1. Ecology

2. Ecological Levels of Organization

3. The Earths Climate influences the structure and distribution of terrestrial biomes.
Seasons
Bodies of water
mountains

4. Annual mean temperature (C)
Figure 40.8
Desert
Temperate grassland
Tropical forest 30
Temperate
broadleaf
forest 15
Annual mean temperature (C)
Northern
coniferous
forest
Figure 40.8 A climograph for some major types of biomes in North America
Arctic and
alpine
tundra
15
100
200
300
400
Annual mean precipitation (cm) 4

5. Terrestrial Ecosystems
Tundra
Taiga
Temperate Deciduous forest
Grasslands
Tropical rain forests
Deserts

6. Tundra 20% of Earth’s surface
Long cold winter, short summer (6-8 weeks)
20 cm rainfall per year
Permafrost – frozen layer beneath topmost layer
Nutrient poor soil
No trees, short grasses, lichens and moss
Lemming, grouse, musk ox, snowy owls, lynx, snowshoe hares, polar bears, wolves, caribou

7. Tundra

8. Coniferous forests Taiga Temperate Rain Forest 11% of Earth’s surface
Cone-bearing trees (spruce, fir, pine)
Bears, moose, beaver and muskrat, wolves,
In mountains = wolverines and mountain lions
Temperate Rain Forest
East coast of Canada and United States
Large coniferous trees, rich soil, rainfall
Squirrels, lynx, amphibians, reptiles, birds

9. Taiga and Temperate rainforest

10. Temperate deciduous forests
Below Taiga, US!! Eastern United States, Europe and Eastern Asia
Moderate climate, good rainfall, Seasons!
Deciduous trees (lose leaves yearly), form canopies with varied growth.
Variety of flora and fauna due to rich soil, climate, rainfall and protection.

11. Temperate Deciduous forest

12. Tropical Rain Forest South America, Africa and Indo-Malayan region
Warm climate, plentiful rainfall, min. 190 cm
Most diversity in flora and fauna and numbers
Canopy, understory, forest floor
Number of species not identified yet, most live in trees
Poor soil

14. Shrublands Shrubs – shorter than trees
South Africa, Western North America, shores of Australia
California has Chaparral- type of shrubland without dense undergrowth and flammable.
Mule, deer, rodents, lizards and scrub jays

15. Shrublands

16. Grasslands
Annual rainfall greater than 25 cm but can not support trees.
Include Russian steppes, South American pampas, North American prairies
Bison, squirrels, mice, prairie dogs, rabbits, hawks, snakes, coyotes and foxes.
Fertile soil, heavy farming

17. Grasslands

18. Savannas Cool, dry season followed by hot rainy season
Central and Southern Africa, Australia, southeast Asia and South America
Grasses with few trees with deep roots (Acacia)
Large herbivores, elephants, giraffes, zebra, antelopes, wildebeest, carnivores: lions, hyenas, cheetahs, leopards

19. Savannas

20. Deserts Northern and Southern Hemispheres near equator
30% Earth’s surface, rainfall below 25cm
Little or no vegetation, hot days, cool nights
Desert plans have waxy cuticles to store water, ex. Cactus, sagebrush
Reptiles (lizards and snakes), running birds, rodents, fox, hawks and insects

21. Deserts

22. Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater and Marine
Wetlands
Lakes
Coastal Ecosystems
Oceans

23. Wetlands Classified by vegetation Marshes Swamps
inundated by water, contain rushes, reeds and other grasses
Contain waterfowl and small mammals
Productive ecosystem
Swamps
Dominated by woody plants or shrubs (cypress, red maple and tupelo)
American alligator

24. Wetlands

25. Wetlands Continued Bogs
Characterized by acidic waters, peat deposits, and sphagnum moss.
Most water comes from precipitation
Nutrient poor
Cranberries, orchids
Moose

26. Bogs

27. Lakes Body of fresh water Classified by nutrient content
Oligotrophic – nutrient poor
Eutrophic – nutrient rich
Seasonal temperatures in lake, relate to seasonal distribution of species in lake
Plankton important to ecosystem
Phytoplankton – photosynthetic algae
Zooplankton – minute animals, eat phytoplankton

28. Lakes

29. Lakes continued Life zones
Littoral zone – closest to shore, contain plants, habitat for fish, invertebrates, and reptiles
Limnetic zone – sunlit body of lake, small fish
Profundal zone – below level of light penetration, zooplankton, catfish
Benthic zone – sediment at soil water interface, silt, sand detritus (dead organic material), worms, snails, clams

30. Lake Zones

31. Coastal Ecosystems Estuaries freshwater and seawater meet and mix.
Include mangrove swamps and salt marshes
Occur at mouth of river
Abundance of nutrients
Biologically diverse and productive
“nursery of the sea”

32. Estuary

33. Coastal Ecosystem Seashores
Littoral zone – between low and high water marks
Barnacles, brown algae, oysters, mussels, sea dollars, sea birds

34. Seashore

35. Oceans Cover approx. ¾ of the Earth 2 divisions
Pelagic division – open water
Benthic division – ocean floor

36. Pelagic and Benthic divisions