Life in Communities Ecosystems are always changing. Sometimes they change quickly, at other times the changes can be very slow. Communities and Biomes

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1 Communities and Biomes Life in Communities Ecosystems are always changing. Sometimes they change quickly, at other times the changes can be very slow. Climate Climate is the long term pattern of weather conditions in a region. Within individual climates there are small microclimates that can vary dramatically. Three main climate zones: Polar Temperate Tropical Influences on Climate Sunlight Air and water movement Landmasses ABIOTIC FACTORS! Why don t many humans live near the North or South Pole? Biotic Factors The living components of an ecosystem that affect that ecosystem and all organisms within it. Predators/Prey Plants as habitats Microorganism populations and diversity 1

2 Range of Tolerance Biomes The ability to withstand fluctuations in biotic and abiotic environmental factors is known as tolerance. Ex. Trout or Catfish All of the abiotic factors come together to create large areas of similar conditions called biomes. Tundra Tussocks The northern most land biome Nearly treeless Covered with mosses and lichen Many animals spend the summer here Has permafrost Caribou, polar bears, muskox, mosquitoes 2

3 Caribou Polar bear Lynx Lichens and mosses Taiga Taiga Just south of the tundra Coniferous trees Pines, firs, spruces Canada is mostly Taiga Winters cold summers mild Bears, wolves, elk, moose and grouse 3

4 Temperate Forest Gray wolf Moose Grouse Taiga Temperate Deciduous Forests Temperate Deciduous Forest Leaves drop off in the fall Colorful foliage in fall Oaks, maples, birches Raccoons, birds, deer, and squirrels Eastern USA 4

5 Whitetail Deer (above and below) Racoon Deciduous Forest Sketching a Temperate Forest Activity: We re going to go outside and describe the temperate forest that s right out back! Things to look for: Evidence of climate Types of plants/animals Guesses regarding how some of the organisms interact Take notes on the above AND sketch one section of the forest. Grasslands Biomes Continued: Finishing Terrestrial Biomes Found on the interior of most continents Plains and prairies of USA Savanna and Veldt of Africa Pronghorn and prairie dogs in the USA Zebras, wildebeests, giraffes in Africa 5

6 Zebra Wildebeest Prairie dogs 6

7 Deserts Very dry and very hot Very little rain Largest desert is the Sahara in Africa Very few plants USA deserts in the Southwest Cactus and Sagebrush Lizards, insects, scorpions and snakes Western Sagebrush Lizard Sahara Desert Sagebrush Desert Cactus 7

8 Monsoon Rainforest Typified by two distinct seasons: long dry season followed by very wet season AKA dry forest or tropical deciduous forest Trees drop leaves in dry season SE Asia Woody vines, epiphytes, monkeys, birds, reptiles 8

9 Tropical Rain Forests Oriental Kingfisher Tiger Lots of rain Constant temperature (25 C) Large dense forests with giant canopies Great diversity of life Lots of insects and birds Being destroyed very rapidly Proboscis Monkey Asian Vine Snake Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Rain Forests Toucan Birds of Paradise Flowers Butterfly Jaguar 9

10 Big City Biome? Aquatic Ecosystems 10

11 Freshwater Biomes (AAARRRGGGRGLRRGGLLAR) Lifeblood of our continents Drinking water Salt concentration is <1% Important to many plants and animals Fish, amphibians, insects, reptiles, birds, etc. Pollution is a major problem in these areas Standing Water Swamp Also called lentic bodies of water Lakes, ponds, inland wetlands Stream Lake Lakes Large, natural bodies of standing water Formed with precipitation, runoff, and seepage collects in Earth s depressions Depressions formed by glaciation, crustal displacement, or volcanic activity Large lakes may have similar properties as oceans 11

12 Zones of a Lake Littoral: shallow, well-lit, close to shore. Lots of plants here Limnetic: open water, well-lit, surface of lake but farther from shore Plankton and higher animals Produces food and oxygen for most of the lake Profundal: deep, dark areas, cooler Benthic: bottom of lake, dark, cold, fairly anaerobic Wetlands An area that is covered in water for at least part of the year and supports aquatic plants. Marshes: water year round, emergent plants Swamps: water year round, woody plants Bogs: water year round, sphagnum mosses Seasonal wetlands: basin, riverine, fringe Among the richest biomes, easily damaged Luckily they are often protected! 12

13 Moving Water Bullfrog Dragonfly Alligator Also called lotic bodies of water Rivers or streams Three zones: Source: headwaters, cold, clear, narrow, swift, few nutrients Transition: less clear, warmer, more sediment and nutrients, slower current, silt Floodplain: join tributaries to empty at estuaries, warmer still, murky, slow, wide, lots of sediment Newt Trout Grizzly Bear Marine Biomes Beluga Whale Deep Sea Isopod Coral Spider Crab Crown-of-thorns starfish 13

14 Estuaries Where fresh and salt water meet River mouths Salt marshes A nursery for many marine animals Very important to marine habitats Mangroves found here Matansas River Intertidal Zone Juvenile Queen Conch Eelgrass From low tide to high tide Very hard place to live Wet & dry Hot & cool Pounding Waves View of Estuary Intertidal Zone Barnacles Fan Worms Sea Stars 14

15 Diamond-backed Terrapin Neritic Zone From low tide to open sea zone Coral reefs found here Seaweed (algae) Kelp Forests Small Plants Crabs, lobsters & small fish Kelp Forest Spiny Lobster Coral Reef Habitat Open Sea Zone Lots of plankton Fish, Birds, Whales & Dolphins Some areas of the open sea zone have more nutrients than others. Caused by up wellings or other currents Plankton Whale Shark Dolphins 15

16 Deep Sea Zone High Pressure Cold Dark Strange animals Gulper eels with a mouth bigger than half their bodies Gulper Eel Snaggletooth Deep Sea Loosejaw HATCHETFISH STOPLIGHT LOOSEJAW SLOANE S VIPERFISH COMMON FANGTOOTH 16

17 Anglerfish 17