Biomes and Aquatic Biomes and Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems

Land BiomesLand Biomes

A A biomebiome is a particular physical is a particular physical environment that contains a environment that contains a characteristic assemblage of plants characteristic assemblage of plants and animals.and animals.

Each biome has different plants and Each biome has different plants and animals living there due to its animals living there due to its climateclimate

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ClimateClimate

Climate is important in determining Climate is important in determining the characteristics of a biome.the characteristics of a biome.

Climate is the average temperature Climate is the average temperature and precipitation of an area.and precipitation of an area.

It determines what plants and It determines what plants and animals can live in that areaanimals can live in that area

MicroclimateMicroclimate

A climate within a small area that A climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate differs significantly from the climate around it is called a around it is called a microclimatemicroclimate..

Land BiomesLand BiomesThe major biomesThe major biomes

Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest Tropical dry forestTropical dry forest Tropical savannaTropical savanna DesertDesert Temperate grasslandTemperate grassland Temperate woodland and shrublandTemperate woodland and shrubland Temperate forestTemperate forest Northwestern coniferous forestNorthwestern coniferous forest Boreal forestBoreal forest TundraTundra Each is defined by a unique set of abiotic factors Each is defined by a unique set of abiotic factors

(climate) and a characteristic ecological (climate) and a characteristic ecological communitycommunity

What Biome do you live in?What Biome do you live in?

Temperate ForestTemperate Forest

Aquatic EcosystemsAquatic Ecosystems

Are determined primarily by: Are determined primarily by: Depth Depth FlowFlow TemperatureTemperature Chemistry of the overlying waterChemistry of the overlying water

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Water ChemistryWater Chemistry

Water chemistry is the amount of Water chemistry is the amount of dissolved chemicals in waterdissolved chemicals in water

Examples: salts, nutrients and oxygenExamples: salts, nutrients and oxygen

The water chemistry determines what The water chemistry determines what organisms can live in that areaorganisms can live in that area

Freshwater EcosystemsFreshwater Ecosystems

There are two types:There are two types:

Flowing-Water ecosystemsFlowing-Water ecosystems Standing-Water ecosystemsStanding-Water ecosystems

Flowing-Water EcosystemsFlowing-Water Ecosystems

Any ecosystem that flows over land.Any ecosystem that flows over land.

RiversRivers StreamsStreams CreeksCreeks BrooksBrooks

Standing-Water EcosystemsStanding-Water Ecosystems

Ecosystem where the water is standing Ecosystem where the water is standing stillstill

Lakes Lakes PondsPonds

PlanktonPlankton

Plankton – tiny, free floating organismsPlankton – tiny, free floating organisms

phytoplanktonphytoplankton

unicellular algaeunicellular algae

PhotosyntheticPhotosynthetic

base of most aquatic base of most aquatic food webs/chainsfood webs/chains

ZooplanktonZooplankton

Eat phytoplanktonEat phytoplankton

EstuariesEstuaries

Where a river meets the seaWhere a river meets the sea

Creates a mixture of salt and fresh waterCreates a mixture of salt and fresh water

Detritus – tiny pieces of organic waste Detritus – tiny pieces of organic waste (feces)(feces) Food for organisms at the beginning of the Food for organisms at the beginning of the

food chains/webfood chains/web

EstuaryEstuary

Marine EcosystemsMarine Ecosystems

Photic zone – thin surface layer where Photic zone – thin surface layer where sunlight can penetratesunlight can penetrate Where algae and plants (producers) can Where algae and plants (producers) can

grow.grow.

Aphotic zone – permanently darkAphotic zone – permanently dark

Ocean zonesOcean zones

Biologists also divide the ocean into zones Biologists also divide the ocean into zones based on depth and distance from the based on depth and distance from the shore shore

Intertidal ZoneIntertidal Zone

Zone of the ocean where the area is Zone of the ocean where the area is covered in water for part of the day and is covered in water for part of the day and is in open air for part of the day.in open air for part of the day.

Intertidal lifeIntertidal life

Organisms living here must be able to Organisms living here must be able to survive in the extreme conditions survive in the extreme conditions 1 or 2 times per day covered with water, the 1 or 2 times per day covered with water, the

rest of the time being exposed to air, sunlight rest of the time being exposed to air, sunlight and temperature changesand temperature changes

Being bombarded with waves and strong Being bombarded with waves and strong currentscurrents

Intertidal CommunitiesIntertidal Communities

There are many different intertidal communities There are many different intertidal communities throughout the world. Why?throughout the world. Why?

Climate Climate

ZonationZonation

Zonation = the prominent horizontal Zonation = the prominent horizontal banding of organisms that live in a banding of organisms that live in a particular habitatparticular habitat

This can be seen as actual bands of This can be seen as actual bands of different organisms on the rocks different organisms on the rocks

Causes:Causes: Different abiotic factorsDifferent abiotic factors CompetitionCompetition

ZonationZonation

Coastal ZoneCoastal Zone

From the low-tide From the low-tide mark to the outer mark to the outer edge of the edge of the continental shelf.continental shelf.

Abundant lifeAbundant life

Shallow water allows for a lot of Shallow water allows for a lot of photosynthesisphotosynthesis

Very rich in plankton and many other Very rich in plankton and many other organismsorganisms

Kelp ForestKelp Forest

One of the most productive coastal ocean One of the most productive coastal ocean communities is the kelp forestcommunities is the kelp forest

Kelp forestsKelp forests are named for the giant brown are named for the giant brown alga that can grow at very fast ratesalga that can grow at very fast rates

These forests are found in cold temperate These forests are found in cold temperate seas through out the world.seas through out the world.

Kelp forestKelp forest

Coral ReefsCoral Reefs

Warm, shallow water of tropical coastal Warm, shallow water of tropical coastal oceansoceans

Very diverse and productive environmentVery diverse and productive environment Named for the coral animals whose hard Named for the coral animals whose hard

calcium carbonate skeletons make up their calcium carbonate skeletons make up their primary structureprimary structure

Coral reefsCoral reefs

Open OceanOpen Ocean

Begins at the edge of Begins at the edge of the continental shelf the continental shelf and extends outward.and extends outward.

90% of the worlds 90% of the worlds oceans are open oceans are open oceanocean

Benthic ZoneBenthic Zone

The ocean floorThe ocean floor

Benthos – organisms that live on the Benthos – organisms that live on the ocean floor.ocean floor.