Biosphere

Group 4
The Biosphere

● From greek word bios meaning life and sphaira meaning sphere
● Layer of the planet which life thrive on
● Reaches heights of 10 km above sea level and more than 8 km deep
● James Lovelock proposed the gaia hypothesis
● A zone which covers parts of Air, Land, and Water
Biomes

Biomes divides the biosphere into segments with different conditions. They
are the World’s Major Communities. Classified according to the vegation and
climate of that area.
Types of BIomes

● Aquatic
● Forest
● Tundra
● Desert
● Grasslands
Aquatic

● Houses numerous species of plants and animals

● Largest of all the biomes
● Water covers 75% of the world
● Divided into fresh and saltwater
Temperature
● Since it is the largest biome in the world, the climate varies from -40 degrees
fahreheit to over 100 degrees. The average temperature is 39 degrees
fahrenheit, but it is warmer near the equator where the direct rays of sun can
pierce the water and warm it. The coldest is in the north and south poles,
where the water is close to freezing if not frozen (Glaciers). Also, the deeper
the ocean is, the colder the water will be because the sunlight isn't directly
piercing it.
How do animals survive?

Aquatic animals may breathe air or extract oxygen from that

dissolved in water through specialised organs called gills, or
directly through the skin. Natural environments and the animals
that live in them can be categorized as aquatic (water) or terrestrial
(land).
 Organisms in the Aquatic Biome

Sea Turtle JellyFish Great White Shark

How do plants survive?
Through photosynthesis, marine plants and algae provide much of the worlds
oxygen supply and take in huge amounts of carbon dioxide. This absorption of
carbon dioxide may be a useful tool in reducing the severity of climate change.
Another important aquatic plant is phytoplankton. These are tiny plants that serve
as food for many of the ocean creatures from the smallest of fish to large whales.
Some scientists estimate that phytoplankton provide the earth with almost half of
its oxygen! Marine plants live in the euphotic zone of the ocean because they
need energy from the sun for photosynthesis
Plants in the Aquatic Biome

Seaweed Water Lily Lily pad

•Sub Biomes
Freshwater

● 3% of the aquatic biome

● Over 700 species live in this
● Divided to ponds, lakes, and rivers
Examples
Saltwater

● Has the largest portion of the aquatic biome

● Contains 50% salt
● Split into 4 major biomes ; intertidal, pelagic, abyssal, and benthic
● Only 5% of it is discovered
● Estimated to have 1 million species
Examples
Bull Shark
Also known as Carcharchinus leucas, are sharks that adapted to swim
between freshwater and saltwater, They use a process called osmoregulation.
Other species doesn’t have that so they only dwell in the area where they
adapted.
Examples
Forest

● A large area dominated by trees

● Forest covered 4 billion hectares of the world in 2006 according to the Food
And Agriculture Association
● Accounts for 75% of the primary production of the Earth’s biosphere
● Has major types; temperate forest, tropical rainforest, and taiga
Temperature in the Forest Biome
● This biome has four changing seasons including winter, spring, summer, and
fall. These seasons happen because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis. Throughout
the year, rays from the sun hit different parts of the world more directly than
others, causing varying temperatures, or seasons. If the Earth were not tilted
on an axis, temperatures around the globe would always be the same.
Temperate deciduous forests also have quite a wet environment. Following
rainforests, temperate deciduous forests are the second-rainiest biome. The
average yearly precipitation is 30 - 60 inches (75 - 150 cm). This precipitation
falls throughout the year, but in the winter it falls as snow. The average
temperature in temperate deciduous forests is 50°F (10°C). Summers are
mild, and average about 70°F (21°C), while winter temperatures are often well
below freezing.
How do animals survive?
Animals forests biomes have to adapt to changing seasons. They must be able
to cope with cold winters and hot summers. Some animals hibernate or migrate
during the winter to escape the cold. Animals who do not hibernate or migrate
must have special adaptations to deal with higher exposure to predators in the
winter. When leaves fall, there is less cover for animals in this biome to hide from
predators.
Animals in the Forest Biome

Bear Deer
How do plants survive?
They have adapted to life in the rainforest by having their roots in the ground and
climbing high into the tree canopy to reach available sunlight. Many lianas start
life in the rainforest canopy and send roots down to the ground. The leaves
of forest trees have adapted to cope with exceptionally high rainfall.
Plants in the Forest Biome

Carpet Moss
Fern Wild Mushrooms
•Sub Biomes
Temperate Forest
● Has deciduous trees
● Temperature is neither hot nor cold
● Trees here produces seeds
● Has 4 seasons
● Soil within its vicinity is very fertile because of the trees
Yet again, examples
Tropical Rainforests

● Only covers 2% of the earths surface

● Receives high amount of rainfall
● Provides most of the oxygen
● Average temp of 75 to 85 celcius
Examples
Taiga

● Very little variation of plants in this biome. Majority of the plants are conifer
trees.
● Trees in this biome are referred to as evergreen
● Animal here have very thick fur
● For 6 months of the year, temperature here is below freezing
Yay!! visual representations
Tundra

● Coldest of all biomes

● Came from the finnish word tunturia meaning treeless plain
● Frost molded landscapes, low biotic diversity, low temperatures
● Major nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorus
● May be divided into arctic tundra and alpine tundra
Temperature in the Tundra Biome
The tundra is the coldest and the driest of all the biomes on Earth. There is very
little rainfall in the tundra; it rains less than ten inches a year. Winters here are
long, and summers short, sometimes they last for only 6 - 10 weeks. In the winter
the temperature can reach -50°F (-45.5°C). And we think our winters are bad!
Because the tundra is so close to the north pole, summer days are 24 hours
long! Summer temperatures rarely get above 50°F (10°C), just enough to thaw
the surface of the ground. What a place for a summer vacation! In the summer
the soil becomes very soggy from melted snow and rain. The moisture sinks into
the ground, which is called permafrost. The permafrost lies six inches below the
ground, and is frozen for most of the year
Animals in the Tundra Biome

