2.5 Biosphere: Ecosystems and Biomes
4 min read•august 16, 2024
Earth's biosphere is a complex web of life, intertwining ecosystems and biomes. From lush rainforests to barren deserts, each environment plays a crucial role in the planet's ecological balance. Understanding these systems is key to grasping Earth's physical geography.
Ecosystems and biomes showcase the intricate relationships between living organisms and their surroundings. By exploring their structure, function, and global distribution, we gain insights into how Earth's physical systems shape and are shaped by life on our planet.
Ecosystems and Biomes
Ecosystem Structure and Function
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- Ecosystems form complex networks of living organisms interacting with their physical environment
- Key components include producers (autotrophs), consumers (heterotrophs), decomposers, and abiotic factors (soil, water, climate)
- Energy flows through via food chains and food webs
- Example: - grass (producer) → grasshopper (primary consumer) → bird (secondary consumer)
- moves matter between biotic and abiotic components
- Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, phosphorus cycle
- describes species composition changes over time
- (bare rock) → lichens → mosses → grasses → shrubs → trees
- (disturbed area) → grasses → shrubs → pioneer tree species → climax forest
Biome Characteristics and Classification
- Biomes encompass large-scale ecological areas with distinct climate patterns and vegetation types
- Primarily defined by temperature, precipitation, and dominant plant life
- Terrestrial biomes include , , temperate forests, grasslands, tropical forests, deserts
- Aquatic biomes divided into freshwater (lakes, rivers) and marine (oceans, ) ecosystems
- Climate diagrams illustrate temperature and precipitation patterns for each biome
- Adaptations of organisms reflect the environmental conditions of their biome
- Cacti in deserts have water-storing stems and reduced leaves
- Deciduous trees in temperate forests shed leaves to conserve energy in winter
Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes
Major Terrestrial Biomes
- Tundra characterized by extremely cold temperatures, low precipitation, permafrost
- Vegetation includes mosses, lichens, sedges (Arctic tundra)
- Taiga (boreal forest) features long, cold winters and short, cool summers
- Dominated by coniferous trees (spruce, fir, pine)
- Temperate experiences distinct seasons and moderate rainfall
- Trees shed leaves annually (maple, oak, beech)
- has hot summers, cold winters, and periodic drought
- Grasses dominate, with few trees (prairies, steppes)
- maintains high temperatures and abundant rainfall year-round
- Highest of any terrestrial biome (, )
- Desert receives less than 25 cm of precipitation annually
- Plants and animals adapted to water scarcity (cacti, camels)
Aquatic Biome Diversity
- include lakes, rivers, and
- Lakes stratify into distinct thermal layers (epilimnion, thermocline, hypolimnion)
- Rivers change characteristics from source to mouth (erosion, deposition)
- cover about 70% of Earth's surface
- Influenced by salinity, temperature, light penetration, and ocean currents
- Coral reefs support high biodiversity in warm, shallow waters
- Wetlands serve as transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
- Crucial for water filtration, flood control, and unique biodiversity
- Types include marshes, swamps, and bogs
Biotic and Abiotic Interactions
Ecological Relationships and Niches
- Biotic factors encompass all living organisms in an ecosystem
- Abiotic factors include non-living components (temperature, soil, light)
- describes an organism's role and its response to resource distribution
- Fundamental niche: potential range of conditions and resources an organism can use
- Realized niche: actual conditions and resources used in the presence of competitors
- Limiting factors control organism growth, abundance, or distribution
- Liebig's Law of the Minimum: growth is dictated by the scarcest resource
- disproportionately affect ecosystem structure
- Sea otters in kelp forests control sea urchin populations, protecting kelp
Environmental Influences on Ecosystems
- illustrate matter movement between ecosystem components
- : evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and transpiration
- Carbon cycle: , respiration, decomposition, and fossil fuel combustion
- Climate shapes global biome distribution through temperature and precipitation patterns
- relates vegetation types to climate zones
- Soil composition and topography interact with biotic factors to determine vegetation
- Soil pH affects nutrient availability for plants
- Aspect (direction a slope faces) influences local temperature and moisture conditions
Human Impact on Ecosystems
Anthropogenic Threats to Biodiversity
- fragments ecosystems, reducing species populations
- in the Amazon for agriculture and ranching
