Biomes & Ecosystems

A biome is an area with a distinctive ecology. In a biome the physical conditions ordinarily
remain relatively stable. Some biomes are terrestrial (deserts, grasslands, forests, tundra) while
others are aquatic (saltwater, freshwater).
Saltwater biomes are the largest biomes. The primary factor that distinguishes lifeforms is the
amount of sunlight that penetrates the water. Phytoplankton (marine algae) live in the photic
zone which is the part of the ocean where sunlight is present. These aquatic plants form the
foundation of marine food webs.
Temperate deciduous forests and coniferous forests are two distinct types of biomes. Humans
benefit greatly from these forests, which generate oxygen and provide wood.
Temperate deciduous forests are found in the eastern United States, southeastern Canada,
most of Europe, parts of China and Japan, and southern South America. Deciduous trees lose
their leaves in the fall. These trees receive 75 – 150 cm (30” to 60”) of precipitation per year.
Coniferous forests grow in the colder regions of the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
The trees in the coniferous forest produce their seeds inside cone-shaped structures, such as
pinecones. This type of forest, sometimes called the boreal forest, generally receives 30 to 90
centimeters (12 to 35 inches) of rainfall each year.
One-fifth of the earth’s land is desert. Most deserts average less than 25 centimeters (10
inches) of rain per year. What rainfall there is usually occurs in short, heavy bursts and is
followed by long periods of dry weather. Plants and animals that live in the desert have
developed ways of adapting to the dryness and the often extreme temperatures. Some
scientists believe there are four different desert biomes - hot and dry, semi-arid, coastal, and
cold - based on climate variations, and different types of life thrive in each type of desert.
A prairie is a type of grassland. Prairies are unique because they consist of a complete
interdependent ecosystem. This means that all species of plants and animals in a prairie region
depend on one another for survival. Members of the prairie/grasslands biome include grasses,
flowering plants, animals, soil, sand and fire.
Most of the prairies living mass is below the ground. Underneath the prairie’s surface is a dense
mass of roots and bulbs. It is important for the roots to run deep because fires are a vital part of
the prairie ecosystem. When a fire burns through the prairie, plants with shallow roots cannot
survive – the fire burns dead material from the tops of plants and returns those nutrients to the
soil. Prairies have some of the most fertile soil in the United States.
The Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia,
meaning treeless plain. It is noted for its frost-molded landscapes, extremely low temperatures,
little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons. Dead organic material functions
as a nutrient pool. The two major nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen is created by
biological fixation, and phosphorus is created by precipitation. Tundra is separated into two
types: arctic tundra and alpine tundra.
Understanding

1. Which biome is considered the largest?

Saltwater biomes are the largest biomes.

2. In the marine biome, what forms the foundation of the food chain?
Phytoplankton are the foundation of food chains in marine biomes.

3. List two characteristics of a deciduous forest.

Deciduous forests lose their leaves in fall. Deciduous forests have about 30”-60” of rain
a year.

4. List two characteristics of a coniferous forest.

Coniferous forests’ seeds are in cone shaped items similar to a pinecone, if not a
pinecone. Coniferous forests receive 12”-35” of rain a year.

5. Based on the reading, describe the precipitation in the desert.

The precipitation of deserts are little in number and amount, but are heavy when they
occur. Deserts receive less than 10 inches of rain a year.

6. Describe the soil found in a grassland.

The soil in a grassland is usually fertile, and the soil in prairie grasslands are known to
be the most fertile in the region.

7. Why is fire vital to the prairie ecosystem?

Without fire, plants would not be able to get nutrients back in the soil, and without plants,
animals would have no habitat.

8. What does the Finnish word tunturia mean?

Tunturia means treeless plain.

9. Which biome do you think is the coldest? Explain your answer.

I think the tundra is the coldest as they are usually closest to the north and south poles.