Chapter 6:
Biomes and Aquatic
Ecosystems
Notes Can Also Be Found at
www.manskopf.com
Chapter 6 Notes Goal
• Explain what biomes and aquatic ecosystems
are
• Explain how biomes are characterized.
• Describe how net primary productivity varies
among biomes.
• Give an introduction to your Biome Project
• Give an example of your Biome Project
What are the differences?
Climate, Biology, Limiting Factors, Adaptations?
Things Change?
• Fossil evidence suggests that the
frozen continent of Antarctica was
once covered in temperate forest.
Earth’s Biomes
• Groups of terrestrial
ecosystems that share biotic
and abiotic conditions
• 10 primary biomes:
– tropical rain forest
– dry forest savanna
– desert
– temperate rain forest
– temperate forest
– temperate grassland
– chaparral
– boreal forest
– tundra
La Mesa, CA
Philadelphia
• Climate: Average conditions,
including temperature and
precipitation, over long periods
of time in a given area
• Weather: Day-to-day conditions
in Earth’s atmosphere
• Climatographs: Diagrams that summarize an
area’s average monthly temperature and
precipitation
• Each biome has a set of
characteristic organisms adapted to
its particular climate conditions.
Across the U.S.
Productivity
• Net primary production: The
amount of organic matter
(biomass) that remains after
primary producers use some to
carry out cellular respiration
• Ecosystems vary in their net
primary productivity, the rate
at which primary producers
convert energy to biomass.
• Warm, wet biomes generally
have higher net primary
productivity than cold, dry
biomes.
Earth’s productivity: On land forests are highly productive in
dark green, deserts least in brown. At sea, red indicates high
productivity and deep oceans dark blue.
Aquatic Ecosystems (Wet Biomes)
• 75% of Earth’s surface
is covered by water.
• Salinity: the amount of dissolved salt
present in water. Ecosystems are
classified as salt water, fresh water,
or brackish depending on salinity.
• Photosynthesis tends to be limited
by light availability, which is a
function of depth and water clarity.
• Aquatic ecosystems are either
flowing or standing.
• Aquatic ecosystem zones: photic,
aphotic, benthic
Aquatic Ecosystem Limiting Factors
• Limiting factors may
include:
• Salinity
• Ph
• Sunlight
• Dissolved oxygen
• Temperature
Freshwater Ecosystems: Ponds,
Lakes, Inland Seas
Salinity is less than 0.5 ppt (parts per thousand)
Freshwater Ecosystems:
Wetlands
• Areas of land flooded with water at least part
of the year
• Include freshwater marshes, swamps, bogs,
and fens
Freshwater Ecosystems: Rivers
and Streams
Bodies of surface water that flow downhill,
eventually reaching an ocean or inland sea
Delaware
Water Gap
Estuaries
• Occur where a river flows
into the ocean or an inland
sea
• Coastal estuaries are
brackish ecosystems;
organisms must tolerate
wide salinity and
temperature ranges.
• Coastal estuaries are home
to salt marshes and
mangrove forests.
Oceans
• Intertidal Areas
• Neritic Zones
• Open Ocean
Chapter 6 Review
• Explain what biomes and aquatic ecosystems
are
• Explain how biomes are characterized.
• Describe how net primary productivity varies
among biomes.
• Give an introduction to your Biome Project
• Give an example of your Biome Project
Biome Project Online
http://www.manskopf.com/yahoo_site_admin/as
sets/docs/BiomesProject.230105729.doc
Biome Project
PowerPoint Example
• Temperate Rain Forest
• JUST AN EXAMPLE – 2-5 minutes
• Remember 60% for information
• Also found at www.manskopf.com
Temperate Rain Forest
For Mr. Manskopf
Environmental Science Class
By Mr. Manskopf
November 2011
Temperate Rainforest…Where on
Earth?
• Small Biomes in Area
• Small Pockets Around World
Temperate Rain Forests Locations
• Mid-Latitudes
• Usually near
coastline
• Largest found in
Pacific Northwest of
U.S. and British
Columbia in Canada
Climate of the Temperate Rain Forest
• WET, Year Round Rain
• Moderate Temperatures
Why is it wet year round?
Species Found In Temperate Rain
Forest
TREES:
• Cedars, Spruce, Hemlock,
Douglas Fir
• Grow Tall/Fast
• Evergreens
• Coniferous Trees (seebearing cones)
• Compete for sunlight
• Commercially important
Species Found In Temperate Rain
Forest
• Damp conditions
perfect for moss
• Slugs
• Numerous amphibian
creatures
• Squirrels
• Deer
• Elk
Species Found In Temperate Rain
Forest
Limiting Factors
• Sunlight
• Too much
precipitation
(Precipitation in
Olympic's rain forest
ranges from 140 to
167 inches (12 to 14
feet) every year.)
Threats
• Timber/Logging
Example
Hoh Rain
Forest
http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/temperat
e-rain-forests.htm
Temperate Rain Forest
Cites
• http://www.nps.gov/olym/naturescience/tem
perate-rain-forests.htm
• https://biomesfirst09.wikispaces.com/Temper
ate+Rainforest+Home
• http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/temp
rain.htm