TERRESTRIAL

ECOLOGY
Lecture II
Louella G. Artates

BIOMES

BIOME

Is a large, relatively distinct

terrestrial regions that has similar
climate, soil, plants and animals
regardless of where it occurs.

Because it covers such a large

land area, a biome encompasses
many interacting landscapes.

Landscape

Is a large area composed of interacting ecosystem.

BIOME

Biomes largely correspond to

major climate zones, with
temperature and precipitation
being most important.

Climate

Is the average weather conditions, plus extremes, that occur in a given

place over a period of years.

BIOME

Climate

The most important factors that

determine an areas climate are
temperature and precipitation.

Other factors include:

Wind

Humidity

Fog

Cloud cover

BIOME

Latitude and Humidity

Relative humidity is a measure of

how much water vapor an air mass
contains.

Humidity is related to plant and

animal diversity. From the poles to
the equator, humidity and the
diversity of plants and animals
increases.

Sunlight at the equator vs high atitudes

Earth is hottest near the equator where the Sun is closest to being directly
overhead year round.

At the north and south poles, temperatures are much colder.

BIOME

Sunlight at the equator vs high

atitudes

This effect is related to the fact that

light travels in straight parallel lines.

BIOME

Sunlight at the equator vs high

atitudes

At the equator, sunlight is direct and

intense. Earths north and south
poles are tilted away from or toward
the Sun depending on the time of
year

BIOME

Sunlight at the equator vs high

atitudes

The locations of the poles relative to

the Sun and Earths spherical surface
mean that sunlight reaching these
areas is spread out and less intense.

BIOME

Sunlight at the equator vs high

atitudes

As a result, the average yearly

temperature at the equator is 27 C
(80 F), while at the North Pole it is
-18 C (0 F). Generally, as latitude
(or distance from the equator)
increases, the amount of incoming
solar radiation decreases.

BIOME

Sunlight at the equator vs high

atitudes

As a result, the average yearly

temperature at the equator is 27 C
(80 F), while at the North Pole it is
-18 C (0 F). Generally, as latitude
(or distance from the equator)
increases, the amount of incoming
solar radiation decreases.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN BIOMES

Communities

A biome is characterized by its plant

and animal communities.

The plants and animals in a

community interact with each other
and survive in a shared environment.

Communities

The plants and animals in the environment have adaptations that allow
them to obtain enough resources (such as food, water, or sunlight) to
survive in the environment.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN BIOMES

Communities

For example, how might an animal

survive in a hot desert? Jackrabbits have
an adaptation to keep coolenormous
ears with many blood vessels near the
surface.

Blood running through the vessels

speeds up heat transfer from the
jackrabbits body to the air so it stays
cooler.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN BIOMES

Ecosystems

Biomes are large geographic areas.

Within a biome, there are many
interrelated ecosystems.

An ecosystem is made up of the

plants and animals that live there,
plus nonliving things like soil, air,
water, sunlight, and nutrients.

Ecosystems

The living and nonliving parts of an

ecosystem work together, and each
organism plays an important
ecological role.

NINE MAJOR BIOMES:

TUNDRA

TAIGA

TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

SAVANNA

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

DESERT

TEMPERATE GRASSLAND

TROICAL RAINFOREST