1. Introduction to the Biosphere
A quick review of weather patterns!

2. Studying organisms in their environment
biosphere
ecosystem
community
population
organism

3. Earth’s biomes

4. Environmental factors
Abiotic factors
non-living chemical & physical factors
temperature
light
water
nutrients
Biotic factors
living components
animals
plants

5. Marine
coral reef
benthos
intertidal

6. Tropical rainforest distribution: equatorial precipitation: very wet
temperature: always warm
characteristics: many plants & animals, thin soil

7. Savanna distribution: equatorial
precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season
temperature: always warm
characteristics: fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; herbivores; fertile soil

8. Desert distribution: 30°N & S latitude band precipitation: almost
temperature: variable daily & seasonally, hot & cold
characteristics: sparse vegetation & animals, cacti, succulents, drought tolerant, reptiles, insects, rodents, birds

9. Temperate Grassland distribution: mid-latitudes, mid-continents
precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season
temperature: cold winters/hot summers
characteristics: prairie grasses, fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; many herbivores; deep, fertile soil

10. Temperate Deciduous Forest
distribution: mid-latitude, northern hemisphere
precipitation: adequate, summer rains, winter snow
temperature: moderate warm summer/cool winter
characteristics: many mammals, insects, birds, etc.; deciduous trees; fertile soils

11. Coniferous Forest (Taiga)
distribution: high-latitude, northern hemisphere
precipitation: adequate to dry
temperature: cool year round
characteristics: conifers; diverse mammals, birds, insects, etc.

12. Chaparral distribution: coastal mid-latitude
precipitation: seasonal, dry summer/rainy winter
temperature: hot summer/cool winter
characteristics: scrubby vegetation, drought-adapted, fire-adapted, herbivores, amphibians, birds, insects

13. Arctic Tundra distribution: arctic, high-latitude, northern hemisphere
precipitation: dry
temperature: cold year round
characteristics: permafrost, lichens & mosses, migrating animals & resident herbivores

14. Alpine Tundra distribution: high elevation at all latitudes
precipitation: dry
temperature: cold year round
characteristics: permafrost, lichens, mosses, grasses; migrating animals & resident herbivores

15. Lake Zonation Littoral zone Limnetic zone Photic zone Pelagic zone
Benthic
zone
Aphotic
zone

16. Marine Zonation Intertidal zone Neritic zone Oceanic zone Photic zone
Photic zone
200 m
Continental
shelf
Pelagic
zone
Benthic
zone
Aphotic
zone
2,000–6,000 m
Abyssal zone

17. Odd and Ends
Ecotone
Turnover
Autumn 4º 4º 4º 4º 4º
4ºC

18. Any Questions??