- destroys natural habitats and creates urban heat islands
- alters species distributions and phenology
- Earlier spring blooming in temperate regions
- Coral bleaching due to increased ocean temperatures
- depletes natural resources and disrupts ecosystem balance
- Overfishing has led to collapse of cod populations in the North Atlantic
- Illegal wildlife trade threatens endangered species (rhinos, elephants)
Conservation and Sustainable Management
- preserve critical habitats and endangered species
- National parks, marine protected areas, wildlife refuges
- aim to restore populations of threatened organisms
- California condor captive breeding and reintroduction
- Sustainable resource management balances human needs with ecosystem health
- (FSC) certification for responsible forestry
- (MSC) certification for sustainable fisheries
- Ecosystem-based approaches integrate conservation with human activities
- incentivizes conservation on private lands
- combines agriculture with tree cultivation to maintain biodiversity
Key Terms to Review (47)
Agroforestry: Agroforestry is an integrated land-use management practice that combines agriculture and forestry to create sustainable and productive ecosystems. This approach enhances biodiversity, improves soil health, and optimizes land use by incorporating trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes. Agroforestry systems can lead to increased crop yields, better resilience against climate change, and improved ecosystem services, making them a vital strategy for sustainable land management.
Alexander von Humboldt: Alexander von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer known for his pioneering contributions to the field of geography, especially in understanding ecosystems and biomes. His work emphasized the interconnectedness of nature and the importance of environmental factors in shaping the characteristics of different regions, laying the groundwork for modern ecology and biogeography.
Amazon: The Amazon refers to both the Amazon Rainforest and the Amazon River, which are integral components of the world's largest tropical rainforest ecosystem. This vast area is home to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, playing a crucial role in the Earth's climate and serving as a vital resource for indigenous peoples and global biodiversity.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms on Earth, including the different species, genetic variations within those species, and the ecosystems they inhabit. This rich diversity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance, providing resources for food, medicine, and other necessities, and supporting overall environmental health.
Biogeochemical cycles: Biogeochemical cycles are natural processes that recycle essential nutrients in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and back again. These cycles, including the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, illustrate the interconnectedness of life on Earth by showing how matter is transformed and reused in ecosystems. Understanding these cycles helps us appreciate the balance within ecosystems and how human activities can disrupt these natural processes.
Carbon sequestration: Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change. This natural or artificial technique helps remove CO2 from the atmosphere, which is essential for balancing greenhouse gas concentrations and maintaining ecosystem health.
Climate change: Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, and other atmospheric conditions on Earth, primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. This phenomenon has far-reaching effects on geopolitics, environmental hazards, population dynamics, ecosystems, sustainable development, human impacts, and global initiatives aimed at addressing these challenges.
Congo Basin: The Congo Basin is a vast lowland area located in Central Africa, primarily characterized by its dense tropical rainforest and significant river systems, including the Congo River. This region is crucial for biodiversity and serves as a vital ecological zone, affecting climate patterns and supporting numerous ecosystems and biomes.
Coral reefs: Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems formed by colonies of tiny coral polyps that secrete calcium carbonate, creating complex structures that provide habitat for a multitude of marine life. These vibrant ecosystems are often referred to as the 'rainforests of the sea' due to their rich biodiversity and critical roles in coastal protection, fisheries, and tourism.
Deciduous forest: A deciduous forest is a biome characterized by trees that lose their leaves seasonally, primarily in autumn, to conserve water and energy during the colder months. This type of forest typically has a rich diversity of plant and animal life, thriving in temperate regions with distinct seasonal changes, which influence its ecological dynamics.