Caribou Arctic Fox

How do plants survive?
You would think that plants would never live or survive in this biome, but the
answer is quite a surprise. There is low diversity in organisms that live here, but
many still flourish. Many lichens, mosses, and small shrubs flourish in the arctic
tundra. The plants that live in the harsh permafrost soil usually adapt to the
weather by being short and grouped together to resist winds and to be protected.
The growing season in the tundra is short and lasts up to 60 days. Tundra plants
get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis like all other plants, but
have adapted to low temperatures and low light intensities. Compared to plants
in other biomes they use a minimal amount of energy.
Plants in the Tundra Biome

Eriophorum Arctic Poppy Labrador Tea

How does animals survive?
Animals who live in the tundra have special adaptations to survive. Some
animals in the tundra are adapted to the climate by breeding and raising their
young in the summer. Many animals hibernate, or sleep during the worst part of
winter to minimize energy loss. Because animals of the tundra are generally
migratory, this biome's population is constantly changing. Resident animals have
to change what they are hunting and eating as the seasons change. The food
chain in the Arctic Tundra consists of predators such as owls, foxes, wolves, and
polar bears at the top of the chain. Predators hunt herbivores, plant eating
animals, such as caribou, lemmings, and hares. Mosquitoes, flies, moths,
grasshoppers, arctic bumblebees, and other insects are at the bottom of the
arctic food chain. Many birds feed on these insects
Arctic Tundra

● Has short cool summers and long cold winters

● Located in the northern hemisphere
● Cold, desert like conditions
● Permafrost exists here (completely frozen grounds)
● Snow owls, polar bear, arctic hare, etc. live here
More pictures for you!
Alpine Tundra

● High elevation
● Mirrors the arctic tundra
● Constant change of landscape
● Plants here are good at trapping heat
Examples 50% off
Desert

● One third of earth’s land surface is a dessert or partially one

● Extremely dry and deprived of rain
● Animals and plants here are adjusted to better suit the conditions
● Has only 10 inches of rain per year
● May be hot and dry, semiarid, coastal ,or cold
● Only 20% of the deserts are covered in sand
Temperature in the Desert Biome
Weather is not the same in all deserts. The seasons in hot and dry deserts are
usually very hot during the summer and warm during the rest of the year. During
winter these deserts get little rainfall. Rain is often light, or in short concentrated
bursts. Most of the time evaporation rates are faster than rainfall rates.
Sometimes the rain evaporates before even hitting the ground. This is the reason
for the dry characteristic of this type of desert. Coastal deserts are in moderately
cool to warm areas. Coastal deserts usually have cool winters followed by fairly
long, warm summers.
How do animals survive?
Deserts are a very important biome. No, not because of all the sand! Mostly
because of all the plants and animals that call the desert "home". Some animals
that live in the hot desert are cold-blooded, like snakes, insects, and lizards.
Mammals that live in the desert are usually small, such as the kangaroo rat and
kit fox. Sometimes it's hard to survive in the desert. Some mice build their home
out of fallen cactus spines to protect themselves from predators like coyotes and
hawks.
Animals in the Desert Biome

Xerocole Horned Viper

How do plants survive?
Deserts plants have many adaptations to survive in such a dry environment.
They are good at storing and finding water. Some plants have seeds that can
stay dormant in the sand for a long time, until there is enough rain for them to
grow. In hot deserts, you'll often find Cacti. Cacti are great at storing water. With
their waxy coating, water can't escape and their spines protect them from being
desert dinner. Their roots are shallow, and widely spread so that any rain can be
absorbed immediately! Some other plants you might find in the hot desert are
creosote bush, sagebrush, and ocotillo
Plants in the Desert Biome

Sage Bush Cacti

Examples redux
Grasslands
● Large rolling terrains of grasses,flowers and herbs
● Latitude, soil and local climates determine what plants will grow here
● 80 different species live here
● 2 types of grasslands; tall grass and short grass
● Can have moist or subtropical climates
● Animals like eagles, bobcats, etc live here
Temperature in the Grassland Biome
Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. Summer
temperatures can be well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter
temperatures can be as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. They typically have
between 10 and 35 inches of precipitation a year, much of it occurring in the late
spring and early summer.
How do animals survive?
Animals also adapt to the grassland habitat by finding ways to shelter and protect
themselves from danger where there are limited places to hide. The baboons use
alarm calls to warn of different types of dangerous predators. So, an adaptations
of the antelopes and zebras is to feed near baboons. In turn, antelopes and
zebras have a good sense of smell. The nose is the structure that functions to
alert them to danger nearby. This behavior of the antelope and zebras also
benefits the baboons. Many grassland creatures are able to run very quickly. The
strong legs of antelope are the structures that enable them to run quickly away
from danger.Living in herds, or large groups, is safer than being alone.
Animals in the Grassland Biome

Antelope Zebra
How do plants survive?
Plants have many adaptations to survive the Grasslands Biome.
The plants have deep, spreading root systems that allow them strength and
moisture during times of drought. Most of the plants have long narrow leaves
that don't need as much water. The grasses grow from the bottom and grow
close to the ground.
Plants in the Grassland Biome

Foxtail Coneflower
Finally the last set of examples