AP Biology Unit 8 - Biomes

Aquatic Biomes

• Lakes

• Wetlands

• Streams and Rivers

• Estuaries

• Intertidal Zone

• Pelagic Ocean

• Coral Reefs

• Marine Benthic Zone

Lakes

Standing bodies of water of varying sizes, vary in nutrient and O2 concentration as well as salinity

Wetlands

Areas covered with water at least long enough to support aquatic plants

• low in O2 and rich in organic matter that helps filter pollutants

• very productive with high rates of photosynthesis and diverse plant and animal life

Streams and Rivers

Have currents, usually clear, cold, and turbulent

Estuaries

A transition area between a river and the sea

• salt and fresh water mix, home to algae, grasses, invertebrates, and birds

Intertidal Zone (Tide Pools)

Periodically submerged and exposed by the tides, usually twice daily

• clams, worms, octopi, anemones, fish, crabs, sponges, etc.

Oceanic Pelagic Zones

Vast open blue water, high O2 levels, low nutrient levels, covers 70% of earths surface

• plankton and bacteria provide nutrients to smaller invertebrates which are fed upon in turn by fish, turtles, and marine mammals

Coral Reefs

Corals are alive and form living reefs, need a lot of O2, clear water, and stable water temperatures

• algae, fish, and invertebrates live here in the corals

Marine Benthic Zone

the sea floor, from shadow to abyssal, deeper = less sunlight, warmth, and O2 + pressure increases

• deep sea hydrothermal vents made by volcanoes are found here, along with weird animals

Photic Zone

areas in bodies of water where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis

Aphotic Zone

areas where little light penetrates

Benthic Zone

bottom of all aquatic biomes, the substrate (sand and sediment)

Terrestrial Biomes

Characterized by weather, plants, and animals living in a certain area

• Tropical Forests

• Savannas

• Deserts

• Chaparral

• Temperate Grasslands

• Temperate Deciduous Forests

• Coniferous Forests

• Tundra

Tropical Forests

occurs in equatorial areas where the temperature is warm and days are 11-12 hours long year round

• one of the most complex biomes with a large diversity of species

Savannas

dominated by grasses and scattered trees (Lion King)

Deserts

the driest of all biomes, low and unpredictable rainfall, high temperatures, dry air

Chaparral

regions with dense, spiny shrubs with tough, evergreen leaves, mildly rainy winters and hot dry summers (San Diego)

Temperate Grasslands

grassy areas with few trees and long cold winters (Chicago)

Temperate Deciduous Forests

forests with deciduous (shedding leaves annually) trees, cold winters, hot summers

Coniferous Forests (Taiga)

cone-bearing evergreen trees, largest biome on earth

Tundra

between the taiga and permanently frozen polar regions, treeless, permafrost (permanently frozen subsoil)

Canopy

upper layer of trees/leaves in a forest

Litter Layer

the forest floor