The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth’s
Diverse Environments
Chapter 34 Objectives
Opening Essay
Compare the unusual ecology of the Himalayas and deep-sea hydrothermal
ventcommunities.
The Biosphere
34.1
34.2
34.3
34.4
34.5
34.5
Define and distinguish between the different levels within ecosystems. Distinguish
between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem.
Summarize the subject and impact of Rachel Carson’s influential book Silent Spring.
Describe the abiotic factors that influence life in the biosphere.
Describe the adaptations that enable pronghorns to survive in the open plains and shrub
deserts of North America.
Explain how global climate patterns are influenced by solar energy input as well as the
movement of Earth through space. Explain how landforms affect local climate.
Explain why the seasons of the year, prevailing winds, and ocean currents exist.
Aquatic Biomes
34.6
34.7
34.7
Describe the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the different ocean zones and adjacent
aquatic biomes.
Describe the different types of freshwater biomes.
Explain how the properties of a river change between its source and its outlet, and how
this impacts the biotic components of this biome.
Terrestrial Biomes
34.8
34.8
34.8–34.16
34.17
Explain why species in widely separated biomes may have similar features.
Explain why storms and fire are crucial factors in some biomes.
Describe the types of characteristics used to define terrestrial biomes. Then use these
characteristics to define the major terrestrial biomes: tropical forests, savannas, deserts,
chaparral, temperate grasslands, temperate forests, coniferous forests, and tundra.
Explain how all parts of the biosphere are linked by the global water cycle.
Key Terms
abiotic factor
aphotic zone
benthic realm
biome
biosphere
biotic factor
chaparral
community
coniferous forest
continental shelf
desert
desertification
doldrums
ecology
ecosystem
estuary
habitat
intertidal zone
landscape
ocean current
organism
pelagic realm
permafrost
photic zone
phytoplankton
population
prevailing winds
savanna
temperate broadleaf forest
temperate grassland
temperate zones
trade winds
tropical forest
tropics
tundra
westerlies
wetland
zooplankton
Word Roots
a- 5 without; bio- 5 life (abiotic factor: the nonliving chemical and physical components of an ecosystem)
-photo 5 light (aphotic zone: the region of an aquatic ecosystem beneath the photic zone, where light does
not penetrate sufficiently for photosynthesis to occur)
bio- 5 life (biome: a defined area of ecologically similar communities of organisms; biosphere: the part of
the Earth inhabited by life; biotic factor: a living component of an ecosystem)
bentho- 5 the depths of the sea (benthic realm: a seafloor, or the bottom of a freshwater lake, pond, river,
or stream)
estuar- 5 the sea (estuary: the area where a freshwater stream or river merges with the ocean)
inter- 5 between (intertidal zone: the shallow zone of the ocean where land meets water)
pelag- 5 the sea (pelagic realm: all of the open-water areas of an ocean, excluding the intertidalzone)
perman- 5 remaining (permafrost: a permanently frozen stratum below the arctic tundra)
-photo 5 light (photic zone: the region of an aquatic ecosystem where light penetrates and photosynthesis occurs)
phyto- 5 a plant (phytoplankton: algae and photosynthetic bacteria that drift passively in aquatic environments)
zoo- 5 animal (zooplankton: animals [heterotrophs] that drift freely in aquatic environments)
Student Media
The Biosphere
MP3 Tutor: Ecological Hierarchy (34.1)
Activity: Connection: DDT and the Environment (34.2)
Activity: Adaptations to Biotic and Abiotic Factors (34.4)
Process of Science: How Do Abiotic Factors Affect Distribution of Organisms? (34.3)
Aquatic Biomes
Activity: Aquatic Biomes (34.7)
Video: Hydrothermal Vent (34.6)
Video: Tubeworms (34.6)
Video: Coral Reef (34.6)
Terrestrial Biomes
Activity: Terrestrial Biomes (34.16)