Ecosystems and Biomes - Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food Chains and Food Webs
The movement of energy though an ecosystem can be
shown in diagrams called food chains and food webs.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Consumers
Click the Video button to watch a movie about consumers.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Cycles of Matter
The Water Cycle
The processes of evaporation, condensation, and
precipitation make up the water cycle.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Cycles of Matter
The Carbon and Oxygen Cycles
In ecosystems, the
processes by which
carbon and oxygen are
recycled are linked.
Producers, consumers,
and decomposers play
roles in recycling carbon
and oxygen.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Cycles of Matter
The Nitrogen Cycle
In the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen moves from the air to the soil,
into living things, and back into the air.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biogeography
Continental Drift
One factor that has affected how species are distributed is
the motion of Earth’s continents.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biogeography
Limits to Dispersal
The typical weather pattern in an area over a long period of
time is the area’s climate.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Rain Forest Biomes
Temperate rain forests receive a great deal of rain and have
moderate temperatures.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Rain Forest Biomes
Tropical rain forests are wet, warm biomes that contain an
amazing variety of plants and other organisms.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Desert Biomes
A desert is an area that receives less than 25 centimeters of
rain per year.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Grassland Biomes
A grassland is an area that is populated mostly by grasses
and other nonwoody plants.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Deciduous Forest Biomes
Many of the trees in the deciduous forest are deciduous
trees, which shed their leaves and grow new ones each year.
A deciduous forest receives at least 50 centimeters of
precipitation each year. Temperatures vary greatly through
the year.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Boreal Forest Biomes
Most of the trees in the boreal forest are coniferous trees,
trees that produce their seeds in cones and have leaves
shaped like needles. Winters in the boreal forest are cold and
very snowy, but summers are warm and rainy enough to melt
all the snow.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Tundra
The tundra is an extremely cold and dry biome. Most of the
soil in the tundra is permafrost, which is frozen all year.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Mountains and Ice
Some areas of land are not part of any major biome. These
areas include mountain ranges and land that is covered with
thick sheets of ice.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Biome Climates
An ecologist collected climate
data from two locations. The
graph shows the monthly
average temperatures in the
two locations. The total yearly
precipitation in Location A is
250 cm. In Location B, the total
yearly precipitation is 14 cm.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Biome Climates
Reading Graphs:
What variable is plotted on
the horizontal axis? On the
vertical axis?
Month is plotted on the
horizontal axis; temperature
is plotted on the vertical
axis.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Biome Climates
Interpreting Data:
Look over the graph. How
would you describe the
temperature over the course
of a year in Location A? In
Location B?
Location A temperatures are
steady; Location B
temperatures fluctuate.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Biome Climates
Drawing Conclusions:
Given the precipitation and
temperature data for these
locations, in which biome
would you expect each to be
located? Explain your
answers.
Location A: tropical rain
forest
Location B: desert
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Biome Climates
Predicting:
What would you expect a
temperature graph for your
biome to look like? Draw a
temperature graph for the
biome in which you live.
Answers will vary but should
reflect whether local climate
is hot or cold, seasonal or
steady.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Biomes
Comparing and Contrasting
As you read, compare and contrast the different biomes by
completing a table like the one below.
Characteristic
Temperature
Tropical
Rain
Forest
Warm all
year
Tundra
Temperate
Rain
Forest
Desert
Grassland
Deciduous
Forest
Boreal
Forest
Cold all
year
Cool
winters,
warm in
summer
Usually hot
with great
daily
extremes
Temps
vary
throughout
the year
Warm in
summer,
cold in
winter
Warm to cool
in summer,
cold in winter
Dry all year
Mostly dry
with a wet
season
Moderate
rainfall
Abundant
rain and
snow
Gamble’s
quail
Grasses
Red fox
Lynx
Precipitation
Wet all year
Dry all year
Rather wet
all year
Typical
organisms
Orangutan
Mosses
Mule deer
Ecosystems and Biomes - Aquatic Ecosystems
Marine Ecosystems
The ocean is home to a number of different ecosystems.
Factors such as water temperature and the amount of
sunlight determine what types of organisms can live in each
zone.
Ecosystems and Biomes - Aquatic Ecosystems
Marine Ecosystems
The ocean is home to a number of different ecosystems.
Factors such as water temperature and the amount of
sunlight determine what types of organisms can live in each
zone.
Ecosystems and Biomes
Graphic Organizer
Free nitrogen is
present in air.
Bacteria release
some free
nitrogen back into
the air.
Decomposers
break down
wastes and
remains of
organisms.
Nitrogen Cycle
Bacteria in root
nodules fix free
nitrogen into
compounds.
Consumers obtain
nitrogen by eating
plants.