The climate of a community determines what organisms live in it. Climate refers to the weather conditions of a given area. Two important parts of climate are temperature and moisture. Most organisms are adapted to live within a particular climate Organisms need H2O to survive any climate A major biological community that occurs over a large area of land is called a biome. There are seven major biomes Tundra, Tropical rain forest, Desert, Taiga, Savanna, Temperate grassland, and Temperate forest Terrestrial Plants Tropical rainforest Richest biome according to the # of species It contains ½ of the Earth’s species Annual rainfall 200 to 450 cm per year Savanna Many animals are only active during rainy season Huge grazing animals in herds inhabit the savanna Taiga One of the largest biomes on Earth Winters are long and cold and most precipitation happens in the summer Large animalsmoose, deer, and bear Tundra Covers 1/5 of the Earth’s surface annual precipitation very low, less than 25 cm a year Animalsfoxes, lemmings and owls Desert Annual rainfall less than 25cm Water is scarce Less than 5% of North America is open desert Normally hot temperatures Temperate Grassland Moderate climate The interior of the United States that were grasslands were converted to rich agricultural lands of our heartland. Huge bison once inhabited grasslands of North America. Terrestrial biomes found in Texas Deserts, Temperate grassland and temperate forest. Aquatic Communities Freshwater Communities Freshwater habitats are lakes, ponds and streams Are very limited in area Lakes cover only 1.8% of the earth’s surface and streams and rivers cover 0.3% Fresh water habitats = water with no salt Many organisms are restricted to freshwater habitats such as plants and fish Ponds and lakes have three zones; littoral zone, limnetic zone, profundal zone Littoral Zone Littoral zone shallow near the shore Aquatic plants, predatory insects, amphibians, and small fish Lemnetic Zone Lemnetic zone farther away From the shore but close to the surface Floating algae, zoo plankton and fish Profundal Zone Profundal zone deep water zone, no light Bacteria and wormlike organisms Eat debris off the bottom of the lake Not all freshwater systems include a profundal zone Wetlands Swamps, marshes and bogs and other communities covered by a layer of water are called wetlands Wetlands are the most productive ecosystem on Earth. Marine Communities salt water 3 major marine communities Shallow Ocean Water Surface of the Open sea Ocean Depths Nearly ¾ of the earth’s surface is covered by ocean Shallow Ocean Water Coral reef communities Plants Surface of the Open Sea Plankton Bacteria, algae, fish, larvae, whales and jellyfish Ocean Depths Total darkness, abundance of species Squids and anglerfish Light penetrates water to a depth of 100cm (328 ft)
