8/30/11Topic: Lec. 2 Intro to Ecology

HW: Read Chapter 52/ Print and complete Reading guide 2 (posted on SL)

Quiz Tomorrow on CH 1: 5 quick questions.

Bellwork: Which themes do you believe would be the most difficult to study? Why is it necessary to identify these themes?

• Please insert your rubric in your lab book (first page)

• Pass lab books forward.

Ch 52 Intro to Ecology

Bright blue marble floating in space

What is a biome? A BIOME is the largest geographic biotic unit, a major community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.

How are biomes formed?Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate. Therefore, in areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar plants and animals because the climate is similar.

One factor affecting climate is latitude. Typically, the farther you move north or south of the equator, the colder the temperature gets. Another factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in elevation, the colder the temperature gets.

Biomes usually found at cold latitudes far from the equator are sometimes also found on high mountains at low latitudes. Typically, a climb of 100 feet in elevation is equivalent to traveling 600 miles northward.

Environmental factors• Abiotic factors

– non-living chemical & physical factors• temperature• light• water• nutrients

• Biotic factors– living components

• animals• plants

Make it a goal to visit all the biomes!

Marine

intertidal

coral reef

benthos

LakesOligotrophic – nutrient poor & O2 rich

Eutrophic – nutrient rich & poor O2

Littoral Zone – shallow, well lit waters close to shore

Limnetic zone – farther from shore deeper area

Wetlands

• Basin Wetlands• Riverine Wetlands• Fringe Wetlands

Estuaries

• Transition area btwn river & sea; seawater flows in & out according to tide

Tropical rainforest

distribution: equatorial

precipitation: very wet

temperature: always warm

characteristics: many plants & animals, thin soil

Savanna

distribution: equatorial

precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season

temperature: always warm

characteristics: fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; herbivores; fertile soil

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

Temperate Grassland

distribution: mid-latitudes, mid-continents

precipitation: seasonal, dry season/wet season

temperature: cold winters/hot summerscharacteristics: prairie grasses, fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants; many herbivores; deep, fertile soil

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

Coniferous Forest (Taiga)

distribution: high-latitude, northern hemisphere

precipitation: adequate to dry (temperate rain forest on coast)

temperature: cool year round

characteristics: conifers; diverse mammals, birds, insects, etc.

Arctic Tundra

distribution: arctic, high-latitude, northern hemisphere

precipitation: dry

temperature: cold year round

characteristics: permafrost, lichens & mosses, migrating animals & resident herbivores

Alpine Tundra

distribution: high elevation at all latitudes

precipitation: dry

temperature: cold year round

characteristics: permafrost, lichens, mosses, grasses; migrating animals & resident herbivores

Chaparral

distribution: midlatitude

precipitation: rainy winters, dry summers

temperature: cool winters, warm summers

characteristics: grasses, shrubs, small trees, deer, amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects

Question to Ponder…

• What biome does San Ramon, CA fall under?