Deforestation: Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees and forests, often to make way for agriculture, urban development, or logging. This process has significant implications for biodiversity, climate, and human livelihoods, as forests play a crucial role in carbon storage, soil preservation, and water cycle regulation.
Desert ecosystem: A desert ecosystem is a type of biome characterized by low precipitation, extreme temperatures, and sparse vegetation. These ecosystems are often defined by their arid conditions, which create unique adaptations among plants and animals to survive in such an environment. The relationships between organisms and their physical surroundings in desert ecosystems showcase remarkable resilience and specialized behaviors that allow life to flourish despite harsh conditions.
Ecological Niche: An ecological niche refers to the role and position a species has in its environment, encompassing its habitat, resource use, and interactions with other organisms. This concept highlights how a species fits into an ecosystem, influencing its survival and reproduction. Understanding ecological niches helps to clarify the relationships between different species and the overall dynamics of ecosystems and biomes.
Ecological succession: Ecological succession is the gradual process through which ecosystems change and develop over time, resulting in the replacement of one community of organisms by another. This dynamic process can be classified into two main types: primary succession, which occurs in lifeless areas where soil has not yet formed, and secondary succession, which takes place in areas where a disturbance has destroyed an existing ecosystem but left the soil intact. Understanding ecological succession is essential to grasp how ecosystems evolve, recover from disturbances, and maintain biodiversity.
Eugene Odum: Eugene Odum was a pioneering American ecologist known for his foundational work in ecosystem ecology and for promoting the idea of viewing ecosystems as complex and interconnected systems. His research emphasized the importance of energy flow and nutrient cycling in ecological processes, shaping our understanding of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
Food Web: A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. It highlights the relationships between different organisms, showing how various species are dependent on one another for food and survival. Understanding food webs is essential for grasping the dynamics of ecosystems and the role each organism plays within its biome.
Forest Stewardship Council: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international non-profit organization established in 1993 that promotes responsible management of the world's forests. It aims to ensure that forestry practices are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable, thereby helping to maintain healthy ecosystems and sustainable biomes.
Freshwater biomes: Freshwater biomes are ecosystems characterized by low salt concentration, typically less than 1%. They include rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and streams, playing a critical role in the Earth's biosphere by supporting diverse plant and animal life and influencing global water cycles. These biomes are vital for maintaining ecological balance and providing resources for both wildlife and human populations.
Grassland ecosystem: A grassland ecosystem is a type of biome characterized by vast open spaces dominated by grasses, with few trees and shrubs. These ecosystems are known for their rich biodiversity and play a critical role in supporting various plant and animal species while also contributing to carbon storage and soil health. Grassland ecosystems can be found in different regions around the world, including temperate grasslands, savannas, and prairies, each with unique climatic conditions and biological communities.
Habitat Destruction: Habitat destruction refers to the process in which natural habitats are altered or completely eliminated, often due to human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture. This phenomenon has profound implications for ecosystems and biomes, as it disrupts the complex relationships between species and their environments, leading to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Understanding habitat destruction is crucial in the study of how ecosystems function and maintain balance.
Habitat restoration: Habitat restoration refers to the process of returning a degraded or damaged ecosystem to its original condition or a state that is as close to its natural state as possible. This process can involve the reintroduction of native species, the removal of invasive species, and the rehabilitation of natural features like soil, water, and vegetation. Successful habitat restoration not only improves biodiversity but also enhances ecosystem services and promotes ecological resilience.
Keystone Species: A keystone species is a species that plays a critical role in maintaining the structure and stability of an ecosystem. Its impact on the ecosystem is disproportionate to its abundance, meaning that the presence or absence of this species can have significant effects on other organisms and the overall environment. Keystone species help to regulate populations and contribute to the diversity of the ecosystem, making their conservation essential for ecological health.
Köppen Climate Classification System: The Köppen Climate Classification System is a widely used method for categorizing the world's climates based on temperature and precipitation patterns. Developed by climatologist Wladimir Köppen, this system helps in understanding the distribution of ecosystems and biomes by linking climate zones to specific vegetation types, thus illustrating how climate influences biodiversity across different regions.
