1 Chapter Fifteen: The Biosphere

2 Section One: Life in the Earth SystemBiosphere: part of the Earth where life exists Biota: the collection of living things that live in the biosphere Hydrosphere: all of Earth’s water, ice, and water vapor Atmosphere: the air blanketing Earth’s solid and liquid surface Geosphere: features of the Earth’s surface

3 Section Two: Climate Climate: the long-term pattern of weather conditions in a region Affected by temperature, sunlight, water, and wind Microclimate: the climate of a small specific place within a larger area Earth has three major climate zones Polar Temperate Tropical

4 Section Two: Climate What determines climate? SunlightSeasons are determined by the tilt of the earth Air and Water Movement Heating causes movement of air and water Landmasses Are they near the ocean, mountains, lakes or rivers

5 Section Two: Climate Animal AdaptationsSome animals have adaptations that allow them to live in specific climates Ex: Water holding frogs

6 Section Three: Biomes The Earth has six major biomes TropicalGrassland Desert Temperate Taiga Tundra

7 Section Three: Biomes Tropical Biomes Tropical Rain ForestWarm temps with lots of precipitation Canopy: the uppermost branches of the trees

8 Section Three: Biomes GrasslandAn area where the primary plant life is grass Tropical grassland (savannas) Temperate grassland

9 Section Three: Biomes DesertReceive less than 10 inches of precipitation a year Hot Semiarid Coastal Cold

10 Section Three: Biomes Temperate Forest Temperate deciduousDeciduous: trees have adapted to winter temperature by losing their leaves and going dormant in winter Temperate rain forest Coniferous: trees retain their needles all year

11 Section Three: Biomes Taiga Biome with long and cold wintersAlso called boreal forest

12 Section Three: Biomes TundraNorth of the taiga where winters last up to 10 months of the year

13 Section Three: Biomes Minor BiomesChapparal: hot dry summers and cool moist winters Mediterranean shrubland

14 Section Four: Marine EcosystemsOcean Zones Intertidal: the strip of land between high and low tides Neritic: from the intertidal to the edge of the continental shelf Bathyal: from the neritic to the base of the continental shelf Abyssal: below 2000 meters and is completely dark

15 Section Four: Marine Ecosystems

16 Section Four: Marine EcosystemsNeritic Zone Where most of the biomass in the ocean is located Plankton: tiny free-floating organisms Zooplankton: animal plankton Phytoplankton: photosynthetic plankton Carryout the bulk of photosynthesis on Earth

17 Section Four: Marine EcosystemsCoastal Waters Coral Reefs: found in the tropical climate zone where corals serve as the foundation Kelp forests: found in cold nutrient rich waters where kelp serves as the foundation

18 Section Five: Estuaries and Freshwater EcosystemsEstuary: partially enclosed body of water formed where a river flows into the ocean Where freshwater mixes with saltwater Highly productive ecosystems Thriving detritivore communities Plankton primary food source for most animals Provide refuge for many species and breeding ground Threats Habitat destruction by human land developments

19 Section Five Estuaries and Freshwater Ecosystems

20 Section Five: Estuaries and Freshwater EcosystemsIncludes rivers, streams, wetlands, ponds, and lakes Watershed: region of land that drains into a river, river system, or other body of water Freshwater organism adaptations Trout are adapted to swim against fast moving currents Some organisms have suckers or hooks to attach themselves to things in fast water currents

21 Section Five: Estuaries and Freshwater EcosystemsPonds and Lakes Littoral zone: between the high and low water marks along the shoreline Snails, water lilies, dragonflys Limnetic zone: open water located further from shore Plankton and fish Benthic zone: lake or pond bottom Decomposers