Different Biome in Ecosystem

7/30/2019 Different Biome in Ecosystem

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Biome: A large geographical region whose climate produces a characteristic climax association

of plants and animals. The term biome usually refers to terrestrial habitats (on land). In North

America there are about six major biomes. Aquatic ecosystems, such as the ocean, are oftensubdivided into different zones, such as the intertidal, pelagic, benthic, photic and aphotic zones.

Plant Community: An assemblage or association of certain dominant indicator speciesoccupying a given region. In California the desert biome consists of several different plant

communities, such as the creosote bush scrub, shadscale scrub, sagebrush scrub, Joshua tree

woodland and pinyon-juniper woodland. The local chaparral and coastal sage scrub plantcommunities surrounding Palomar College are condidered part of an arid desert biome. Some

general biology textbooks have added a seventh biome called the "shrubland biome" to

encompass these brushy habitats.

Chaparral: A plant community composed of dense, impenetrable, shrubby vegetation adapted

to a Mediterranean climate with winter-wet and summer-dry seasons. The plant community is

well-developed in the mountains of San Diego County. Following periodic brush fires, many of

the shrub species resprout from subterranean lignotubers.

Coastal Sage Scrub: A plant community similar to the chaparral, but typically found at lowerelevations (generally below 2,000 feet). Like the chaparral, many of the shrub species resprout

from subterranean lignotubers. It is dominated by aromatic coastal sagebrush (Artemisiacalifornica) and is common in the hills bordering Palomar College. Unfortunately, this plantcommunity is prime land for developers and is rapidly being replaced by housing developments

in San Diego County. It is now (2001) considered to be an endangered (threatened) plant

community in southern California.

Ecosystem: All of the organisms in a natural community or biome plus all of the associated

environmental factors with which they interact. The term ecosystem could actually be applied toany of the terrestrial biomes or plant communities. For example, the tundra biome could also bereferred to as tundra ecosystem; the chaparral plant community could also be referred to as the

chaparral ecosystem. The term ecosystem is well-suited for aquatic communities such as ponds,

lakes, streams and even the ocean. In fact, oceanography is the study of the ocean ecosystem.Including ocean, topsoil and atmosphere, the earth is a large, complex ecosystem called the

biosphere; however, in terms of the vast universe it is but a mere dot. A self-contained spaceship

in which gasses and waste are recycled may also be thought of as an ecosystem.

Biosphere: (Earth Ecosystem): The zone of atmosphere, land and water at the surface of the

earth occupied by living things. In grave danger by the effects of humans, including

overpopulation, pollution and exploitation.Environment: The sum total of physical and biotic factors that surround an organism or

population of organisms.

Ecology: The study of the interrelationships between plants and animals and their environment.The term environment includes the sum total of physical and biotic conditions and influences

that surround an organism or population of organisms.

An Ecosystem

is the community (all living species in a geographical area) as well as the physical

environment that surrounds it. Biomes are collections of ecosystems that have similar

characteristics, such biotic and abiotic factors.

For example, the ecosystems of northern Canada and Russia have similar plant and animal life,temperature, and amount of sunlight. They combine to make up the taiga (or coniferous) biome.

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1. Tundra Biome

Alpine tundra in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Evergreen trees cannot survive the harshwinters of tundra, with severe, ice-laden winds, frozen soil (permafrost) and intense UV

radiation. This biome dominated by thick-rooted perennials and prostrate shrubs.

2. Coniferous Forest Biome

Timberline in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, showing the striking transition (ecotone)

between the alpine tundra and coniferous forest biomes. Engelmann spruce at timberlinebecome dwarfed and windswept by the ice-laden winds. The zone of timberline trees is called

"krummholz," a German word meaning "crooked wood." Trees cannot survive in the frozen

soil (permafrost) of the tundra. Instead this region is dominated by thick-rooted perennials

and prostrate, deciduous shrubs.


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The coniferous forest biome includes many different forest communities. Left: The red fir

forest in the Sierra Nevada of California is dominated by the red fir (Abies

magnifica var. magnifica). Right: The western slopes of the Sierra Nevada also include

forests of white fir (Abies concolor) and giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum).

3. Prairie Biome

Vast herds of bison once grazed the North American prairie, from the Rocky Mountains tothe Mississippi River. By the end of the 1800s, these magnificent animals were pushed to the

brink of extinction by buffalo hunters. Today they survive in preserves such as the National

Bison Range in Montana. During the glacial periods, rich topsoils from northern latitudeswere deposited here. Perennial grasses are well-adapted to this arid region, with hot, dry

summers, hard, sun-baked soils and periodic grassland fires.

4. Deciduous Forest Biome


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Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a beautiful tree native to the deciduous forest biome of theeastern United States. It is readily identified by its large three-lobed leaves. Sassafras oil is

obtained from the roots and is used in carbonated beverages, teas, medicines and perfumes.

5. Desert Biome

The North American desert biome includes several different vegetation types or plantcommunities. Left: A saguaro woodland (Carnegiea gigantea) in the Sonoran Desert of

southern Arizona. Right: A Joshua tree woodland (Yucca brevifolia) in the Mojave Desert ofCalifornia. These plant communities are dominated by drought resistant trees and shrubs andnumerous species of cacti with spine-covered succulent stems containing water storage tissue.


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Shadscale scrub, a California plant community dominated by low-growing species of

saltbush, including Atriplex confertifolia and A. hymenelytra. This vegetation type issometimes called a C-4 community because some of the dominant members exhibit C-4

photosynthesis. Plants with C-4 photosynthesis are photosynthetically efficient even during

the hot summer months when many C-3 species become dormant.

6. Tropical Rain Forest Biome

The tropical rain forest contains tall trees draped with epiphytes and vines. In the left photo a

large sea heart vine (Entada gigas) connects the limbs of two adjacent trees. In Costa Rica,this vine is known as escalera de mono or "monkey ladder," and actual forms arboreal

thoroughfares for monkeys high in the rain forest canopy. Along the edge of the forest where

there is abundant sunlight, the sea heart vines completely cover their support trees (center).The right photo shows how the rain forest is rapidly being cut down to provide more

agricultural land. Unfortunately, the soil is poor and only supports crops for a few years.


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The aerial roots of strangler figs are a conspicuous element of tropical rain forests.Left: Ficus citrifolia in the U.S. Virgin Islands (Island of St. John). Right: Ficus

cotinifolia in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. In both photographs, the host tree has been

shaded out and killed by the strangler fig.

During the last three decades of the 20th century, numerous grassy hillsides in coastal San

Diego County were converted into high density housing tracts. Some of these grassland

habitats on thick clay soils contained an abundance of rare and endangered wildflowers (redarrow), such as the striking chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora).

Different Biome in Ecosystem

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