Carolina MoralesCarolina Sanchez

Jason HarrisJuan Salcedo

Biosphere review

KQ1a: What are the major abiotic and biotic factors, which drive and influence the distribution of different ecosystems?

1. The Biotic and abiotic factors which control the distribution of the worlds major biomes

Desert- Scorpions, coyotes, snakes, spiders, lizard, and cacti are just a few of the biotic factors. One of abiotic factors is the sand.

Taiga- Black bear, bald eagle, red fox, balsam Fir, eastern red cedar are all biotic factors. Abiotic factors are sunlight, water, soil, temperature

Tundra-Abiotic Factors are precipitation, temperature, permafrost, wind. Biotic Factors are Low Shrubs (sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, and grasses), Crustose and Foliose Lichen, Herbivores (lemmings, voles, caribou), Carnivores (arctic foxes, wolves, polar bears), Migratory Birds (ravens, snow buntings, falcons, loons), Insects (mosquitoes, flies, moths, grasshoppers), Fish (cod, flatfish, salmon). Rainforest- Biotic factors are any living things in an environment. The tropical rainforest is full of life with approximately 15 million different species of animals. A few examples of the many biotic feature are the rubber and bamboo trees, sloths, anteaters, poison dart frogs, lemurs, bromeliads, etc. Abiotic factors of the rainforest include soil, water, rocks, light, and climate.

2. A survey of the global system followed by a study of the distribution of the following biomes:

a. Tropical Rain Forest- two seasons: wet and dry, lie near the equator, 12 hours of daylight, temperatures varies very little throughout the year, 20-25 degrees C, annual rainfall exceeds 2 meters, South America & North America, 5 layers

b. Monsoon rain forest- Southeast Asia, India, South America, Southwest Australia, 60 degrees Farenheit, 350 cm rainfall, shorter trees than tropical rainforest, three layers

c. Tropical savannah- found in warm or hot climates, annual rainfall is from about 50.8 to 127 cm, is a grassland with scattered individual trees, fires maintain an area as a savanna, climate is the most important factor in creating savanna

d. Desert- cover about 1/5 of the Earth’s surface, rainfall is less than 50 cm a year, most deserts have a considerable amount of specialized vegetation, as well as specialized vertebrate and invertebrate animals

e. Temperate deciduous- These forest are characterized by trees that experience four seasons. The trees lose their leaves each fall and then grow

them back during the spring. Location- They are found in the Eastern United States, Canada, Europe, and parts of China and Japan.

f. High latitude tundra- This biome is unique due to its permafrost. Permafrost is a thick layer of soil that remains frozen year round. The tundra can be found in Siberia, central Asia, Canada, Central Alaska, and the arctic.

3. The two contrasting case studies should be chosen from these. Whilst a biome can be considered a global scale ecosystem, ecosystems occur on a variety of scales within broad vegetation zones.

4. Photosynthesis:a. Its requirements and processb. Photosynthesis and different wavelengthsc. The influence of light intensity and rainfall on plant productivity

KQ1b: What are the main components and characteristics of ecosystems and how are they structured?

1. The characteristics of ecosystems in terms of their biotic and abiotic components:

a. Tropical rainforesti. Soil- poor and acidic, decomposition is rapid, subject to heavy

leachingii. Temperature- 20-25 degrees Celsius

iii. Rainfall- more than 2 meters/yeariv. Photosynthesis- sunlight mainly reaches higher lever of trees so all

the lower trees must complete photosynthesis without much light. v. Net primary productivity- 2,200 grams of biomass/square

meter/year- highest level of primary productivity out of the terrestrial biomes

vi. Succession- if large area is removed, the roll of succession will be compromised- canopy trees will have to grow back then the layers under it will follow

vii. Biomass- 2,200 grams of biomass/sq meterviii. Biodiversity- has greatest diversity of species out of all biomes

ix. Trophic levels, food chains and webs-

x. Habitats and niches- 1. EMERGENTS:

a. Trees that tower over average canopy height.b. Birds and insects

2. CANOPY: a. Upper treesb. Insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more.

b. Monsoon rainforesti. Soil- low nutirient quality due to high litter and diversity

ii. Temperature- 27.5 degrees Celcius iii. Rainfall- 3409.2 mmiv. Photosynthesis- similar to tropical rainforest, plants that are lower

require less sunlightv. Net primary productivity- 1000-1700 annual pptn.

