Activity 2: The Earth's Biosphere
Before you start reading below, watching the videos below, and visiting the suggested websites, make a prediction putting the following terms in descending order/sequence. From largest to the smallest.
|
|
Your predictions should be recorded in your individual Google document, Sustaining Earth's Ecosystems – Biosphere.
Once you have finished your brainstorming you should move on to Time to Research portion of this activity. While you are reading the notes below and watching the videos, you should be making notes in your individual Google Document, Sustaining Earth's Ecosystems – Personal Notes, if you prefer you can record your "personal notes" on paper.
Once you have finished your brainstorming you should move on to Time to Research portion of this activity. While you are reading the notes below and watching the videos, you should be making notes in your individual Google Document, Sustaining Earth's Ecosystems – Personal Notes, if you prefer you can record your "personal notes" on paper.
Time to Research (Read, Watch, and Take Notes)
All environments, such as the rainforest we live in, has living and non-living components. Biotic components are the living organisms within the environment; plants, animals, and bacteria. Whereas, abiotic components are non-living; such as temperature, soil, and sunlight. The two components interact with each other in a physical and a chemical manner, the abiotic components are responsible for the survival of the biotic components.
Abiotic Features
|
Biotic Features
|
Scientist believe that the biosphere can be broken down into smaller divisions. The largest of the divisions is referred to as a biome. As you have learned in the Activity 1: Introducing the Biomes of the World, a biome includes large regions that have similar biotic and abiotic components.
The word biosphere refers to the area on and near the Earth's surface where living things exist.
The word biosphere refers to the area on and near the Earth's surface where living things exist.
|
The biosphere consist of biomes. Each biome consist of ecosystems. Each ecosystem consist of habitats, where a variety of organisms live within a population, as a whole community with other populations of organisms.
|
Biomes are classified based on a variety of factors, such as water availability, temperature, and interactions between biotic and abiotic factors. If biotic and abiotic features are the same in more than one area, the are considered similar biomes. Even if they exists far apart geographically.
Take West Coast of British Columbia, Canada and Tasmania, Australia for instance. Both areas have similar biotic and abiotic components. While there are many different animals, the temperatures, the climate, the degrees of latitude are similar (one being in the northern hemisphere, the other in the southern), the plant life and vegetation are quite similar.
Take West Coast of British Columbia, Canada and Tasmania, Australia for instance. Both areas have similar biotic and abiotic components. While there are many different animals, the temperatures, the climate, the degrees of latitude are similar (one being in the northern hemisphere, the other in the southern), the plant life and vegetation are quite similar.
Can you tell the difference?
In taking a look at the two photographs below, are you able to definitively distinguish between BC's temperate rainforest and Tasmania's?
Factors That Influence the Characteristics and Distribution of Biomes
Certain abiotic factors influence the characteristics of biomes on Earth. Two of the most prominent features are temperature and precipitation. Other factors include latitude, elevation (determined from ocean level), and ocean currents.
(Sander, et al., 2008, p. 10)
Latitude, the distance north and south from the equator, is an abiotic factor that influences biomes. This influences both temperature and precipitation levels.
Elevation also influences biomes.
Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas.
- The tropical zone has very warm temperatures and high precipitation.
- The tropical zone receives more direct sunlight than do temperate zones.
Elevation also influences biomes.
- The atmosphere is thinner at higher elevations, and therefore less heat is retained.
- Windward sides of mountains are wet, leeward sides are very dry. This is known as a rainshadow; the mountains trap the clouds, preventing them from continuing on. Thus having them pile up on one and other, increasing pressure until precipitation falls. Imagine a wet sponge being rung out.
Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas.
- Where warm currents meet land, temperate biomes are found.
Climatographs
Climate refers to the average weather pattern over a large physical region. To be considered an accurate representation of the weather conditions, it is based on a period of 30 or more years of collected data. The climatograph illustrates the average temperature and precipitation for a particular location over that period of time. Not only are climatographs useful in defining biomes, they are also useful when planning vacations.
Biomes are often defined using information in climatographs. Examine the differences between the climatographs below. Which region would you prefer to live in? What is the reason?
Biomes are often defined using information in climatographs. Examine the differences between the climatographs below. Which region would you prefer to live in? What is the reason?
Adaptations & Biomes
Biomes are often identified with characteristic biotic factors, such as a cactus in the desert or a caribou on the tundra. Many of these characteristic factors have special adaptations for that biome. An adaptation is a characteristic that allows an organism to better survive and reproduce.
- Structural adaptation – a physical feature that helps an organism survive.
ex. A wolf has large paws to help it run in snow. - Physiological adaptation – a physical or chemical event inside the body of an organism that allows it to survive.
ex. A wolf maintains a constant body temperature. - Behavioural adaptation – a behaviour that helps an organism to survive.
ex. Wolves hunt in packs to capture large prey.
Videos
- Introduction to Biomes by Frank Gregorio
- Abiotic and Biotic Factors by MooMoo Math and Science
- Climate Graphs by KRS
- Shaba. Animal Adaptations|Nature - Planet Doc Full Documentaries by Planet Doc Full Documentaries
Check-In - To Be Completed Before Moving On
Let's have a check in. Take the time to answer the following questions; record your answers in Sustaining Earth's Ecosystem - Biosphere. (You should be able to answer the following questions without having to refer to your notes).
- What are biotic components of a biome?
- What are abiotic components of a biome?
- Name two abiotic factors that influence the characteristics of a biome.
- How can the temperate rainforest biome be located in two very different parts of the world?
- What is an adaptation?
- Name three types of adaptations that benefit and animal.