Chapter 1: Biomes & ecosystems Chapter 1: Biomes & ecosystems are divisions of the biosphere are divisions of the biosphere

1.1 Biomes1.1 Biomes• BiomesBiomes are regions with similar are regions with similar bioticbiotic & &

abioticabiotic components (ex. BC & New Zealand components (ex. BC & New Zealand are similar biomes)are similar biomes)

Classification of BiomesClassification of Biomes

• BiomesBiomes are classified based on many are classified based on many characteristics: water availability, characteristics: water availability, temperature & interactions between biotic temperature & interactions between biotic & abiotic factors.& abiotic factors.

• There are There are 88 biomes biomes on Earth: Boreal forest, on Earth: Boreal forest, desert, grassland, permanent ice, temperate desert, grassland, permanent ice, temperate deciduous forest, temperate rainforest, deciduous forest, temperate rainforest, tropical rainforest and tundra.tropical rainforest and tundra.

Distribution of BiomesDistribution of Biomes• Temperature & precipitationTemperature & precipitation are 2 of the are 2 of the

most important most important abiotic factorsabiotic factors in identifying in identifying biomes.biomes.

Distribution of BiomesDistribution of Biomes

• LatitudeLatitude influences both temp. & precipitation. influences both temp. & precipitation.Ex. The tropical zone has very warm temp. & Ex. The tropical zone has very warm temp. &

high high Precip. Because the sun shines straight down & Precip. Because the sun shines straight down &

warm air holds more moisture than cooler air.warm air holds more moisture than cooler air.• ElevationElevation is the height above sea level is the height above sea level

– Higher elevations have less air, & therefore Higher elevations have less air, & therefore less heat is retained.less heat is retained.

– Windward sides of mountains are wet, leeward Windward sides of mountains are wet, leeward sides are very dry.sides are very dry.

• Ocean currentsOcean currents carry warmth & moisture to carry warmth & moisture to coastal areas.coastal areas.– Where warm currents meet land, temperate Where warm currents meet land, temperate

biomes are found.biomes are found.

Other identifying factors include:Other identifying factors include:

ClimatographsClimatographs

• Climate:Climate: the average pattern of weather the average pattern of weather conditions over a period of several years.conditions over a period of several years.– A A climatographclimatograph shows the shows the averageaverage

temperature & precipitation for a location temperature & precipitation for a location over a period of 30+ years.over a period of 30+ years.

– Climatographs show the precipitation on Climatographs show the precipitation on the right hand y-axis, temperature on the the right hand y-axis, temperature on the left hand y-axis and time along the x-axis left hand y-axis and time along the x-axis (bottom)(bottom)

ClimatographsClimatographs

Adaptations & BiomesAdaptations & Biomes• Biomes are often Biomes are often

identified with identified with biotic biotic factors.factors.– Eg. a cactus in the Eg. a cactus in the

desert, or a caribou desert, or a caribou on the tundra.on the tundra.

• Many of these Many of these characteristic factors characteristic factors have special have special adaptations adaptations that that allow the organisms allow the organisms to better survive & to better survive & reproduce in that reproduce in that biome.biome.

• Types of adaptations: 1. Structural adaptation - a physical feature

that helps an organism survive.ex. A wolf has large paws to help it run in snow.

2. Physiological adaptation - a physical or chemical event inside the body of an organism that allows it to survive. ex. A wolf maintains a constant body

temperature.

3. Behavioural adaptation - a behaviour that helps an organism to survive.ex. Wolves hunt in packs to capture large prey.

Take the Section 1.1 Quiz