Communities and Biomes
Biology
Mr. Solis
Life In A Community
• A community is alive, and each population
or factor in it contributes something
important to the life of the community.
• Various combinations of abiotic and biotic
factors interact in different places around
the world.
Biomes
• A biome is large
group of ecosystems
that share the same
type of climax
community.
Characteristics of Aquatic Biomes
• Marine Biomes- Ocean
based biomes that is
divided into two areas.
• Photic zones- Portion
of earth that is shallow
enough to allow
sunlight to penetrate.
These consist of
coastal ecosystems.
Examples are bays,
rocky shores, sandy
beaches, mudflats,
and estuaries, and
coral reefs.
Aquatic Biomes
• Aphotic Zones-
Includes the deepest
and least explored
areas of the ocean.
Aquatic Biomes
• Estuaries- a coastal body
•
of water, partially
surrounded by land, in
which freshwater and
saltwater mix.
These areas are thick in
grasses which trap lots of
food and become fish
nurseries.
– Example: The Arroyo
The Effects of Tides
• Intertidal Zones-
The portion of the
shoreline that lies
between the high
and low tides.
These areas have
high levels of
sunlight, nutrients,
and oxygen.
Freshwater Biomes
• Ponds- lots of plant
life due to its shallow
water which allows
plenty of sunlight t
penetrate to the
bottom of the pond.
• Lakes- Lots of plant
life along the edge of
the lake. This is due
to shallow water and
plenty of sunlight.
• Rivers and StreamsContains lots of
nutrients because of
run offs, but very
difficult for plant life to
grow due to its
constant flow.
Terrestrial Biomes
• These Land Biomes
are based on
– Latitude
– Climate
• Rainfall
• Temperature
Tundra
• A treeless land with long
•
summer days and short
periods of winter sunlight.
Conditions
– Never rises above freezing
– Permanently frozen layer
– Topsoil so thin it can’t
support life
• Life
– Grasses, short shrubs and
cushion plants
– Small mammal
– Caribou, Musk oxen,
reindeer
Taiga
• A continuous belt of coniferous
forest.
• Conditions
– Are somewhat warmer and
wetter
– Long severe winter and
short mild summers
• Life
– Abundance of trees ( more
food and shelter for life)
– Lynx, snowshoe hare,
caribou, moose and
migratory birds.
Desert
• The driest biome, a
•
region with sparse to
nonexistent plant life.
Conditions
– Less than 25 cm of rain
– Hot during day cold during
night.
• Life
– Drought resistant trees,
shrubs and grass
– Annual plants that
germinate during sporadic
rainfalls.
– Nocturnal animals
– Hawks, coyotes and owls.
Grasslands
• Large communities covered
with rich soil, grasses and
similar plants.
• Conditions
– 25-75 cm of precipitation
– Experience dry seasons
– Summers hot and winter cold
• Life
– Grasses
– Some trees found near
streams.
– Grazing animals
– Prairie dogs, foxes, insects,
birds, reptiles.
Temperate Forest
• Are dominated by broad
•
leaved hardwood trees
that lose their foliage
annually.
Conditions
– 75-150 cm precipitation per
year
– Temperate weather
• Life
– Deciduous trees
– Bears, rabbits, migratory
birds.
Rain Forests
• Have warm
temperatures, wet
weather, and lush plant
growth. Located near
the Equator.
• Conditions
– Average temp: 25ºC
– Average rainfall: 400
cm per year
• Life
– Diverse Group of
species due to an
abundance of
habitats.
– Three major stories
Canopy- tree tops
Understory- below
canopy and
above ground
Ground- forest floor