1. Biology
Chapter 4

2. 4-3 Biomes
 Biome – a large group of ecosystems that are characterized by certain soil, climate conditions, plants and animals
The climate of a region is an important factor in determining which organisms can survive there
Latitude is an important abiotic factor to both land and aquatic biomes

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0° Equator
30°S
60°S
Tropical rain forest
Temperate grassland
This map shows the locations of the world’s major biomes. Other parts of Earth’s surface are classified as mountains or ice caps. Each biome has a characteristic climate and community of organisms.
Temperate forest
Northwestern coniferous forest
Tropical dry forest
Desert
Temperate woodland and shrubland
Boreal forest (Taiga)
Tropical savanna
Tundra
Mountains and ice caps
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4. The Terrestrial Biomes
Tropical Rain Forest
Precipitation – cm of rainfall annually
Soil – low in nutrients
Plants – broad-leaved evergreen trees, ferns, large woody vines and climbing plants, orchids
Animals – birds, snakes, monkeys, frogs, ants

5. Temperature – warm year round 25-29ºC
Located near equator
One small acre may support 100 species of plants
Species live at various levels
Contains more species of organisms than anywhere else

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Fig , p. 908
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7. Desert
Precipitation – less than 10cm of rain per year
Soil – sandy soil, low in nutrients and very little or no topsoil
Plants – succulent plants that have needle shaped leaves to reduce water loss
Animals – rattlesnakes, lizards, spiders, roadrunners
Temperature – humidity is very low so suns rays penetrate and heat the ground quickly so its hot during the day and cold at night

8. Plants are adapted to growing, flowering and producing seed quickly
Plants are deep rooted
Desertification – conversion of grasslands and other productive biomes to desertlike wastelands

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Fig , p. 905
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10. Grassland
Precipitation – cm of rain per year
Soil – very rich in nutrients and deep layer of topsoil
Plants – tall and short grasses and small plants
Animals – bison, wolves, prairie dogs, foxes, coyotes
Temperature – warm summers and very cold winters
Found in the interior of continents
Also called prairies
Not enough rain to support trees

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12. Savanna
Precipitation – 30-50cm of rain per year
Soil – compact soils
Plants – grasses, scattered trees
Animals – lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, ostriches, rhinoceros
Temperature – warm year round, 24-29ºC

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14. Woodland and Shrubland
Precipitation cm of rain per year
Soil – low in nutrients and highly acidic
Plants – hardened tough evergreens, wildflowers, grasses
Animals – coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions
Temperature – hot dry summers with periodic fires and cool moist winters
Western or southern coastal region
Also called chaparral in areas dominated by shrubs

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16. Deciduous Forest
Precipitation – cm of rain per year
Soil – moist and fertile, rich in humus (decaying leaves and other organic matter)
Plants – birch, maple, oak, elm, evergreens
Animals – deer, foxes, raccoons, squirrels, birds
Temperature – warm during the summer and cold in the winter, 0-30ºC
Deciduous Trees – lose their leaves annually
¼ of bird species

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Fig , p. 909
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18. Coniferous (Taiga) Forest
Precipitation – 30-70cm of rain per year, frequent droughts
Soil – low in nutrients and highly acidic
Plants – cone bearing trees, pines, firs, spruces
Animals – moose, bears, timberwolves, migratory birds
Temperature – warm during the summer and cold in the winter
Needle shape leaves is adaptation for water loss
Lies south of the tundra

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Fig , p. 910
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20. Tundra
Precipitation – 20-60cm of rain per year
Soil – thin moist and nutrient poor
Plants – mosses, lichens, and grasses that survive in soggy soil
Animals – caribou, reindeer, artic fox
Temperature – cool in summer and freezing in winter
Permafrost – permanently frozen ground
Treeless land
Long summer days and short periods of winter sunlight

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Fig , p. 911
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22. 4-4 Aquatic Ecosystems
Freshwater Ecosystems
Flowing-Water Ecosystems
Rivers, streams, creeks, and brooks
Originate in mountains or hills

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Fig , p. 913
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24. Standing-Water Ecosystems
Lakes and ponds
A Lake has 3 Zones
1. Littoral
All around the shore
Water is shallow and well lit
Diversity is greatest

25. 2. Limnetic
Open water
Sunlit water that extends to where photosynthesis takes place
Plankton, diatoms, green algae
3. Profundal
Below depth of photosynthesis
Bacterial decomposers

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LITTORAL
LITTORAL
LIMNETIC
limit of effective light penetration
PROFUNDAL
Fig , p. 912
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27. Freshwater Wetlands
Wetland – water covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil at least part of the year
3 Types of Freshwater Wetlands
Bog – wetland that form in depressions where water collects
Marsh – shallow wetland along river
Swamp – look like flooded forests, water flows slowly

28. Estuaries
Estuary – a place where salt water mixes with fresh water
The salinity of an estuary changes with the tides so a large range of salt tolerant organisms live there

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SALT MARSH (estuary)
open ocean
sound
shallow bay
tidal cover
creek
Fig , p. 918
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30. Mangrove – coastal wetland that occur in bays and estuaries across tropical regions
In southern Florida and Hawaii
Dominant plants are salt-tolerant trees, called mangrove

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Fig , p. 917
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32. Portion of the shoreline between the high and low tides
 Marine Ecosystems
Intertidal Zone
Portion of the shoreline between the high and low tides
High levels of sunlight, nutrients, and oxygen but productivity may be limited by waves crashing against the shore
Organisms that live here have to be adapted to changing conditions
Benthic Zone
Includes all sediments and rocks of the ocean bottom
Starts at continental shelves and extends to deep sea trenches

33. Pelagic Zone
Full volume of ocean water
Divided into 2 zones
Includes photic and aphotic zone
Most of the photosynthetic activity on Earth occurs in the photic zone of the open ocean by the smallest producers
Largest marine zone

34. Community Interactions
Competition – occurs when organisms of the same or different species attempt to use the same resources
Predator – eat other animals
Prey – the animal a predator eats
Symbiosis – close association between two or more species during part or all of their life

35. Three Types of Symbiosis
Mutualism
Both species benefit from the relationship
Example: plants and bacteria on roots
Shark and fish

38. Commensalism
One organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
Example: tree and bird nest

39. Parasitism
One organism benefits and the other is harmed
Example: tick, ringworm

40. Fig , p. 862

41. 4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem?
Ecological Succession
Succession – changes that occurs in a community over time
Pioneer Species – first species to populate the area
Climax Community – a stable mature community that undergoes little or no change in species

42. Two Types of Succession
1. Primary Succession
Occurs on surfaces where no soil exists
Example: rock surfaces formed after volcanoes erupt, land exposed after glaciers retreat

44. Secondary Succession
Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil
Because soil already exists, secondary succession usually takes less time than primary succession
Example: fires, floods, farming, construction, hurricanes, tornadoes