Terrestrial Biomes & Aquatic Ecosystems

LARGE ECOSYSTEMS
Human-classified divisions
Same types of climates = similar types of vegetation Similar vegetation = similar biome exact same flora, fauna, or physical abiotic makeup

Terrestrial Ecosystems or Biomes

10 Types

Aquatic Ecosystems
3 types

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

Terrestrial Biomes
Large area characterized by its climate and the plants and animals that live in the area contains related ecosystems.
Tundra Polar Ice Taiga/Coniferous Forests Mountainous regions Temperate Deciduous Forest Tropical Rainforest Chaparral Temperate Grassland Savanna Desert

Tundra

Tundra (Polar and Alpine)

Tundra = treeless plain
Flat terrain with low shrubs, grasses, sedge, mosses, lichens; low biodiversity

One-fourth of Earths terrestrial surface Present in northernmost latitudes ( 60 N) Desert-like rainfall (30-50 cm or 12-20 in per year) but bogs and marshes in summer rainy season due to permafrost

Tundra (contd)
Permafrost condition of permanent frozen soil beginning ~ 1 meter (m) below surface and extending down to 500 m
Water can not drain

Plants produce in short 50-day season Year-round: Arctic lemmings, hares, foxes Summer migratory animals seeking food No reptiles or amphibians

Taiga

Taiga
Also known as the Boreal or northern forests covered with coniferous trees such as firs, pines, spruces, and cedars (dominant vegetation) located south of tundra Largest biome on Earth; low biodiversity Winters: very cold and snowy Summers: warm, rainy, and humid Large mammals, fur-bearing animals Very few reptiles and amphibians

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Majority of eastern US, as well as continental western Europe and east Asia Deciduous trees (with seasonal leaf loss) including maples, beeches, oaks, and hickories, as well as understory of woody shrubs and vines and herbaceous plants Much precipitation (75 to 200 cm /yr) (3-8x that of tundra) Milder winters, warm to hot summers Great variety of animals, including reptiles and amphibians

Temp. Deciduous Forest (contd)

Abundance of pines (evergreens) in the SE US is only temporary Succession as ecosystem ages, new flora species replace previous ones (e.g., grass to low shrubs and vines to evergreens to hardwoods); as flora change so will fauna Here, climax successional stage is oak/hickory forest

Temperate Grassland

Temperate Grassland
Areas of predominantly tall, mixed, or short grasses sandwiched between temperate deciduous forests and deserts Annual precipitation of 25-100 cm Extremely fertile soil (US Midwest farms) Natural grasslands destroyed for agriculture; very little left in world Short grass prairie crops and cattle

Savanna
Subtype of grassland: tropical grassland in Southern Hemisphere (Africa, South America, and Australia) Seasonal drought, warm climate, dotted with stands of trees, and home to typical large mammals (e.g. in Africa, elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, spring boks, cape buffalo, etc.)

Desert

Desert: Got Water?

Desert area receiving < 25 cm annual precipitation; evaporation > precipitation Deserts may be cold, temperate, or hot Flora and fauna specialized to survive with little water collect and conserve Soils poor because lack of water = very little biomass, or net productivity, low organics = inability to hold water Concentration of inorganic salts high

Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Rainforest
Large warm equatorial areas, abundant annual precipitation (200-450 cm and even to 1000 cm for some) with high biomass productivity and biodiversity 7% of Earths land mass under massive destruction; can not be replaced Poor, acidic soil: plants uptake quicklydecomposed organic nutrients

Polar Ice and Mountains

Polar Regions:
Cold, dry, devoid of terrestrial plant life Animals capable of living in frigid conditions and basis of survival on highly productive marine ecosystem

Mountains:
Increase in altitude similar to northern latitudes (cooler climate and conifers) Rain shadow on lee side (desert area)

Chaparral
Not a grassland Punctuated with lowgrowing evergreen shrubs, pines, and scrub oaks Lands on Western coast lines with Mediterranean type climate (wet mild winter/ hot dry summer, ocean winds)

Biome Ecological Concerns

Tundra/Taiga ore mining, oil drilling, ecosystem fragmentation, global warming/species changes Temperate Deciduous Forests human destruction for resources and population Temperate Grasslands very little remaining, non-native grass species; agriculture Deserts In US, human encroachment Tropical Rain Forests - human destruction for resources and population; expansive loss of species, biomass net productivity

Aquatic Ecosystems
Marine
Intertidal Areas Coral Reefs Estuaries fresh water from streams and rivers spills into oceans Sargasso Sea (middle of Atlantic Ocean floating rafts of algae called sargassum) Polar Ice Arctic Ocean and ocean around Antarctica

Freshwater
Stream and River; Pond and Lake

Wetland
Marshes and Swamps

Marine Ecosystems
Photic zone = surface to 100 m down; photosynthesis occurs

Saltwater oceans cover of Earths surface.

