Year-round warm temperatures
More rain than any other biome

5. Savanna (Africa, South American, Australia)
Grasslands with clusters of trees
Slight seasonal variation in temperature
Significant variation in rainfall
Savanna’s have distinct rainy seasons

6. Desert Driest biome on Earth
Depending on rainfall, can vary in biodiversity

7. Temperate Rain Forest (Pacific NW Coast of US)
Regions with heavy rainfall
Moderate year-round temperatures

8. Grasslands (Midwest) Also known as the praries
Moderate seasonal rainfall
But, not enough to support the bigger plants and trees like a forest

9. Boreal Forest (Taiga) (Ex:Canada)
Develop in long, cold winters and cool summers.
Moderate precipitation

10. Tundra
Cold and Damp
Located near poles and on top of high mountains in lower latitudes

11. Group Work The biome's location
A color-coded system indicating the climate and the vegetation
What adaptations would plants need
What adaptations would animals need
A representation of the animals that live in the biome

12. Aquatic Ecosystems
AIM: What conditions and organisms characterize the worlds aquatic ecosystems?

13. Ecologists classify aquatic ecosystems based on 1)Salinity 2)Depth
3) If the water is flowing or standing

14. Amount of salts dissolved in the water
Salinity
Amount of salts dissolved in the water

15. The depth of water can affect 1) how much light is available
2)Temperature

17. Photic Zone Enough sunlight for photosynthesis

18. Below the photic zone, no sunlight can penetrate these waters
Aphotic Zone
Below the photic zone, no sunlight can penetrate these waters

19. The very bottom layer of a body of water
Benthic Zone
The very bottom layer of a body of water

20. Flowing Water System
Water near constant motion
Example: rivers, streams, etc

21. Standing Water System
Water that does not move or moves slowly
Example: ponds, wetlands

22. Standing Freshwater Ecosystems
Bodies of water that collect in
depressions on Earth’s surface
Examples: Ponds, Lakes, wetlands

23. Characteristics of standing freshwater ecosystems
Littoral zone
Limnetic Zone

24. Littoral Zone
1) Shallow and Near-Shore
2) Aquatic plants can grow from mud
and reach above water’s surface

25. Limnetic Zone
1) Farther from shore
2) No rooted plants

26. Wetlands
Systems that combine elements of fresh water and dry land
Extremely rich in nutrients
Examples:
Marshes
Swamps
Bogs

27. Flowing Freshwater Ecosystems
Examples: Rivers and Streams

28. A River’s Course
Rivers shape the landscape through which they run
Flow downhill because of gravity

29. Flood Plain
Areas near a river’s course that flood periodically

30. Estuaries
1)Homes to diverse ecosystems that
prevent soil erosion and flooding
2) Found where land drainage
meets oceans

31. The Oceans
Divided into 3 zones
Intertidal
Neritic
Open Ocean

32. Intertidal
Where ocean meets land

33. Neritic Zone
Extends from low-tide mark to
the continental shelf

34. Open-Ocean
1)Starts at the edge of continental shelf
2) Contains over 90% of Earth’s ocean water