ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

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BIOMES AND BIODIVERSITY
OBJECTIVES
1. Define a biome and identify its abiotic
and biotic components.
2. Differentiate the physical and biological
factors affecting the evolution of life
within a biome.
3. Recognized the biodiversity that is
present within biomes and define the
resilience of biomes. WHAT IS A BIOME?
4. Identify current threats to Earth’s A major community that has
biomes, biodiversity, and ecosystem been established by global climate
services. (i.e., long-term temperature and
OBJECTIVE 1 : precipitation patterns) and is
DEFINE A BIOME AND IDENTIFY ITS defined by the organisms and
ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC COMPONENTS. vegetation that are adapted to live
ABIOTIC FACTORS in this large geographical area.
▪ Non-living chemicals and physical
components in the environment, which
are essential for life. WHAT IS CLIMATE?
▪ Inorganic compounds that are not Climate is long-term
organic (i.e., they lack carbon-hydrogen average weather patterns that
bonds) occurs at a location over
▪ Impact an organism’s ability to survive, decades, centuries and eons.
grow, reproduce, and determine the The two main factors that
types and numbers of organisms that can control climate are temperature
exist within a biome. and precipitation.
EXAMPLE OF ABIOTIC FACTORS MAJOR FACTORS THAT CONTROL
▪ Air (Oxygen O2, Carbon Dioxide CO2, CLIMATE
Nitrogen N2) ▪ TEMPERATURE – location can be hot,
▪ Water warm or cold.
▪ Sunlight ▪ PRECIPITATION – location can be wet or
▪ Soil minerals dry
▪ Humidity ▪ TILT OF EARTH ON ITS AXIS – causes
BIOTIC FACTORS seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter)
▪ Living components of an ecosystem. ▪ SUN – produces heat and energy for our
▪ Made up of organic compounds, planet.
meaning that they are composed of ▪ LATITUDE – distance from equator (hot),
carbon-hydrogen molecules. poles are cold.
▪ Can have both direct and indirect effects ▪ ELEVATION – orographic precipitation,
on a biome, can impact an organism’s higher altitudes are cold.
interactions with other organisms, ▪ MOUNTAIN RANGES AND SHAPE OF
predation, place within a food chain, THE LAND – rain shadow effect.
waste cycle, disease, etc. ▪ OCEAN CURRENTS – distance from
EXAMPLE OF BIOTIC FACTORS ocean, warm or cold currents.
▪ Living organisms: ▪ WINDS – direction of prevailing winds can
virus, bacteria, fungi, plants, bring rain, cold, heat.
animals, insects, parasites ▪ VEGETATION – trees of tropical rainforest
▪ Organic molecules: release moisture producing clouds and rain
DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, ▪ HUMAN ACTIVITY – deforestation,
carbohydrates burning fossil fuels, urbanization
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CLIMOGRAPH Earth has THREE broad categories of biomes
Single graph that displays data for that are based on climate (i.e., temperature and
two variables (1) monthly average temperature precipitation) and determined by predominant
and (2) monthly average precipitation for a vegetation.
single location on Earth. Climograph is a simple
way to graphically describe a location’s climate.

CLIMATE
The climate of Earth’s major biomes is
defined by temperature and precipitation.
Temperature varies with latitude and
altitude. As latitude and altitude increase,
temperatures decrease.

WHITTAKER’S BIOME-TYPES
Whittaker defined climates based on the
affects of both temperature and precipitation on
terrestrial vegetation. These factors
(temperature and precipitation) will determine
the major type of
vegetation that
EARTH’S BIOME occurs within a
The exact number of biomes on the biome.
planet depends on how the biomes are For example,
classified. Not all scientists classify these tropical rainforest is
regions in the same way. hot and wet; tundra
Some scientists use broad classifications is cold and dry.
and count as few as 5 or 6 biomes on Earth.
Others use very precise classification and count VEGETATION – ASSEMBLY OF
hundreds of specific biomes. DOMINATE PLANT SPECIES
Biomes are also difficult to delineate Terrestrial biomes vary by type of
because there are no defined boundaries vegetation, and vegetation is a function of
between them. There are often areas between climate (i.e., temperature and precipitation),
them that may share similar characteristics latitude, elevation, animal species (e.g., types of
called transition zones or ecotones. Climate herbivores) and other abiotic factors (e.g.,
change also shifts biomes over time, making it avalanche, coastal location, fire, flooding).
more challenging to map out all of Earth’s Each biome requires us to consider the
biomes accurately. types of interactions between and among plant
and animal species, as well as, the nutrient
requirements for all organisms living within the
biome.
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Species interactions vary depending on ANTHROPOGENIC BIOMES
climate (i.e., temperature and precipitation) and While there are many natural biomes
the ability of organisms to maintain around the globe, there are also large areas of
homeostasis within narrow tolerance limits, land that have been altered by human activity.
which they have evolved to live within (e.g., oak Humans need places to live, raise livestock,
trees have evolved to live in temperatures of grow crops, etc. Some scientists argue that this
about -10C to 35C. creates anthropogenic biomes or anthromes.

