Abiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsEcological Succession Ecological Succession

and Biomes and Biomes

What is Climate?What is Climate?

In the atmospheric conditions, In the atmospheric conditions, temperature, precipitation, and other temperature, precipitation, and other environmental factors combine to produce environmental factors combine to produce weather and climate.weather and climate.

WeatherWeather is the day-to-day condition of is the day-to-day condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place.and place.

ClimateClimate refers to the average year-to-year refers to the average year-to-year conditions of temperature and conditions of temperature and precipitation in a particular region.precipitation in a particular region.

What abiotic factors shape What abiotic factors shape ecosystems? ecosystems?

Two important factors are: Two important factors are: ClimateClimate

• Average temperature Average temperature • PrecipitationPrecipitation

Geologic FormationsGeologic Formations• Create topographyCreate topography• Mineral Composition dictates soil Mineral Composition dictates soil

What causes climate?What causes climate?

Climate is caused by many factors Climate is caused by many factors including:including:

1.1. Amount of Amount of inincoming coming solsolar radiar radiation ation absorbed by earth’s surfaces absorbed by earth’s surfaces

2.2. Variations in the intensity of insolation Variations in the intensity of insolation

3.3. Transfer of heat by winds and ocean Transfer of heat by winds and ocean currents currents

4.4. Topography - Shape and elevation of Topography - Shape and elevation of land massesland masses

The Effect of LatitudeThe Effect of Latitude Earth is tilted on its axis, so solar radiation Earth is tilted on its axis, so solar radiation

hits Earth’s surface at an angle that hits Earth’s surface at an angle that changes throughout the year. changes throughout the year.

At the equator, the sun is almost directly At the equator, the sun is almost directly overhead all year. overhead all year.

At the poles, the sun is much lower in the At the poles, the sun is much lower in the sky. sky.

Because of the differences in latitude and Because of the differences in latitude and the angle of heating by the sun, the Earth the angle of heating by the sun, the Earth has has three main climate zones: three main climate zones: • PolarPolar• TemperateTemperate• TropicalTropical

Sunlight

Most direct sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

90°N North Pole90°N North Pole

66.5°N66.5°N

23.5°N23.5°N

0°0°

23.5°S23.5°S

66.5°S66.5°S

90°S South Pole90°S South Pole

Arctic circleArctic circle

Tropic of CancerTropic of Cancer

EquatorEquator

Tropic of CapricornTropic of Capricorn

Arctic circleArctic circle

Figure 4.2: Figure 4.2:

Variation in Solar Intensity with LatitudeVariation in Solar Intensity with Latitude

Biomes Biomes

Ecologists group Earth's diverse Ecologists group Earth's diverse environments into environments into biomesbiomes

A A biomebiome is a complex of terrestrial is a complex of terrestrial communities that covers a large area communities that covers a large area and is characterized by:and is characterized by:• flora & fauna flora & fauna • soil soil • climateclimate

Biomes Change over timeBiomes Change over time

Ecological SuccessionEcological Succession

Natural, gradual changes in the types Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an areaof species that live in an area

The gradual replacement of one The gradual replacement of one plant community by another through plant community by another through natural processes over timenatural processes over time

can be primary or secondary can be primary or secondary successionsuccession

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

Begins in a place without any soil Begins in a place without any soil • Sides of volcanoesSides of volcanoes• LandslidesLandslides• FloodingFlooding

Starts with the arrival of living things Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil such as lichens that do not need soil to surviveto survive

Called Called PIONEER SPECIESPIONEER SPECIES

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

Soil starts to form as lichens and the Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of weather and erosion help forces of weather and erosion help break down rocks into smaller piecesbreak down rocks into smaller pieces

When lichens die, they decompose, When lichens die, they decompose, adding small amounts of organic adding small amounts of organic matter to the rock to make soil matter to the rock to make soil

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

Simple plants like mosses and ferns Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in the new soil can grow in the new soil

http://uisstc.georgetown.edu

http://www.uncw.edu

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

The simple plants die, adding more The simple plants die, adding more organic materialorganic material

The soil layer thickens, and grasses, The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants begin to wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over take over

http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu

Primary Succession Primary Succession

These plants die, and they add more These plants die, and they add more nutrients to the soilnutrients to the soil

Shrubs and trees can survive nowShrubs and trees can survive now

http://www.rowan.edu

Primary SuccessionPrimary Succession

Insects, small birds, and mammals Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to move inhave begun to move in

What was once bare rock now What was once bare rock now supports a variety of life supports a variety of life

http://p2-raw.greenpeace.org

Secondary SuccessionSecondary Succession

Begins in a place that already has soil Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living and was once the home of living organisms organisms

Occurs faster and has different pioneer Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession species than primary succession

Example: Example: • after forest firesafter forest fires• Severe weather, Ex. tornado, hurricaneSevere weather, Ex. tornado, hurricane• Human activity, Ex.- Clear cutting of a fieldHuman activity, Ex.- Clear cutting of a field

http://www.ux1.eiu.edu

Climax CommunityClimax Community

A stable group of plants and animals A stable group of plants and animals that is the end result of the that is the end result of the successionsuccession processprocess