Fig. 32.34

Marine Ecosystems, cont.

Intertidal Zone: the place where the ocean meets the land; area is exposed to the air for part of the day; sea grasses, periwinkle snails, and herons are common in intertidal mudflat; sea stars and anemones live on rocky shores; clams, crabs, snails, and conchs are common on sandy beaches
Neritic Zone: Ocean floor starts to slope downward as you move away from shore; water is warm and receives a lot of sunlight; plankton and seaweeds common; sea turtles, dolphins, corals, sponges, and colorful fishes dominate CORAL REEFS!

Marine Ecosystems, cont.

Oceanic Zone: Sea floor drops sharply; contains deep water of open ocean; many unusual animals are adapted to this zone, such as whales, squids, fishes that glow, sharks, etc.
Benthic Zone: Ocean floor; deepest parts do not get any sunlight and are very cold; animals, such as fishes, worms, sea urchins, and crabs, have special adaptations to the deep, dark water

Marine Ecosystem
ESTUARY Coastal point of contact between freshwater and saltwater; mix = brackish water Constant mixing stirs up nutrients for photosynthesizers; animal life abundant As productive as tropical rainforests and coral reefs Concerns:
Although protected, human pollution and encroachment threaten health of estuaries

Marine contd
Abundance of life is generally greater:
Nearer coast (intertidal zone) due to stirring action of waves and nearer surface from light In polar regions rather than tropical regions (abundant food plankton - for large organisms) In tropical coral reefs along shallow coastlines

Marine contd
Ecological Concerns:
Overfishing and industrial fishing techniques that destroy deep water habitats Human pollution of the coastal waters (sewage, construction erosion, chemical use, etc.) Human physical destruction of sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs, tidal pools

Freshwater Ecosystems

Inland freshwater streams, ponds, and lakes cover 2.1% of Earths surface.

Freshwater Ecosystems
Littoral Zone - area of water closest to edge of lake or pond; cattails, rushes, algae, water lilies; small animals, snails, insects, clams, worms, frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, and snakes Open-Water Zone the zone of a pond or lake that extends from the littoral zone and that is only as deep as light can reach bass, lake trout, and other fishes
Deep-Water Zone the zone of a lake or pond below the open-water zone, where no light reaches carp, catfish, worms, crustaceans, fungi, and bacteria

Freshwater contd
Natural lake nutrient concentrations (phosphorus often is limiting factor)
Shallow, nutrient rich = eutrophic
Abundant aquatic photosynthesis and animals (cloudy, murky water) Occurs naturally over long periods of time

Deeper, nutrient poor = oligotrophic

Few nutrients to aid photosynthesis, little animal life (clear water)

Freshwater Concerns
Artificial eutrophication of lakes: nutrient rich sewage, fertilizers, construction erosion, etc. feed algae
Algal bloom leads to accumulation of dead algae; decomposition by oxygen-using bacteria; fish kills

Clean Water Act has helped, but battle not over

(Pollutants regulated under the CWA include "priority" pollutants, including various toxic pollutants; "conventional" pollutants, such as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), fecal coliform, oil and grease, and pH; and "non-conventional" pollutants, including any pollutant not identified as either conventional or priority. The CWA regulates both direct and indirect discharges. )

Wetland
Land remaining wet for at least part of the year (bog, marsh, swamp, tidal marshes) and very productive Most are inland, freshwater Soils and plants can capture pollutants, act as wastewater system and clean up Play important role in flood control Concerns:
Federal protection requires restoration, but many destroyed Loss of migratory bird habitat

Marshes and Swamps

Marshes
Treeless wetland ecosystem where plants grow; found in shallow areas along shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams; grasses, reeds, bulrushes, wild rice, muskrats, turtles, frogs, and birds dominate

Swamps
Wetland ecosystem in which trees and vines grow; found in low-lying areas and beside slow-moving rivers; flooded part of the year; willows, bald cypresses, oaks, poison ivy, water lilies, orchids, fish, snakes, and birds dominate