Studied by 6 people
Biomes, and ecosystems
All energy within ecosystems come from the?
All energy within ecosystems come from the Sun
Population is comprised of the same?
Population is comprised of the same Species
How is the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors illustrated?
They are illustrated through relative size and flow, as well as the store of nutrients between vegetation, litter, and soil
What are Climax communities?
Ecosystem that have similar kind of stable communities; can be grouped into biomes
What is a biome?
Large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community.
What are some biomes in the tropical region?
Tropical forests
grasslands
Desert
What is a biome in the Subarctic regions?
Boreal forest
What is a biome in the Arctic region?
Tundra
What are the 3 climatic factors?
Latitude: Line from West to East
Altitude: Elevation above sea level
Precipitation: Average yearly rainfall
What are two factors biome location is based on?
Altitude
latitude
What are the 3 types of desert biomes?
tropical
temperate
cold
What are the 4 major components of soil?
Water (25%)
Air (25%)
Organic matter (6%)
Parent material (24%)
*Parent material is mineral content of soil
When studying a biome, why do ecologists look at the plants/vegetation present in the climax community rather than the animals?
vegetation doesn’t migrate and is long term unlike animals.
Overview of the grassland biome; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
Economic benefits
Temperate: Praire Tropical: Savanna
Characteristics: frequent fires, large grazing animals, tall (humid and wet), and short (dry and hot) grass, soil rich in organic matter.
Climate: Rainfall-Seasonal, 10-60 in/yr, avg temp, 20F- 70F
Location: Central North US, Central Asia, Africa, South America, Southern India, Northern Australia
Threats: conversion to agricultural land, global warming
Benefits: land rich in soil used for agriculture
Overview of the Hot desert biome; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
Characteristics: Very dry, hot days, cold nights, scattered shrubbery, thin porous soil, plant adaptations (Deep and surface root systems, spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss)
Climate: Rainfall <10 in/yr, avg temp: 64F
Location: North and South Africa, Middle East, Asia, Southwest US, North Mexico
Threats: Urban developing, mining
Overview of the Cold desert biome; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
benefits
Characteristics: mountainous animals with thick fur, rock covered with lichen, few plants, sandy alkaline soil
Climate: Rainfall 15-26 in/yr, Short summers
Location: Greenland, Iran, Antarctica, Turkestan
Threats: Climate change
benefits: Carbon sink
Overview of the Tundra biome; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
benefits
Characteristics: Low growing shrubbery and grasses, 8-10 weeks growing period, thin soil with permafrost, low biotic diversity
Climate: Summer 8-10 weeks, mild avg temp 45F-50F, winter avg temp 30F-20F, rainfall: 6in/yr
Location: Greenland, Alaska, Northern Russia, Northern Canada, Coastal Arctic
Threats: Mining and drilling, destroying land and species as migration patterns and habits are disrupted, system is very fragile and easily disturbed.
benefits: Oil feed
Overview of the Tropical rainforest biome; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
benefits
Characteristics: high biodiversity, thin layer of fertile soil, many plants with unique adaptations
Climate: Hot and humid, 20-35C, 2mm rainfall annually
Location: Near equator, SA Africa, SE Asia, Madagascar, Pacific islands
Threats: Deforestation, slash and burn, agriculture, poaching, damming, logging
benefits: Ecotourism, agriculture, regulate climate, sequester carbon
Overview of the Boreal forest biome; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
benefits
Characteristics: many coniferous trees, thick furred animals, acidic soils, many wetlands
Climate: Long winters, short summers, 25-50cm of rainfall
Location: Northern Latitude, Canada, Russia
Threats: Habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change
benefits: Logging, tourism, mining
Overview of the Temperate deciduous forest; State:
Characteristics
Climate
Location
Threats
benefits
Characteristics: Leaves fall seasonally, soil is fertile due to leaf litter
Climate: Warmer summers, cold winters, summer avg 21C, and winter drop below 0C, 75-50cm Rainfall
Location: Eastern Us, Europe, Asia
Threats: Habitat loss from development and agriculture
benefits: Timer, agriculture, prevent soil erosion, tree moderate climate
What is ecological succession?
Biological change in the structure of a community over time
What is primary succession?
occurs on newly formed habitats with no existing community ( after glacier release or volcano erupts)
What is secondary succession?
Occurs on sites that have previously supported communities (after a hurricane)
What are pioneer species?
First species to colonize
What are intermediate stages?
Stages of succession between the pioneer species and climax community
What does NPP stand for? and what does it mean?
Net Primary Productivity
refers to a per day, week or year
NPP= GPP-R (respiration)
What. is GPP?
Gross Primary production
total energy captured by primary producers
what is the formula for efficiency?
Energy available after the transfer/ Energy available before transfer X 100
(usually in kilojules)