Does not always mean big treesDoes not always mean big trees• Grasses in prairiesGrasses in prairies• Cacti in desertsCacti in deserts

Biomes and ClimateBiomes and Climate Two main components of climate—temperature and Two main components of climate—temperature and

precipitation—can be summarized in a graph called a precipitation—can be summarized in a graph called a climate diagramclimate diagram

Terrestrial BiomesTerrestrial Biomes

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: hot and wet hot and wet

year-round; thin, nutrient-poor year-round; thin, nutrient-poor soilssoils

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: broad-leaved broad-leaved evergreen trees; ferns; large evergreen trees; ferns; large woody vines and climbing plants; woody vines and climbing plants; orchids and bromeliadsorchids and bromeliads

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: herbivores herbivores such as sloths, tapirs, and such as sloths, tapirs, and capybaras; predators such as capybaras; predators such as jaguars; anteaters; monkeys; jaguars; anteaters; monkeys; birds such as toucans, parrots, birds such as toucans, parrots, and parakeets; insects such as and parakeets; insects such as butterflies, ants, and beetles; butterflies, ants, and beetles; piranhas and other freshwater piranhas and other freshwater fishes; reptiles such as caymans, fishes; reptiles such as caymans, boa constrictors, and anacondasboa constrictors, and anacondas

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: parts parts of South and Central America, of South and Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, southern India, and northeastern southern India, and northeastern AustraliaAustralia

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: generally warm generally warm

year-round; alternating wet and year-round; alternating wet and dry seasons; rich soils subject to dry seasons; rich soils subject to erosionerosion

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: tall, tall, deciduous trees that form a dense deciduous trees that form a dense canopy during the wet season; canopy during the wet season; drought-tolerant orchids and drought-tolerant orchids and bromeliads; aloes and other bromeliads; aloes and other succulentssucculents

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: tigers; tigers; monkeys; herbivores such as monkeys; herbivores such as elephants, Indian rhinoceroses, elephants, Indian rhinoceroses, hog deer; birds such as great pied hog deer; birds such as great pied hornbills, pied harriers, and spot-hornbills, pied harriers, and spot-billed pelicans; insects such as billed pelicans; insects such as termites; reptiles such as snakes termites; reptiles such as snakes and monitor lizardsand monitor lizards

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: parts parts of Africa, South and Central of Africa, South and Central America, Mexico, India, Australia, America, Mexico, India, Australia, and tropical islandsand tropical islands

Tropical Savanna Tropical Savanna  Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: warm warm

temperatures; seasonal rainfall; temperatures; seasonal rainfall; compact soil; frequent fires set by compact soil; frequent fires set by lightninglightning

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: tall, perennial tall, perennial grasses; sometimes drought-grasses; sometimes drought-tolerant and fire-resistant trees or tolerant and fire-resistant trees or shrubsshrubs

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: predators predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals; aardvarks; hyenas, and jackals; aardvarks; herbivores such as elephants, herbivores such as elephants, giraffes, antelopes, and zebras; giraffes, antelopes, and zebras; baboons; birds such as eagles, baboons; birds such as eagles, ostriches, weaver birds, and ostriches, weaver birds, and storks; insects such as termitesstorks; insects such as termites

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: large large parts of eastern Africa, southern parts of eastern Africa, southern Brazil, and northern AustraliaBrazil, and northern Australia

DesertDesert Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: low precipitation; low precipitation;

variable temperatures; soils rich in variable temperatures; soils rich in minerals but poor in organic minerals but poor in organic materialmaterial

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: cacti and other cacti and other succulents; creosote bush and succulents; creosote bush and other plants with short growth other plants with short growth cyclescycles

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: predators predators such as mountain lions, gray foxes, such as mountain lions, gray foxes, and bobcats; herbivores such as and bobcats; herbivores such as mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, desert bighorn sheep, and desert bighorn sheep, and kangaroo rats; bats; birds such as kangaroo rats; bats; birds such as owls, hawks, and roadrunners; owls, hawks, and roadrunners; insects such as ants, beetles, insects such as ants, beetles, butterflies, flies, and wasps; butterflies, flies, and wasps; reptiles such as tortoises, reptiles such as tortoises, rattlesnakes, and lizardsrattlesnakes, and lizards

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: Africa, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, United Asia, the Middle East, United States, Mexico, South America, and States, Mexico, South America, and AustraliaAustralia

Temperate Grassland Temperate Grassland  Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: warm to hot warm to hot

summers; cold winters; moderate, summers; cold winters; moderate, seasonal precipitation; fertile soils; seasonal precipitation; fertile soils; occasional firesoccasional fires

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: lush, perennial lush, perennial grasses and herbs; most are grasses and herbs; most are resistant to drought, fire, and coldresistant to drought, fire, and cold