➢ Biomes can be further distinguished by

individual ecosystems based on
interactions between BIOTIC and
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS.

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
OBJECTIVE 2 :
DIFFERENTIATE THE PHYSICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING THE
EVOLUTION OF LIFE
Different species of plants and animals
have adapted to live within each of Earth’s
biomes.
Each biome contains a unique number
and type of species that can survive the
conditions and thrive in the biome.

FRESHWATER BIOMES
▪ Ponds
▪ Lakes
▪ Streams
▪ Rivers This map shows the number of
▪ Springs amphibian species across the globe.
▪ Wetlands EVOLUTION
Natural process by which organisms
MARINE BIOMES diversify over time because of changes in their
▪ Oceans heritable characteristics.
▪ Coral reefs Better-adapted individuals will survive
▪ Estuaries and pass on their genes and traits to their
▪ Mangroves offspring. This changes how common certain
variants of genes are found in the population,
some will increase, others decrease. This
process leads to the evolution of a species.
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Evolution is often a slow process MUTATIONS
Occurs when the DNA sequence of a
gene is changed, altered or damaged. This
sequence change
can result in
different
phenotypes (i.e.,
observable
characteristic). For
example, red-
colored flower
changes to yellow.
Mutations can be
beneficial, neutral, or harmful to an organism.
GENE FLOW
The movement of genetic variation
between populations of organisms.

Evolution by natural selection is a slow

process that takes thousands to millions of
years. Likewise, climates change naturally over
long periods of time (e.g., thousands to millions
of years). Organisms evolve to adapt to new GENETIC DRIFT
climates. The change in the
Extinction frequency of a gene for a
of a species occurs population over time due to
when climate random mating. This results in
changes faster the loss of some gene variability
than an organism
can adapt.
Human activity
can cause fast and
dramatic changes NATURAL SELECTION
in climate that The process
takes place in just by which organisms
a few decades. that are best
Organisms can’t evolve and adapt to these adapted to a
climatic changes in such a short period of time, particular
which can lead to their extinction. environment
For example, polar bears face the real survive, reproduce
threat of extinction because rapid global and produce more
warming is causing the dramatic loss of Arctic offspring than less
sea ice where they live. adapted
FORCES OF EVOLUTION individuals.
▪ Mutation Offspring inherit
▪ Gene Flow their parent's genes
▪ Genetic Drift and traits.
▪ Natural Selection
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a) STABILIZING SELECTION - Favors BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATION
the norm and selects against extremes. Behavioral adaptations are those that
b) DIRECTIONAL SELECTION - affect the activities that an organism performs
Continually favors a particular extreme in order to survive and reproduce.
of the trait (bigger, darker, etc.) Can be something an organism is born
c) DISRUPTIVE SELECTION - Favors the with and contained within their DNA (e.g.,
extremes and selects against instinct) or something that is learned (e.g.
intermediate forms mother teaches offspring to fish).
Behavioral changes can occur rapidly.