Marine biomes: Marine biomes are vast ecosystems found in the ocean, characterized by their saltwater environments and diverse forms of life. They cover about 70% of the Earth's surface and play a critical role in global processes, including climate regulation and the carbon cycle. Within marine biomes, various habitats such as coral reefs, oceanic zones, and estuaries provide unique conditions for countless species to thrive.
Marine Stewardship Council: The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable fishing practices and ensuring the health of marine ecosystems. By providing certification to fisheries that meet strict sustainability standards, the MSC aims to reduce overfishing and protect ocean habitats while encouraging consumers to make informed seafood choices. This organization plays a crucial role in the balance of marine ecosystems and the overall health of the biosphere.
Nutrient Cycling: Nutrient cycling refers to the continuous movement and exchange of essential nutrients within an ecosystem, involving processes like decomposition, uptake by plants, and recycling through food webs. This process is vital for maintaining ecosystem health, supporting plant growth, and ensuring the sustainability of biomes. Nutrient cycling connects various components of ecosystems, from producers to consumers to decomposers, facilitating the flow of energy and matter throughout the biosphere.
Overexploitation: Overexploitation refers to the unsustainable use of natural resources, leading to a significant decline in species populations or depletion of ecosystems. This excessive exploitation can disrupt ecological balance, threaten biodiversity, and diminish the availability of resources for future generations, making it a critical issue in resource management and conservation efforts.
Payment for ecosystem services: Payment for ecosystem services refers to the financial incentives provided to landowners or resource managers for managing their land in ways that provide ecological benefits, such as clean water, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. This approach connects economic compensation with the stewardship of natural resources, encouraging practices that enhance ecosystem health while providing livelihoods for communities.
Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, specifically glucose, using carbon dioxide and water. This essential process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells and is crucial for life on Earth, as it provides the oxygen we breathe and serves as the foundation of most food chains.
Pollination: Pollination is the process by which pollen from the male part of a flower (the anther) is transferred to the female part (the stigma), leading to fertilization and the production of seeds. This process is crucial for the reproduction of many plants and directly impacts the ecosystems and biomes where these plants thrive, influencing food webs and biodiversity.
Predation: Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, hunts and consumes another organism, the prey. This relationship plays a critical role in maintaining the balance within ecosystems, influencing population dynamics and species interactions. Predation affects not only the predator and prey but also the overall structure and function of various ecosystems and biomes.
Primary Succession: Primary succession is the ecological process in which a biological community develops in an area that has been previously uninhabited, typically following a disturbance that leaves no soil, such as a volcanic eruption or glacial retreat. This gradual process starts with pioneer species colonizing the bare substrate and leads to a more complex ecosystem over time, ultimately transforming the environment into a stable climax community.
Protected Areas: Protected areas are designated regions of land or water that are specifically managed to conserve their natural and cultural resources, providing vital habitats for biodiversity. These areas play a crucial role in the sustainable management of natural resources and contribute to the overall health of ecosystems and biomes, ensuring the preservation of wildlife and plant species while offering recreational opportunities for people.
Savanna: A savanna is a mixed grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced apart so that the canopy does not close. This unique biome features a distinct wet and dry season, supporting a rich diversity of wildlife and plant species that are adapted to these conditions. Savannas play an important role in the biosphere by providing habitats for numerous animals and contributing to global ecological processes.
Secondary Succession: Secondary succession is the ecological process where an ecosystem recovers and rebuilds itself after a disturbance, such as a fire, flood, or human activity, that alters the existing environment but leaves the soil intact. This process typically occurs more rapidly than primary succession because it starts from pre-existing soil and organic matter, allowing for quicker recolonization of plants and animals. Understanding secondary succession is crucial in studying how ecosystems respond to changes and recover over time.
