terrestrial + aquatic biomes

tropical forests

∙ midsection around equator

∙ warm stable temp

∙ lots of precipitation; consistent rain = rainforest, seasonal rain = dry forest

∙ vertical layering/stratification

∙ lots of animal diversity compared to other terrestrial biomes

desert

∙ 30 degrees N/S of equator

∙ extreme temp, low precipitation

∙ low scattered vegetation; C4 + CAM photosynthesis

∙ adapt to account for water conservation, cope with extreme temps (delaying germination and loss of vegetation)

∙ burrowing and nocturnal animals

∙convergence: ex) cactus in Americas vs euphorb in Africa

savanna

∙ warm temp, low but consistent rainfall

∙ less structure and diversity

∙ mostly grasses and nonwoody plants

chaparral

∙ mostly in mediterranean climate

∙ mild altitude coastal regions

∙ mild rainy winters, dry summer

∙ mostly shrubs that have adapted to fire

∙ settled/used for agriculture

temperate grasslands

∙ intermediate temp

∙ dry winter, wet summer

∙ grasses and nonwoody plants, deep fertile soil

∙ converted to farmland

temperate deciduous (broadleaf) forest

∙ midlatitudes

∙ decent precip

∙ warm summer and cold winter; drop leaves in winter

∙ rich soil: maples, oaks

∙ logging, agriculture, urbanization

coniferous forests

∙ LARGEST terrestrial biome!

∙ short summer, harsh cold winter due to higher latitudes

∙ poor soil

∙ cone-bearing trees

∙ depend on fire for germination

∙ temperate rain forests in NW N.A.

∙ old-growth stands at risk of disappearing due to logging

tundra

∙ northern latitudes

∙ alpine regions above treeline (high altitudes)

∙ short summer, long cold winter

∙ permafrost, low growing vegetation

∙ mineral and oil extraction

aquatic biomes

∙ characterized based on physical and chemical environment

∙ marine vs freshwater

∙ less latitudinal variation

lake zones

∙ littoral

∙ limnetic

∙ photic

∙ aphotic

∙ pelagic

∙ benthic

littoral

∙ near shore, shallow

limnetic

∙ away from shore

photic

∙ top layer where light can get through

aphotic

∙ below photic, doesn't receive enough light to support photosynthesis

pelagic

∙ photic + aphotic away from shore

benthic

∙ substrate on bottom and organisms that live there

oligotrophic lakes

∙ few nutrients

∙ few producers

∙ clear water

eutrophic lakes

∙ lots of nutrients

∙ lots of phytoplankton

∙ murky green water

∙ fertilizer runoff -> algal blooms -> depletion of oxygen

streams & rivers

∙ rivers start in mountains -> headwater stream (1st stage of water shed)

∙ eventually leads to creeks, rivers

∙ impacted by pollution, runoff

wetlands

∙ sluggish/standing water at shallow depths that allows plants to grow

∙ water saturated some/most of the time

∙ lots of life, productive

∙ filter pollutants (act like sponges)

∙ acts like a buffer to reduce flooding

∙ fringe wetlands

estuaries

∙ transition between river and ocean

∙ salinity varies based on the tide; osmoregulators and osmoconformers

∙ impacted by filling, dredging, pollution

ocean zones

∙ neritic zone

∙ benthic zone

∙ pelagic

∙ oceanic province

∙ intertidal zone

∙ photic, aphotic

∙ abyssal zone

neritic

over continental shelf

benthic

∙ the bottom/sea floor

pelagic

∙ open water away from continental shelves

oceanic province

∙ off shore

intertidal zone

∙ submerged at high tide, exposed at low tide

∙ rocky/sandy substrate

∙ primary producers = algae!

∙ many rocky intertidal areas along Pacific coast

abyssal zone

∙ part of ocean floor where light does not penetrate

∙ cold temps and intense pressure

tropical neritic biome

∙ warm stratified oligotrophic waters

∙ coral reefs contribute to diversity

∙ global warming and pollution; sensitive to pH and temp., ocean acidification

temperate neritic biome

∙ cold, eutrophic waters -> most productive

∙ upwelling: surface water goes off shore, replaced by cold nutrient rich water that rises up

∙ phytoplankton blooms and kelp forests

∙ > 50% of fish productivity, despite being less than 1% of ocean area

marine benthic biome

∙ depths of ocean

∙ not enough light that reaches this zone for photosynthesis

∙ depends on organic marine snow that comes from photic surface water

∙ small, separate groups of chemoautotrophs

oceanic pelagic biome

∙ 70% biosphere

∙ overfishing, pollution, global warming

∙ whales, fish, & plankton, where the latter are key producers !

∙ low nutrients, high dispersal