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: predators predators such as coyotes and badgers—such as coyotes and badgers—historically included wolves and historically included wolves and grizzly bears; herbivores such as grizzly bears; herbivores such as mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, mule deer, pronghorn antelopes, rabbits, prairie dogs, and rabbits, prairie dogs, and introduced cattle—historically introduced cattle—historically included bison; birds such as included bison; birds such as hawks, owls, bobwhites, prairie hawks, owls, bobwhites, prairie chickens, mountain plovers; chickens, mountain plovers; reptiles such as snakes; insects reptiles such as snakes; insects such as ants and grasshopperssuch as ants and grasshoppers

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: central central Asia, North America, Australia, Asia, North America, Australia, central Europe, and upland central Europe, and upland plateaus of South Americaplateaus of South America

Temperate Woodland and Temperate Woodland and

ShrublandShrubland   Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: hot, dry hot, dry

summers; cool, moist winters; summers; cool, moist winters; thin, nutrient-poor soils; periodic thin, nutrient-poor soils; periodic firesfires

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: woody woody evergreen shrubs with small, evergreen shrubs with small, leathery leaves; fragrant, oily leathery leaves; fragrant, oily herbs that grow during winter and herbs that grow during winter and die in summerdie in summer

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: predators predators such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, such as coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and mountain lions; herbivores and mountain lions; herbivores such as blacktailed deer, rabbits, such as blacktailed deer, rabbits, and squirrels; birds such as and squirrels; birds such as hawks, California quails, warblers hawks, California quails, warblers and other songbirds; reptiles such and other songbirds; reptiles such as lizards and snakes; butterfliesas lizards and snakes; butterflies

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: western coasts of North and South western coasts of North and South America, areas around the America, areas around the Mediterranean Sea, South Africa, Mediterranean Sea, South Africa, and Australiaand Australia

Temperate Forest Temperate Forest  Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: cold to cold to

moderate winters; warm moderate winters; warm summers; year-round summers; year-round precipitation; fertile soilsprecipitation; fertile soils

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: broadleaf broadleaf deciduous trees; some deciduous trees; some conifers; flowering shrubs; conifers; flowering shrubs; herbs; a ground layer of herbs; a ground layer of mosses and fernsmosses and ferns

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: Deer; Deer; black bears; bobcats; nut and black bears; bobcats; nut and acorn feeders such as acorn feeders such as squirrels; omnivores such as squirrels; omnivores such as raccoons and skunks; raccoons and skunks; numerous songbirds; turkeysnumerous songbirds; turkeys

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: eastern United States; eastern United States; southeastern Canada; most of southeastern Canada; most of Europe; and parts of Japan, Europe; and parts of Japan, China, and AustraliaChina, and Australia

Northwestern Coniferous Northwestern Coniferous Forest Forest 

Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: mild mild temperatures; abundant temperatures; abundant precipitation during fall, precipitation during fall, winter, and spring; relatively winter, and spring; relatively cool, dry summer; rocky, cool, dry summer; rocky, acidic soilsacidic soils

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: Douglas Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, redwoodhemlock, redwood

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: bears; bears; large herbivores such as elk large herbivores such as elk and deer; beavers; predators and deer; beavers; predators such as owls, bobcats, and such as owls, bobcats, and members of the weasel familymembers of the weasel family

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: Pacific coast of northwestern Pacific coast of northwestern United States and Canada, United States and Canada, from northern California to from northern California to AlaskaAlaska

Boreal Forest Boreal Forest  Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: long, cold long, cold

winters; short, mild summers; winters; short, mild summers; moderate precipitation; high moderate precipitation; high humidity; acidic, nutrient-poor humidity; acidic, nutrient-poor soilssoils

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: needleleaf needleleaf coniferous trees such as spruce coniferous trees such as spruce and fir; some broadleaf deciduous and fir; some broadleaf deciduous trees; small, berry-bearing shrubstrees; small, berry-bearing shrubs

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: predators predators such as lynxes and timber wolves such as lynxes and timber wolves and members of the weasel and members of the weasel family; small herbivorous family; small herbivorous mammals; moose and other large mammals; moose and other large herbivores; beavers; songbirds herbivores; beavers; songbirds and migratory birdsand migratory birds

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: North North America, Asia, and northern America, Asia, and northern EuropeEurope

TundraTundra Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: strong strong

winds; low precipitation; short winds; low precipitation; short and soggy summers; long, and soggy summers; long, cold, and dark winters; poorly cold, and dark winters; poorly developed soils; permafrostdeveloped soils; permafrost

Dominant plants:Dominant plants: ground- ground-hugging plants such as hugging plants such as mosses, lichens, sedges, and mosses, lichens, sedges, and short grassesshort grasses

Dominant wildlife:Dominant wildlife: a few a few resident birds and mammals resident birds and mammals that can withstand the harsh that can withstand the harsh conditions; migratory conditions; migratory waterfowl, shore birds, musk waterfowl, shore birds, musk ox, Arctic foxes, and caribou; ox, Arctic foxes, and caribou; lemmings and other small lemmings and other small rodentsrodents

Geographic distribution:Geographic distribution: northern North America, Asia, northern North America, Asia, and Europeand Europe

Elevations affect on Biomes Elevations affect on Biomes