• What is a biome?

– A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities

– A large geographical area with distinctive plant and animal groups, which are adapted to that particular environment

• The climate • The soil • The communities that inhabit it

• Many organisms are adapted to the conditions of the biome

• They have tolerance – Ability to survive and reproduce under conditions

that differ from their optimal conditions

• Tropical rain forest

• Tropical dry forest

• Tropical savanna

• Desert

• Temperate grassland

• Temperate woodland and shrubland

• Temperate forest

• Northwestern coniferous forest

• Boreal forest

• Tundra

Abiotic Factors • High temperatures & humidity • Heavy rainfall • Thin, nutrient-poor soils

Geographic Distribution • Parts of:

• South and Central America

• Southeast Asia • Parts of Africa • Southern India • Northeast

Australia • Almost always

near the equator

Dominant Plants • Broad-leaved evergreen trees • Ferns • Large woody vines and

climbing plants • Orchids and bromeliads

Dominant Wildlife • Herbivores such as sloths,

tapirs, and capybaras • Predators such as jaguars • Anteaters • Monkeys • Birds such as toucans,

parrots, and parakeets • Insects such as butterflies,

ants, and beetles • Piranhas and other

freshwater fishers • Reptiles such as caymans, boa

constrictors, and anacondas

Interesting Info: • Rainforests now cover less than

6% of the Earth’s land surface. • More than half of all the world’s

plant and animal species live in tropical rainforests.

• Tropical rainforests produce 40% of the Earth’s oxygen.

• Rainforests have more types of trees than any other area of the world.

• 25% of all medicines we use come from rainforest plants.

• More than 1,400 varieties of tropical plants are thought to be potential cures for cancer.

Abiotic Factors Generally warm year-round Alternating wet and dry seasons Rich soils subject to erosion

Geographic Distribution Parts of:

Africa South and Central America Mexico India Australia Tropical islands

Dominant Plants Tall, deciduous trees that form a dense canopy during the wet season Drought-tolerant orchids and bromeliads Aloes and other succulents

Dominant Wildlife Tigers Monkeys Herbivores such as elephants, Indian rhinoceroses, & hog deer Birds such as great pied hornbills, pied harriers, and spot-billed pelicans Insects such as termites; reptiles such as snakes and monitor lizards

Abiotic Factors Warm temperatures Seasonal rainfall Compact soil Frequent fires set by

lightning

Geographic Distribution Large parts of:

Eastern Africa Southern Brazil Northern Australia

Dominant Plants Tall, perennial grasses Sometimes drought-tolerant and

fire-resistant trees or shrubs

Dominant Animals Predators such as lions,

leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals

Aardvarks Herbivores such as elephants,

giraffes, antelopes, and zebras Baboons Birds such as eagles, ostriches,

weaver birds, and storks Insects such as termites

Abiotic Factors o DRY!!! Low precipitation o Temperature may be

warm or cold o Soils rich in minerals, but

poor in organic material

Geographic Distribution o Africa o Asia o Middle East o United States o Mexico o South America o Australia

Where is the world’s largest

desert?

Antarctica!!! It’s bigger than

the Sahara.

Dominant Plants o Cacti and other succulents o Creosote bush and other plants

with short growth cycles

Dominant Wildlife o Predators such as mountain

lions, gray foxes and bobcats o Herbivores such as mule deer, pronghorn antelopes,

desert bighorn sheep, and kangaroo rats o Bats o Birds such as owls, hawks, and roadrunners o Insects such as ants, beetles, butterflies, flies, and

wasps o Reptiles such as tortoises, rattlesnakes, and lizards

Abiotic Factors Warm to hot summers Cold winters Moderates, seasonal

precipitation Fertile soils Occasional fires

Geographic distribution Central Asia North America Australia Central Europe Upland plateaus of South

America

Dominant Plants Lush, perennial grasses and herbs Most are resistant to drought, fire, and cold

Dominant Wildlife Predators such as coyotes and badgers—

historically included wolves and grizzly bears

Herbivores such as mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, rabbits, prairie dogs, and introduced cattle—historically included bison

Birds such as hawks, owls, bobwhites, prairie chickens, mountain plovers

Insects such as ants and grasshoppers Reptiles such as snakes

Abiotic Factors • Hot, dry summers • Cool, moist winters • Thin nutrient-poor soils • Periodic fires

Geographic Distribution • Western coasts of North

and South America • Areas around the

Mediterranean Sea • South Africa • Australia

Dominant Plants • Woody evergreen shrubs

with small leathery leaves • Fragrant, oily herbs that grow

during winter and die in summer

Dominant Wildlife • Predators such as coyotes, foxes,

bobcats, and mountain lions • Herbivores such as blacktailed deer,

rabbits, and squirrels • Birds such as hawks, California quails,

warblers, and other songbirds • Reptiles such as lizards and snakes • Butterflies

Abiotic Factors • Cold to moderate winters • Warm summers • Year-round precipitation • Fertile soils

Geographic Distribution • Eastern United States • Southeastern Canada • Most of Europe • Parts of Japan,

China, and Australia

Dominant Plants • Broadleaf deciduous trees • Some conifers • Flowering shrubs • Herbs • A ground layer of

mosses and ferns

Dominant Wildlife • Deer • Black bears • Bobcats • Turkeys • Numerous songbirds • Nut and acorn feeders such as squirrels • Omnivores such as raccoons and skunks

Abiotic Factors o Mild temperatures o Abundant precipitation

during fall, winter, and spring o Relatively cool, dry summer o Rocky, acidic soils