GENETIC DIVERSITY
Populations need
genetic diversity to evolve.
Total number of
genes and traits among
individuals of a single
population.
ADAPTATION The greater genetic
A characteristic that allows an individual diversity a population has
survive and reproduce. the better able it will be to
Populations within a biome have shared adapt to changes in its
adaptations that allow them to live in that environment.
particular biome. OBJECTIVE 3 :
Adaptations can RECOGNIZED THE BIODIVERSITY THAT
lead to changes in an IS PRESENT WITHIN BIOMES AND
individual’s physical DEFINE THE RESILIENCE THAT THIS
appearance (structural) DIVERSITY PROVIDE
or changes in behavior SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GAP
(behavioral). Earth currently has about 1.8 million
identified species. But there are millions of
PHYSICAL ADAPTATION species not yet
Physical adaptations are those that affect discovered.
an organism’s physical features such as the beak Scientists
of a bird. Encoded in the organism’s DNA. estimate Earth
Involves part of the organism’s body has between 3 –
such as its shape, color, coverings, movement, 100 million
size, etc. species that are
Occur over an extended period of time. still not known.
Result from changes in an organism’s DNA that
controls changes in its physical traits.
BIODIVERSITY
The immense variety of life on Earth
Includes diversity within species,
between species, and ecosystems.
Provides connections between
individual species and between species and
the environment.
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Forms a foundation for ecosystem HUMAN HEALTH
services that support human health and well- Many medications are created using
being. natural substances (e.g., plants extracts or
TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY ingredients, bacteria, fungi, animal venom).
GENETIC DIVERSITY – total number of Many plants have natural medicinal
genetic traits within a single species or purposes.
population (e.g., humans red hair, yellow hair, Humans rely on medications and
brown hair). pharmaceuticals to treat and complete research
SPECIES DIVERSITY – total number of to cure human diseases and illnesses that
different populations within a community (e.g., impact our wellbeing.
elk, moose, black bear, cougar). AGRICULTURE
POPULATION DIVERSITY – species Cultivated crops have been bred from
diversity, their distribution and range. wild ancestor species.
DIVERSITY OF ECOSYSTEMS – population Humans have grown accustomed to a
diversity plus all abiotic factors (e.g., water, wide variety of plant, animal, fungi food
elevation, temperature). supplies.
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT We require diverse varieties of crops
A biologically rich area on Earth that based on our food demands, differing growing
contains numerous endangered and endemic conditions, and resistance to pests.
species. It is important to maintain genetic
Make up less than 3% of Earth’s land diversity of wild species to ensure our future
area. food supply of domesticated plant species.
Contain more than 40-50% of all Earth’s ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
plant and animal species. Earth’s natural ecological processes that
Are typically in tropical biomes, isolated are essential for human life and well being.
terrestrial biomes or isolated marine biomes.
Are threatened by human activities (e.g.,
urbanization, burning fossil fuels, plastic
waste).

VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM

BIODIVERSITY IN MANAGED OBJECTIVE 4 :

ECOSYSTEM IDENTIFY CURRENT THREATS TO
When people think about biodiversity EARTH’S BIOMES, BIODIVERSITY, AND
they usually think natural systems. But it is also ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
extremely important to maintain biodiversity in 21ST CENTURY ECOLOGICAL
human-managed ecosystems, as well. SENSITIVITY 2
▪ Farms The well-being of a biome and the
▪ Croplands adaptability of a biome’s organisms is
▪ Rangelands dependent on Earth’s major climate patterns
▪ Aquaculture and the immediate climate (e.g., temperature
▪ Parks and precipitation) within the smaller
▪ Urban landscapes geographical area of the individual biome itself.
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ENDANGERED SPECIES
An endangered species is a species that
is at a high risk of becoming extinct. This status
is categorized by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Endangered is the second most severe status for
wild populations before a species becomes
extinct.

Human-induced climate change will

likely cause little change to biome (purple).
Human-induced climate change will HOW CAN WE PROTECT AND PRESERVE
likely cause dramatic changes to biome (red). BIODIVERSITY?
▪ Pass legislation and form treaties
Earth’s Biomes have constantly changed o Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement,
over time. But what TWO things are different CITES
today compared to past events? ▪ Restore damaged ecosystems and
1. Humans are present in great numbers: 8- biomes
billion humans on Earth. o Re-introducing species, removing
2. Extinction rates are 10 to 10,000 times invasive species.
greater than background rates. ▪ Set aside areas of land and water to
preserve and protect from human
activity.
o Parks, wildlife preserves, wildlife
sanctuaries.
▪ Target individual species directly with
captive breeding programs.
o Zoos, wildlife sanctuaries,
aquariums
▪ Purchase and use locally grown and
sourced products.
HOW CAN WE PROTECT AND PRESERVE
MAJOR THEATS TO BIODIVERSITY BIODIVERSITY
▪ Habitat Loss Many of the threats to Earth’s
▪ Overharvesting of Natural Resources biodiversity come from humans. These are
▪ Pollution called anthropogenic threats.
▪ Invasive Species Protecting and preserving Earth’s
▪ Climate Change biodiversity involves changing human
▪ Human Population Growth activities, behavior, beliefs and values.
BIODIVERSITY IN MANAGED By making simple changes in your life,
ECOSYSTEM you can be part of the solution!