vi. Succession- layers will have to grow back from the top to the bottomvii. Biomassviii. Biodiversity- high biodiversity

ix. Trophic levels, food chains and webs

x. Habitats and niches- 1. Canopy- high trees, 25-30m tall, birds & insects2. Understory- shrubs, decomposing debris

c. Tropical Savannai. Soil- porous with rapid drainage of water, only a thin layer of humus

ii. Temperature- mean monthly temperatures are at 64 degrees Fahrenheit or above

iii. Rainfall- annual rainfall is from 50.8 to 127 cm per yeariv. Photosynthesis- sunlight is a very important factor and a very

essential component v. Net primary productivity- 180 NPP/10^9 kJ

vi. Succession- If primary succession were to occur in the tropical savanna the area would look very green but mainly because of tall grasses and a few trees scattered about. The grass would be high and very green.

vii. Biomass-

viii. Biodiversity- few species and few trees scattered along with a variety of shrubs on the ground, not many herbivores

ix. Trophic levels, food chains and webs-

Habitats and niches- A giraffe's niche is feeding on the canopy on trees, and its habitat is the Savannah

d. Temperate foresti. Soil- very nutrient rich

ii. Temperature- 10 degrees celsiusiii. Rainfall- 30-60 inches of rainiv. Photosynthesis- the dropping of their leaves during one season, trees

stop photosynthesis and enter a dormant periodv. Net primary productivity- 440 NPP/10^9 kJ

vi. Succession- succession progresses from pioneer grasses and shrubs to mature trees that return to pioneer grasses

vii. Biomass-

viii. Biodiversity- diverse understory vegetation and stratification of animals

ix. Trophic levels, food chains and webs-

x. Habitats and niches- many animals live in burrows during the winter or larger animals hibernate

e. Temperate Deciduousi. Soil- The soil is very nutrient rich because of all the leaves that fall

from the trees.ii. Temperature- The average temperature is 10 degrees Celsius

iii. Rainfall- the average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches of rain per year

iv. Photosynthesis- this occurs during the spring and summer months, when the sun is up longer, it is clearer, and it is warmer. During the fall and winter, the leaves of the trees die and fall of. There is not a lot of sunlight during these months because it is cloudy and cold. The trees need to conserve energy and they do this by losing their leaves.

v. Net Primary Productivity- The npp of a deciduous forest is 6000 kilocalories/square meter/ year. This is a very high npp. It is only lower than the estuary, swamps, and rainforests.

vi. Succession-

vii. Biomass-

viii. Biodiversity- There is a large amount of biodiversity. The deciduous forests are home to a variety of plant and animal species. The animals include owls, white tailed deer, black bear, bobcats, raccoon, squirrels, chipmunks, skunk, coyote, and hares. The plant species include white oak, red oak, sugar maple, white ash, American sycamore, and the hophorn bean.

ix. Trophic levels, food chains, and webs-

x. Habitats and niches- The tree species lose their leaves during the winter to conserve energy through the dark cold winters. Many species have coats of fur or feathers that blend in to the surrounding trees or ground to camouflage themselves.

f. High Latitude Tundra- i. Soil: The soil is very nutrient poor as a result of the cold climate. The

permafrost prevents the litter from reaching the soil. Also the cold climate limits the amount of decomposition from bacteria.

ii. Temperature- Winter: Arctic: -34° C 1. Siberia: -40° C to -69 C 2. Central Asia, Canada, Central Alaska: -28° F3. Summer Temperatures: Average: 7° C4. Siberia, Alaska, Canada: 15° C

iii. Rainfall: The tundra receives 15-25 cm of rainfall every year ( this includes melted snow).

iv. Photosynthesis- There aren’t a large amount of big trees in the arctic Tundra. There are months when there is little sunlight due to the high latitudes

v. Net Primary Productivity- The net primary Productivity of the high altitude tundra is 600 Kilocalories/ square meter/ year). The Tundra

has a very low npp and it is only higher than the extreme tundras, open ocean, and desert.

vi. Succession- Usually occurs after glaciers move past leaving barren rock.

vii. Biomass

viii. Biodiversity- There isn’t as much biodiversity as some biomes but the Tundra still has many unique species. The animals consist of Polar Bear, Caribou, Arctic Fox, Arctic Hare, Snowy Owl, Musk Ox, Rock Ptarmigan, Ermine, Penguin, White Wolf, Gray Falcon, Bald Eagle, Mosquito, Bumble Bee, Lemming, Shrew, Vole, Pocket Gopher, and the Pika. The vegetation of the biome includes Bearberry, Arctic Moss, Caribou Moss, Diamond Leaf Willow, Labrador Tea, Pasque Flower, Tufted Saxifrage, and Lichen.

ix. Trophic Levels, food chains, and food webs-

x. Habitats and Niches- Most Animals are covered in thick fur, blubber, or thick feathers to keep warm in the frigid temperatures. Some have coats of fur that change color to match the snow behind them.

2. The interaction of these components to be illustrated through relative size of the flows and stores of nutrients between vegetation, litter, and soil.

a. Tropical rainforest:

b. Monsoon rainforest:

c. Tropical savannah

d. Desert

e. Temperate deciduous

f. High latitude tundra