Geographic Distribution o Pacific coast of northwestern

United States and Canada, from northern California to Alaska

Dominant Plants o Douglas fir o Sitka spruce o Western hemlock o Redwood

Dominant Wildlife o Bears o Large herbivores such as

elk and deer o Beavers o Predators such as owls,

bobcats, and members of the weasel family

Abiotic Factors Long, cold winters Short, mild summers Moderate precipitation High humidity Acidic, nutrient-poor soil Earth’s largest terrestrial

biome

Geographic distribution Northern Europe North America Asia

Dominant Plants Needle-leaf coniferous trees

such as spruce and fir Some broadleaf deciduous trees Small, berry-bearing shrubs

Dominant Wildlife Predators such as lynxes and

timber wolves and members of the weasel family

Small herbivorous mammals Moose and other large

herbivores Beavers Songbirds and migratory birds

Abiotic Factors Strong winds Low precipitation Short and soggy summers Long, cold, and dark winters Poorly developed soild Permafrost

Geographic Distribution Northern North America Asia Europe

Dominant Plants Ground-hugging

plants such as mosses, lichens, sedges, and short grasses

Dominant Wildlife A few resident birds

and mammals that can withstand the harsh conditions

Migratory waterfowl, shore birds, musk ox, Arctic foxes, and caribou

Lemmings and other small rodents

Mountain Ranges • Found on all

continents • Conditions depend

on elevation • Precipitation rises

and temperature falls with increasing elevation

• Dominant plants and animals get smaller and hardier as the elevation increases

Polar Ice Caps • Very cold year-round • Few plants and algae—producers

are primarily lichens and mosses • North Pole:

• Dominant wildlife include polar bears, seals, and insects.

• Arctic Ocean is covered with sea ice, and ice caps cover most of Greenland

• South Pole: • Dominant wildlife includes

penguins and marine mammals including the leopard seal and a variety of large whales.

• Antarctica is covered by ice that may be up to 5 kilometers thick.

Flowing-Water Ecosystems (Rivers & Streams)

o Unidirectional flowing water

o Flowing-water ecosystems are extremely variable, depending on location and conditions.

Standing-Water Ecosystems (Lakes & Ponds)

Standing or still water

Richness depends on supply of nutrients, temperature, & sunlight

Some are seasonal, but others remain year-round

Often have limited species diversity due to isolation

Water Zones: Littoral Zone

Topmost zone near the shore

Submerged areas shallow enough to allow rooted plants to grow

Water Zones: Limnetic Zone

Near the surface Open water; further

from shore Dominated by phyto-

and zooplankton

Water Zones: Profundal Zone

Deep water Light does not

penetrate (no autotrophes)

Much colder and denser than at surface

Abiotic Factors • Water either covers the soil or is

present at or near the surface of the soil for at least part of the year

• May be flowing or standing • May be freshwater, salty, or brackish

(mixture of salt and freshwater) • Highest species diversity of all

ecosystems

Geographic Distribution • Widely distributed around globe—

especially at or near coastlines

Main Types of Wetlands • Bogs

• Often dominated by sphagnum moss

• Typically form in depressions where water collects

• Marshes • Often contain cattails,

rushes, and other tall, grass-like plants

• No trees or shrubs • Swamps

• Water flows slowly • Often look like flooded

forests • Presence of trees and shrubs

distinguishes it from a marsh

Dominant Plants • Submerged water

plants such as seagrasses and eelgrass

• Floating water plants such as water lilies and duckweed

• Emergent waterplants (roots are completely submerged) such as cattails and arrow arum

• Surrounding trees and shrubs such as silver maple, cypress, and mangrove

Dominant Wildlife • Fish – many fish depend on

wetlands as hatcheries and nursery grounds

• Amphibians – aquatic and terrestrial frogs

• Reptiles – alligators & crocodiles, snakes, lizards, turtles

• Mammals – large herbivore and predators such as the Florida panther

• Monotremes (in Australia) – platypuses

• Insects and invertebrates – shrimp & shellfish

Estuaries Areas where freshwater

empties into oceans, forming “brackish” water

Interesting diversity of life—some adapted specifically to brackish water

Often shallow

Mangrove Swamps Dominant plants are several

species of salt-tolerant trees, collectively called mangroves

Widespread across tropical regions, such as Florida and Hawaii

Example: Everglades National Park in Florida

Salt Marshes Temperate-zone estuaries

dominated by salt-tolerant grasses above the low-tide line and seagrasses under water

Found along much of the eastern coast of North America

Ocean Zones/Regions • Intertidal Zone:

• “Where the ocean meets the land”

• May be submerged or exposed as tides come in and out

• Very diverse & productive

Ocean Zones/Regions • Coral Reefs:

“Rainforests of the Sea” • Widely distributed in

shallow warm water • Nutritionally poor

water—nutrients are supplied primarily from algae & corals

• Extremely diverse (25% of all known marine species)

• Great Barrier Reef • Nearly 2,000 miles

long & 133,000 sq. mi.

• Over 2,900 individual reefs & 900 islands

Ocean Zones/Regions • Pelatic Zone:

• Open ocean • Usually cold water • Much less

productive

Ocean Zones/Regions • Benthic Zone:

• Ocean floor (below Pelagic Zone)

• Temperature decreases and pressure increases with depth

• Rich ecosystems, but no photo-synthesis

Ocean Zones/Regions • Abyssal Zone:

• Deepest parts of the ocean, including mid-ocean ridges

• Very cold water, extremely high pressures

• Deep ocean vent (chemosynthetic) ecosystems