ECOLOGICAL CHANGE

Objectives:

1. How do ecosystems change by the process of succession?

2. What are biomes?

3. Describe the climax community in each of the 6 land biomes of the world

ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

• Process in which one community is gradually replaced by another

• Pioneer community – the first community to enter an area

• Climax community – the final or most stable community in an area

BIOME

• Areas with similar climates and ecological communities

• Biomes can be aquatic (water) or terrestrial (land)

• classified by temperature, amount of rainfall, and characteristic plant and animal life

AQUATIC BIOMES

Biome Description Plants/Animals

Fresh water No salt Ponds, lakes, rivers, streams

Algae, lily pads, trout, frogs, ducks, leeches

Salt water (marine) Salty Oceans, seas

Algae, kelp, starfish, whales, sea bass, sharks, octopus …

Estuary Brackish (partially salty) may vary throughout the yearSwamps, bays, wetlands

Cattails, swamp grass, algae, muskrats, alligators, catfish, heron, …

TERRESTRIAL BIOMESBiome Description Plants/Animals

Tundra Polar regions, artic, antarctic, extreme cold temperatures, permafrost (frozen ground), little rainfall

Lichen (symbiotic algae and fungus), polar bear, fox, …

Coniferous (Taiga)

Long cold season, few warm months, average rainfall, most of Canada

Pines, hardy shrubs, moose, deer, migratory birds …

Deciduous Seasonal temperature variations, average rainfall, new York state

Pines, firs, deciduous trees, variety of deer, ducks, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, toads …

Rainforest Higher temperatures, significant rainfall, vegetation occurring in layers

Lush forests, ferns, bromeliads, monkeys, frogs, salamanders, tucan, leopard, snakes, …

Grasslands Wide open spaces, minimal rainfall with periodic droughts

Grasses, rodents, prairie dogs, buffalo, …

Desert Very little rainfall, extreme daily temperature fluctuations, predominately sand and rock

Cacti, dry weeds, reptiles, insects …