Sci 8 6.1 Ecosystems

Ecosystems

Ecology

Study of the interactions among organisms and
between organisms and their environment

SUNLIGHT is the main energy
source for life on Earth

Ecosystems

An area of nature in which living things and nonliving
things interact to exchange energy and materials

Biotic & Abiotic Factors

● Biotic factors: all the living things in an

environment
○ plants and animals

● Abiotic factors: the nonliving parts of the

environment
○ Soil, sunlight,

wind, water,
temperature

Terrestrial Biomes

● Tundra
● Taiga/Boreal Forest
● Savannas/Grasslands
● Deserts
● Tropical Rainforest
● Deciduous Forest

Tundra

Climate Soil

Plants

Animals Other

Names

Very cold,
harsh and
long winters

Short and
cool
summers

4-10 inches
of
precipitation
a year

Nutrient-poor
, permafrost
layer a few
inches down

Grasses,
wildflowers,
mosses,
small shrubs

Musk oxen,
migrating
caribou,
arctic foxes,
weasels,
snowshoe
hares, owls,
hawks,
various
rodents,
polar bears

Alpine

Taiga/Boreal Forest

Climate Soil

Plants

Animals Other

Names

Very cold
winters,
cool
summers

About 20
inches of
precipitation

Acidic,
mineral-poor

Decayed
pine and
spruce
needles on
surface

Mostly
spruce, fir
and other
evergreens

Rodents,
snowshoe
hares, lynx,
sables,
ermine,
caribou,
bears,
wolves,

Birds in
summer

Continental
subarctic

Grasslands / Savannas

Climate Soil

Plants

Animals

Other
Names

Cool in
winter, hot
in summer

10-30
inches of
precipitation
a year

Rich
topsoil

Mostly
grasses and
small shrubs

Some trees
near sources
of water

American
grasslands:
prairie dogs,
foxes, small
mammals,
snakes, insects,
various birds

African
grasslands:
elephants, lions
zebras, giraffes

Mediterranean

Woodland

Chaparral

Scrub

Desert

Climate

Soil

Plants

Animals

Generally very
hot days, cool
nights

Precipitation
less than 10
inches a year

Poor in animals
and plant decay
products

Often rich in
minerals

Cacti, yuccas,
bunch grasses,
shrubs, and a
few trees

Rodents,
snakes, lizards,
tortoises,
insects, and
some birds

Sahara: camels,
gazelles,
antelopes,
small foxes,
snakes, lizards,
gerbils

Tropical Rainforest

Climate Soil

Plants

Animals

Other
Names

Hot all year

80-100
inches of
rain a year

Nutrient-
poor

Greatest
diversity of
any biome

Vines,
orchids,
ferns, and a
wide variety
of trees

More species
of insects,
reptiles, and
amphibians
than anyplace
else

Monkeys,
jaguars,
capybara,
gorillas

Colorful birds

Subtropical
evergreen

Deciduous Forest

Climate Soil

Plants

Animals Other

Names

Relatively
mild
summers
and cold
winters

30-50
inches of
precipitation
a year

Rich topsoil
over clay

Hardwoods
such as
oaks,
beeches,
hickories,
maples

Wolves,
deer, bears,
and a wide
variety of
small
mammals,
birds,
amphibians,
reptiles, and
insects

Broadleaf

Temperate
broadleaf

Multiple Choice

Biotic factors are...

• living things

• non-living things

• undead things

Multiple Choice

Abiotic factors are...

• living things

• non-living things

• undead things

Multiple Choice

Which of these is NOT an abiotic factor?

• water

• temperature

• grass

• soil

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a biotic factor?

• humans

• bridges

• roads

• water

Multiple Choice

Which two biomes have the least precipitation?

• tropical rain forest and temperate grasslan

• savanna and tropical dry forest

• tundra and desert

• boreal forest and temperate woodland

Multiple Choice

This biome is found around the equator and is home to a large amount of biodiversity.

• Deserts

• Tropical Rain Forests

• Savannas

• Chaparral 

Multiple Choice

The earth's coldest biome is the....

• Antartica

• Grasslands

• Tundra

• Freshwater

Multiple Choice

A Biome covered with grasses is called....

• Grasslands

• Africa

• Meadow

• Forest

Multiple Choice

Biome with many different species of cacti and reptiles and very little rainfall.

• Desert

• Temperate Rainforest

• Tropical Rainforest

• Arctic Tundra

Multiple Choice

Which biome is characterized by moderate rainfall, cold winters, and the presence of fox and deer?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• taiga

• tundra

Multiple Choice

Which biome is home to lions, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and elephants?

• Grasslands

• Tundra

• Rainforest

• Temperate Forest

Multiple Choice

Which biome has the greatest biodiversity of plants and animals?

• Temperate Forest

• Rainforest

• Tundra

• Grasslands

Multiple Choice

Which biome is home to jaguars, anacondas, leopards, gorillas, and poisonous tree frogs?

• Grasslands

• Temperate Forest

• Rainforest

• Tundra