The document outlines different ecosystems of the biosphere, including how solar radiation, winds, and topography influence climate. It discusses various land ecosystems like tundra, forests, grasslands, deserts that exist in different regions due to climate factors. Freshwater ecosystems like streams and lakes are described along with coastal ecosystems. Finally, marine ecosystems are covered, including ocean zones and coral reefs.

1. Chapter 39
Major Ecosystems
of the Biosphere
Lecture Outline
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2. Solar radiation and winds determine
climate
 The sun’s rays are more direct at the equator and more
spread out at the polar regions
 The tilt of the earth can cause one hemisphere to be
warmer than the other

3.  Air currents have a direct
affect on rainfall.

4. Topography influences climate
 Topography – surface features of land
 Mountains affect climate
 Leeward side is in a rain shadow
 Bodies of Water influence the climate
 Ex: Ocean water gains & loses heat slower than land
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5. Figure 39.2A Elevation affects the distribution of terrestrial ecosystems
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ice
alpine
tundra
montane
coniferous
forest
deciduous
Increasing Altitude
forest
tropical
forest
temperate
deciduous
forest coniferous
forest tundra ice
Increasing Latitude
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6. Figure 39.2B Formation of a rain shadow

7. Ocean currents affect climate
 Water tends to be warmest at the equator and coldest
near the poles

8. Figure 39.4 Pattern of ecosystem distribution on land
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Tropic of Cancer
polar ice
tundra
taiga Equator
mountain zone
temperate deciduous forest
temperate rain forest
tropical deciduous forest Tropic of Capricorn
tropical seasonal forest
tropical rain forest
shrubland
temperate grassland
savanna
semidesert
desert
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10. 39.5 The tundra is cold &
dark much of the year
 Arctic tundra encircles the Earth just south of the ice-
covered polar seas in the Northern Hemisphere
 Because rainfall amounts to only about 20 cm a year, the
tundra could possibly be considered a desert
 Only the topmost layer of soil thaws, permafrost beneath this
layer is always frozen
 Trees are not found in the tundra
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11. Figure 39.5 Tundra, the northern-most ecosystem
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12. 39.6 Coniferous forests are
dominated by gymnosperms
 Taiga (called boreal or northern forest), exists south of
the tundra and covers approximately 11% of the Earth’s
landmasses
 Temperate rain forest – coniferous forest that runs along
the west coasts of Canada and the United States
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13. Figure 39.6 Taiga, a northern coniferous forest
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14. 39.7 Temperate deciduous forests
have abundant life
 Temperate deciduous forests
 Climate in these areas is moderate, with relatively high rainfall
 Seasons are well defined
 Trees (oak, beech, sycamore, and maple) have broad leaves
and are deciduous – lose their leaves in fall and grow them in
spring
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15. Figure 39.7 Temperate deciduous forest in the fall
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16. 39.8 Temperate grasslands
have extreme seasons
 Temperate grasslands
 Very cold winters and hot and dry summers (Ex: praries)
 Small mammals, (mice, prairie dogs, and rabbits) live below
ground, but usually feed aboveground
 Virtually all grasslands have been converted into agricultural
lands because of their fertile soils
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17. Figure 39.8 Temperate grassland in the summer
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18. 39.9 Savannas have wet-dry seasons
 Savannas – in regions where a cool dry season is
followed by hot rainy season
 Largest savannas are in central and southern Africa
 African savanna supports the greatest variety and number of
large herbivores of all the biomes
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19. Figure 39.9 The African savanna
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20. 39.10 Deserts have very low annual rainfall
 Deserts usually found at latitudes of about 30° in both
the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
 Most have plants highly adapted to survive long droughts,
extreme heat, and extreme cold
 Some animals are adapted to the desert environment
 Exs: Camels and sidewinders
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22. Figure 39.10 Desert with some vegetation
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23. 39.11 Tropical rain forests
 Tropical rain forests
 Diversity of species is enormous
 Complex structure, with many levels of life, including
the forest floor, the understory, and the canopy
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25. Figure 39.11B Representative animals of the tropical rain forests of the world
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
cone-heated katydid,
Panacanthus cuspidatus
© M. Fogden/OSF/Animals Animals
blue and gold macaw,
Ara ararauna
© Tony Craddock/SPL/Photo Researchers, Inc. 39-25

26. 39.12 Fresh water Ecosystems
 Fresh water ecosystems include streams, lakes,
rivers & ponds
 Wetlands absorb storm water
 Protect from effects of floods
 Purify water by filtering it
39-26

27. Figure 39.12A Freshwater ecosystems (e.g., stream, lake, and river)
often adjoin wetland ecosystems (e.g., delta and salt marsh)
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3
4
stream
carp, Cyprinus carpio
river lake blue crab, Callinectes sapidus
1
2
delta
stonefly larva, Plecoptera sp. salt marsh
rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri
(stonefly): © Kim Taylor/Bruce Coleman,Inc.; (trout): © William H. Mullins/Photo Researchers, Inc.; (carp):© Robert Maier/Animals Animals;
(crab): © Gerlach NaturePhotography/Animals Animals; (oligotrophic): © Roger Evans/PhotoResearchers, Inc
39-27

28. Classification of Lakes
 Lakes are often classified by nutrient status
 Oligotrophic lakes are nutrient-poor, having a small
amount of organic matter and low productivity
 Eutrophic lakes are nutrient-rich, having plentiful
organic matter and high productivity
 Eutrophication: “over fertilization” too much
phosphorous = algae growth in lakes
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29. Figure 39.12B
(top) Oligotrophic lakes are nutrient poor and have limited algal growth
(bottom) Eutrophic lakes are nutrient rich and have much algal growth
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Oligotrophic lake
Eutrophic lake
(oligotrophic): © Roger Evans/Photo Researchers, Inc.; (eutrophic): © Michael Gadomski/Animals Animals 39-29

30. 39.13 Marine ecosystems include those
of the coast and the ocean
 Coastal Ecosystems Border the Oceans
 Salt marshes, mudflats and mangrove swamps are
ecosystems that occur at a delta
 Estuary – where fresh water & sea water mix as a
river enters the ocean
 Ecologically important areas
 Large amount of nutrients support a wide variety of species
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31. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Figure 39.13A
Coastal
ecosystems
Mudflat
Mangrove swamp
(mudflat): © John Eastcott/Yva Momatiuk/Animals; (mangrove swamp): © Theo Allofs/Visuals Unlimited
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32. 39.13 Marine ecosystems: The Ocean
 Oceans
 Phytoplankton (algae) is food for the entire ocean
 Coral reefs
 Areas of biological abundance just below the surface in
shallow, warm, tropical waters
 Densely populated with life
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33. Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Figure 39.13C
Ocean inhabitants in
baleen
whale
dolphin
divisions of the
shark
pelagic zone
sea turtle barracuda
Epipelagic
Zone
ocean bonito tuna
prawn
mackerel
lantern
fish
giant
squid midshipman
Mesopelagic
Zone
sperm
whale
viperfish
anglerfish
deep-sea
Bathypelagic
hagfish shrimp
Zone gulper
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34. Connecting the Concepts:
Chapter 39
 Topography influences climate
 There are several different land-based
ecosystems on the earth, each with unique
characteristics.
 There are several fresh-water ecosystems
 Coastal ecosystems include Estuaries
 Marine ecosystems cover most of the surface of
the earth
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