The area on and near the Earth s surface where living things exist. The biosphere:

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1 The area on and near the Earth s surface where living things exist The biosphere:

2 The Biosphere If you use an apple to model the world, which part of the apple would represent the biosphere?

3 Today define: biotic, abiotic, biome, adaptations factors that influence biomes biome classification, biodiversity climatographs biome examples (count how many you ve been to) workbook pages

4 Some useful definitions Biotic: living things (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi) Abiotic: non-living things (air, water, soil, etc.) Biome: a large region with similar biotic and abiotic components (we ll focus on terrestrial) Biome classification mainly based on: precipitation and temperature (other factors: latitude, elevation, ocean currents, biotic)

5 Biome classification

6 Biomes and biotic factors Biomes often identified with characteristic biotic factors (e.g., cactus = desert, caribou = tundra) Biotic factors have special adaptations for that biome Adaptations: allow an organism to survive and reproduce better

7 Adaptations (for specific biomes) Structural: physical feature that helps an organism survive e.g., A wolf s large paws help run in snow Physiological: physical or chemical event inside the body of an organism that enables survival. e.g., a wolf s constant body temp. Behavioural: a behaviour that helps an organism survive e.g., Wolves hunt in packs to capture large prey

8 Factors that influence the characteristics and distribution of biomes Latitude: the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees Influences temperature and precipitation Tropical zones: warm and wet

9 Factors that influence the characteristics and distribution of biomes Elevation: the height of a land mass above sea level atmosphere is thinner at higher elevations retains less heat

10 Factors that influence the characteristics and distribution of biomes Ocean currents: carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas Warm currents meet land = temperate

11 Climate Determined by temperature and precipitation Climatograph shows average temperature and precipitation for a location over 30 years or more Biomes are often defined using climatograph information

12 Biomes at the same latitude tend to have similar characteristics Latitude = degrees north or south of the equator What about elevation?

13 BC and NZ: Similar biomes? If biotic and abiotic conditions are similar, similar biomes can exist far apart where is this?

14 Where is this?

15 Biomes of the world

16 Canada s biomes

17 Climatographs for Tofino and Osoyoos

18 Canadian Biomes: Temperate Hey look! That s where we live!!! Rainforest

19 Temperate Rainforest Where?Coastal: BC, Chile, Australia, NZ Precipitation > 200cm/yr Average temp: 5 to 25 C Ocean winds drop moisture (windward) Plants: tall trees with mosses & lichens, forest floor: ferns, fungi, mosses Animals: mostly live on floor, eat seeds insects in bark

20 Canadian Biomes: Boreal Forest

21 Boreal Forest Where? N. Hemisphere Precipitation: cm/yr (snow) Average temp: -25 to 15 C Plants: coniferous trees (cone-bearing), few understory Animals: birds migrate or eat seeds, small mammals burrow, large mammals have thick coats and large bodies (moose), fur colour changes (showshoe hare)

22 Canadian Biomes: Grassland Temperate grassland = prairie Tropical grassland =savannah

23 Grasslands: temperate (tm) and tropical (tr) Where? Every continent Precipitation: cm/yr (tm) cm/yr (tr) Average temp: -10 to 30 C (tm) 20 to 30 C (tr) Plants: trees are scarce (drought/fire/grazing), grasses have deep roots Animals: large grazing mammals in groups and predators wild horses, buffalo, wolves, coyotes (tm) zebra, giraffes, lions, cheetahs (tr)

24 Canadian Biomes: Tundra

25 Tundra Permafrost (permanently frozen soil), flat Top layer melts in summer soggy Plants: short grasses, lichens, moss, shallow roots Animals: White fur in winter, compact bodies, shorter legs and ears, slower growth/reproduction (heat/energy)

26 Canadian Biomes: Temperate Deciduous Forest

27 Temperate Deciduous Forest Where? E. Canada, E. US, E. Asia & W. Europe Precipitation: cm/yr (non-seasonal) Average temp: -30 to +30 C (seasonal) Plants layered: 1) trees, 2) understory, 3) shrubs, 4) berries, 5) floor: ferns, herbs, mosses Animals: birds migrate in winter, squirrels, rabbits, skunks, cougars, deer, wolves, bears, and amphibians

28 Canada s only Desert - Osoyoos

29 Canadian Biomes Desert (cold, hot exist elsewhere) Where? hot: temperate/tropical regions 30 N or S, cold: interior of continents, rain shadow of mt above 30 N and below 30 S Precipitation:<25cm/yr both Avg temp: hot 10 to 40 C, cold -2 to 30 C Plants: reduce water loss thick/waxy (e.g., cacti, sagebrush, 30 m roots!) Animals: reduce water loss thick skin, scales, burrow in ground to escape extreme temperatures (e.g., reptiles, scorpions, coyotes, foxes) Days are hot, nights are cold

30 Permanent Ice (Polar Ice)

31 Biomes of the world (not ) Permanent Ice Polar Ice Where? Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica Precipitation: <50cm/yr, mostly snow Avg. Temp: -5 to -30 C Plants: withstand cold and drought (e.g., lichens, mosses, some flowering plants) Animals: blubber/fat, fur/feathers, snuggle (e.g., walruses lay in herds, have no external ear, penguins, polar bears, seals

32 Tropical Rainforest

33 Biomes of the world (not ) Tropical Rainforest Where: a wide band around equator (between Tropic of Cancer & Capricorn) Precipitation: 250 cm/yr Avg. Temp: C Plants: Tall trees, dense canopy, vines, epiphytes, drip tips, waxy leaves (e.g., orchids, strangler fig, plumeria) Diverse animals: mammals, reptiles, insects (e.g., tapir, jaguar, fer-de-lance)

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35 Biodiversity in Ecosystems refers to the variety and # of different individuals and species. Healthy ecosystems generally have high biodiversity. Wetlands provide habitats. Most biodiversity losses occur from loss of habitat. Humans often have a negative impact on biodiversity. Many efforts are now made to lessen this impact in order to maintain biodiversity. Ecological management programs try to balance human progress with maintaining biodiversity.

36 Today define: biotic, abiotic, biome, adaptations factors that influence biomes biome classification, biodiversity climatographs examples of biomes (count how many you ve been to) workbook pages