Student_Copy_of_2024__Land_Biomes

Ecosystems on Land

  • Interconnectedness of Life:

    • "There is a deep interconnectedness of all life on earth, from the tiniest organisms, to the largest ecosystems." - Bryant McGill

Observations

  • Graph Analysis:

    • Importance of prior knowledge and educated guesses in understanding ecological data.

    • Discussion prompts for students to engage critically with environmental graphs.

Terrestrial Biomes Overview (Topic 1.2)

Required Course Content

  • Enduring Understanding ERT-1:

    • Ecosystems are the result of both biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) interactions.

Learning Objectives

  • Essential Knowledge ERT-1.B:

    • Definition of a biome and its characteristic communities:

      • Biomes are defined by their climate- adapted flora and fauna.

    • Major terrestrial biomes include:

      • Taiga

      • Temperate Rainforests

      • Temperate Seasonal Forests

      • Tropical Rainforests

      • Shrubland

      • Temperate Grassland

      • Savanna

      • Desert

      • Tundra

    • Global Distribution of Resources:

      • Influenced by climate, geography, latitude, altitude, nutrient availability, and soil.

    • Dynamic Distribution:

      • The distribution of biomes can change due to global climate changes.

Biome Map Activity

  • Instructions for Students:

    1. Color code the biome map.

    2. Mark your location.

    3. Identify the two closest biomes.

Major Terrestrial Biomes (page 7)

  • List of Biomes:

    • Includes taiga, temperate rainforests, temperate seasonal forests, tropical rainforests, shrubland, temperate grassland, savanna, desert, tundra.

Role of Climate

Weather vs. Climate

  • Weather: Day-to-day atmospheric conditions.

  • Climate: Year-over-year conditions in a specific region.

    • Main climate zones identified:

      • Polar (cold areas)

      • Temperate (hot/cold seasons)

      • Tropical (always warm)

Abiotic Factors

  • Definition: Non-living components that influence biome types.

  • Significant Factors: Temperature and precipitation influenced by:

    1. Latitude

    2. Altitude

    3. Prevailing winds

    4. Proximity to oceans and lakes

    5. Nearby mountains

Latitude and Its Effects

  • Latitude: Distance from the equator affecting sunlight and temperature.

    • Tropics (0°-23.5°)

    • Temperate Zones (30°-60°)

    • Arctic/Antarctic (65°-90°)

  • Higher latitudes receive less direct sunlight, affecting temperature and productivity.

Altitude Effects

  • Definition: Elevation above sea level impacts temperature and primary productivity as it increases.

Climate Diagrams (Climatographs)

Overview

  • Function: Combination graphs that show temperature and precipitation trends.

  • Inferences: Can provide insights into ecosystem conditions, including:

    • Typical growing seasons

    • Biodiversity potential based on climatic conditions

Analysis of Climatographs

  • Key points to observe in climatographs:

    • Temperature patterns (seasonal or consistent)

    • Rainfall (seasonal or consistent)

Ecosystem Specifics

Grasslands

  • Characteristics: Moderate precipitation, warm temperatures, and some of the most productive ecosystems.

  • Threats to Grasslands:

    • Overgrazing

    • Agriculture

    • Urban development

Forests

  • Type of Forests: Includes tropical rainforests, temperate deciduous forests, boreal forests (taiga).

  • Key features consist of high biodiversity and complex ecosystems.

Deserts

  • Characteristics: Extremely low precipitation, extreme temperatures, specialized flora like succulents.

  • Types of Deserts: Include subtropical, temperate, and polar deserts.

  • Threats: Residential development and off-road vehicle usage.

Biodiversity Trends

  • General Trend: Biodiversity usually increases as one moves from polar regions towards the equator due to increased sunlight and precipitation.

Student Activities

  • Biomes Assessment Questions:

    • Students will analyze data to infer patterns in climate and biodiversity.

    • Engagement in class discussions about human impacts and ecological conservation.

Conclusion

  • Engagement with Biomes: Students encouraged to reflect on their understanding of biomes, their characteristics, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

Ecosystem Specifics

Grasslands

  • Types of Grasslands:

    • Temperate Grasslands: Characterized by moderate rainfall (25-75 cm annually) and fertile soil, making them ideal for agriculture; they have distinct seasons with hot summers and cold winters.

    • Savannas: Found in tropical regions, these grasslands have scattered trees and a distinct wet and dry season, with rainfall averaging between 75-150 cm annually.

    • Steppe: Similar to temperate grasslands but typically drier and has more extreme temperature variations.

  • Characteristics: Moderate precipitation, warm temperatures, and are among the most productive ecosystems.

  • Threats: Overgrazing, agriculture, urban development, and climate change affecting biodiversity and soil quality.

Forests

  • Types of Forests:

    • Tropical Rainforests: Located near the equator, these forests have high biodiversity, warm temperatures, and consistent rainfall (more than 200 cm annually) year-round.

    • Temperate Deciduous Forests: Found in temperate regions, characterized by four distinct seasons and trees that shed leaves in winter; rainfall averages from 75-150 cm annually.

    • Boreal Forests (Taiga): Dominated by coniferous trees, these forests are found in Northern latitudes; they face long, cold winters and short summers with precipitation mainly as snow (average 40-100 cm annually).

  • Key Features: High biodiversity, complex ecosystems with various layers (canopy, understory, forest floor).

Deserts

  • Types of Deserts:

    • Subtropical Deserts: Hot deserts, such as the Sahara, receive less than 25 cm of annual rainfall and have extreme temperature changes between day and night.

    • Temperate Deserts: Found in temperate regions, they experience more moderate temperatures with significant temperature fluctuations and low precipitation.

    • Polar Deserts: These cold deserts have extremely low precipitation, mostly in the form of snow, and temperatures that remain below freezing for much of the year.

  • Characteristics: Extremely low precipitation, extreme temperatures, specialized flora like succulents and desert-adapted animals.

  • Threats: Residential development, off-road vehicle usage, habitat loss, and climate change impacting native species.

Conclusion

Each of these ecosystems plays a crucial role in biodiversity and the overall health of the planet. Understanding their specific characteristics and threats aids in conservation efforts.