Communities and Biomes

n Food, water, temperature, and others can all limit a community’s ability to survive.

n Therefore these are called Limiting Factors.

n If there is a lot a food in an area, but no water, a community will die…

n A limiting factor is normally a key element for survival that is in least supply.

n However, organisms can survive in a wide range of conditions.

Succession

n Overtime communities change.

n Natural changes and species replacements in a community are called Succession.

n Two types of succession:

-Primary: Colonization of a new site by Pioneer species (first organisms in an area).

-Secondary: Colonization after a natural disaster.

n In either case, if a community is allowed to grow to the point where it is fairly stable, having little or no change in species, the community is then called a Climax Community.

Biomes

n A biome is a large group of ecosystems that share the same climax community.

n Biomes on land are: Terrestrial Biomes

n Those in bodies of water are: Aquatic Biomes

Aquatic Biomes

n To study Aquatic biomes, ecologists separate each biome into two levels.

n Photic Zone: Portion of the biome that is shallow enough for light to penetrate.

n Aphotic Zone: Deeper water, where there is no sunlight.

n There are three main types of aquatic biomes:

Marine

Estuaries

Freshwater

Terrestrial Biomes

n The average temperature and annual precipitation for an area generally determine what biome will develop.

n The terrestrial biomes are:

n Tundra

n Taiga

n Temperate Forrest

n Grassland

n Desert

n Tropical Rain Forrest

Your job:

Your job is to create a chart listing the characteristics for each Terrestrial Biome

Include: -Temperature Ranges

-Precipitation

-3 Examples of Animals & specific adaptations

-3 Examples of Plants & specific adaptations

-General location on the planet

-suggest clothing that a tourist would wear in the biome

-what would the tourist see and experience

On the other side of your paper, create a colored map to show where each biome is located. (Does not need to be exact)