Biomes and Aquatic Ecosystems
Learning Objectives
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Identify how biomes are defined.
Identify how aquatic ecosystems are defined.
Describe the major categories of freshwater ecosystems.
Explain how estuaries contribute to ecosystems.
Reading a Climate Diagram
Earth’s Biomes
Tropical Rain Forest
Abiotic: warm and wet
year-round; soils are thin
and nutrient-poor
Biotic: plants with large leaves
and buttress tree roots; animals
active year-round
Tropical Dry Forest
Abiotic: warm yearround; alternating wet-dry
seasons; rich soils
Biotic: deciduous plants, waxy
plant leaves; many animals
estivate or migrate
Rainy season
Tropical Grassland/Savanna/Scrubland
Abiotic: warm; seasonal
rainfall; compact soils;
frequent fires set by
lightning
Biotic: plants with waxy leaves,
seasonal leaf loss; many
animals migrate or are dormant
during dry season
Desert
Abiotic: low precipitation;
variable temperatures; soils
poor in organic material
Biotic: small plant leaves; many
animals nocturnal, many get
water from their food
Precipitation, not
temperature,
defines deserts.
Temperate Grassland
Abiotic: warm summers,
cold winters; moderate
precipitation; fertile soils;
occasional fires
Biotic: plants resistant to
grazing and fire; small animals
use camouflage and burrowing
as protection
Temperate Woodland and Shrubland
Abiotic: warm, dry summers;
cool, moist winters; nutrientpoor soils; periodic fires
Biotic: plants adapted to
drought and fire; animals
commonly browsers
High threat of wildfire
Temperate Forest
Abiotic: cold winters, warm
summers; year-round
precipitation; fertile soils
Biotic: deciduous trees;
some animals hibernate,
some migrate in winter
Northwestern Coniferous Forest
Abiotic: mild temperatures;
abundant precipitation in fall,
winter, and spring; cool, dry
summers; rocky, acidic soils
Biotic: dense plant
growth, tall trees; many
animals have varied
diets
Boreal Forest/Taiga
Abiotic: long, cold winters;
mild summers; moderate
precipitation; acidic, nutrientpoor soils
Biotic: dark-green conifers;
many animals have extra
insulation, some migrate in
winter
Tundra
Abiotic: strong winds; low
precipitation; short, soggy
summers; long, cold, dark
winters; permafrost
Biotic: small plants growing
low to the ground; many
animals migrate in winter or
have heat-saving adaptations
Low precipitation
Polar Regions
Mountain ranges and polar ice caps are not easily defined by
typical plant and animal communities.