Do Now 427 OBJECTIVE Identify and describe the

Do Now 4/27 OBJECTIVE: Identify and describe the characteristics of major terrestrial and aquatic biomes TASK: Copy definition into notes: A biome is a group of ecosystems in the biosphere with similar abiotic and biotic components

Our Spirit Week Schedule • Wednesday 4/27 – Biomes (R) • Thursday 4/28 – Ecology Review (R) • Friday 4/29 – Spirit Fair (BJ) • MONDAY 5/2 – ECOLOGY TEST (BJ)

So how many biomes are there? • No fixed number • 5, 7, 9, or more… depends on how specific you are • We’ll look at 9….

What to do? • Complete your chart as we discuss each biome.

Terrestrial Biomes • Terrestrial biomes are land environments • They are largely defined by patterns of precipitation and temperature.

Tundra • Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning treeless plain. • Extremely cold climate (covered by ice for > 6 months /yr) • Low biotic diversity • Permafrost • Short season of growth and reproduction • Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material • Large population oscillations

Taiga • The average temperature is below freezing for six months out of the year • Drier than temperate forest • • There are not a lot of species of plants in the taiga because of the harsh conditions. Many coniferous trees. Needleshaped leaves conserve water also known as the boreal forest. .

• Moderate temperature and rainfall • Diversity of plant and animal species, especially deciduous trees (that lose their leaves in the autumn) • Pronounced seasons • Eastern US & Central Europe

Temperate Grassland • Extremely fertile soil • Dominated by grasses • Semi-arid (10 – 30 inches of rain / year) • “midwest”

Savanna • Hotter & wetter than temperate grassland • warm temperature year round • Dry & Rainy “seasons” • Plants of the savannas are highly specialized to grow in this environment of long periods of drought. • Most of the animals on the savanna have long legs or wings to be able to go on long migrations • Huge areas of savanna are lost to the Sahara desert every year because of overgrazing and farming.

• Very Dry! (<10 in. / yr) • Usually hot, but defined by precipitation – Antarctica is a desert too! • Specialized plants adapted to low moisture

Tropical Rain Forest • abundant precipitation ( > 100 in. / year) and year round warmth. • No seasons: each species has evolved its own flowering and fruiting seasons. • Canopy of tree cover • Most biodiverse biome • Many unique, specialized species

Aquatic Biomes • Aquatic biomes are underwater, and there are only two major types: – Freshwater – Marine • Earth is a blue planet: – 70% of surface – Majority of organisms – Majority of photosynthesis – Abiogenesis / evolution

Freshwater Ecosystems • Lakes, streams, rivers, marshes, and estuaries of all types. • Great variety, due to abiotic factors like: – Salt concentration – Light availability – Dissolved O 2, CO 2, and other nutrients. • Hypotonic environment.

Bull Falls, Shenandoah

Marine Ecosystems

Biome Review • • • Tundra Taiga Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Grassland Desert Savanna Tropical Rain Forest Others? (Chaparral) Freshwater / Marine