Species recovery programs: Species recovery programs are organized efforts aimed at restoring populations of endangered or threatened species to healthy, sustainable levels in their natural habitats. These programs often involve habitat restoration, captive breeding, and reintroduction of species, addressing the various factors that led to their decline, such as habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. By focusing on specific species and their ecosystems, these programs play a vital role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance within ecosystems and biomes.
Sustainable Management: Sustainable management refers to the practice of utilizing resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This concept emphasizes balancing environmental health, economic viability, and social equity, particularly within ecosystems and biomes. Effective sustainable management is critical for preserving biodiversity and maintaining the delicate interactions within ecosystems while also promoting human well-being.
Symbiosis: Symbiosis is a biological term describing a close, long-term interaction between two different species that can be beneficial, harmful, or neutral to one or both parties. This concept is crucial in understanding the dynamics within ecosystems and biomes, as it illustrates how various organisms coexist and interact with one another in their environments. The relationships formed through symbiosis can significantly impact the health of ecosystems by influencing population dynamics, resource availability, and ecological balance.
Taiga: Taiga, also known as boreal forest, is a biome characterized by its cold climate, coniferous forests, and long winters. It stretches across North America, Europe, and Asia, playing a crucial role in the global biosphere by acting as a significant carbon sink and influencing local weather patterns. The taiga's unique ecosystem supports a variety of wildlife and vegetation adapted to survive in harsh conditions.
Temperate Forest: A temperate forest is a biome characterized by distinct seasons, moderate temperatures, and high levels of precipitation, typically found between the tropics and polar regions. These forests support a diverse range of plant and animal life, including broadleaf deciduous trees, conifers, and various understory plants. The temperate forest ecosystem plays a critical role in the biosphere by providing habitats, regulating the climate, and contributing to the carbon cycle.
Temperate grassland: Temperate grassland is a biome characterized by vast open spaces dominated by grasses, with few trees or large shrubs. This ecosystem typically experiences distinct seasonal changes, including warm summers and cold winters, and receives moderate rainfall, making it ideal for the growth of herbaceous plants. The unique climate and soil conditions support a rich diversity of plant and animal species adapted to this environment.
Trophic Levels: Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem that represent the different positions organisms occupy in a food chain. Each level is defined by how organisms obtain energy, starting from primary producers, such as plants, which convert sunlight into energy, to primary consumers that eat plants, followed by secondary consumers that eat those consumers, and so on. Understanding trophic levels is essential for grasping how energy flows through ecosystems and how various organisms interact within their habitats.
Tropical rainforest: A tropical rainforest is a dense, lush forest located near the equator, characterized by high annual rainfall, warm temperatures, and a diverse range of plant and animal species. These ecosystems play a critical role in regulating global climate, supporting biodiversity, and providing resources for human populations.
Tundra: Tundra is a unique biome characterized by its cold temperatures, low biodiversity, and a short growing season. Found mainly in high-latitude regions like the Arctic and Antarctic, tundra ecosystems feature permafrost, which is permanently frozen ground that limits vegetation growth. The harsh climate and specific soil conditions create an environment where only specially adapted plants and animals can survive.
Urbanization: Urbanization is the process by which an increasing percentage of a population comes to live in urban areas, often as a result of migration from rural regions to cities. This trend is associated with economic development, changes in social structure, and increased access to services, but it can also lead to significant challenges like overcrowding and environmental degradation.
Water Cycle: The water cycle is the continuous movement of water within the Earth and its atmosphere, involving processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration. This cycle plays a vital role in sustaining ecosystems and biomes by regulating water availability, influencing climate patterns, and supporting plant and animal life. Understanding the water cycle helps explain how water interacts with living organisms and the environment.
Wetlands: Wetlands are ecosystems characterized by the presence of water, either permanently or seasonally, at or near the soil surface. They can be freshwater, saltwater, or brackish and are vital for biodiversity, providing habitat for many species while also playing a crucial role in water purification, flood control, and carbon storage.