This document summarizes the major levels of biological organization (biosphere, ecosystems, communities, populations, organisms) and describes the key characteristics of major biomes, including tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, temperate grasslands, desert, savanna, and tropical rainforest. It provides temperature, precipitation, dominant species, and distinguishing features of each biome.

1. ECOLOGY
L E V E L S O F O R G AN I Z A T I O N
AN D
B I O M E S

2. 5 LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
• Biosphere
• Ecosystems
• Communities
• Populations
• Organisms
• EXTRA Specific:
• Cells grouped into tissues
• Cells
• Molecules.

3. BIOSPHERE
• The broadest, most inclusive level of organization.
• The thin volume of Earth and its atmosphere that
supports life.
• If the Earth were the size of an apple, the biosphere
would only be as thick as the skin.
• 1. True or False: All organisms are found within the
Biosphere.

4. ECOSYSTEMS
• Biosphere is composed of these smaller units.
• Includes ALL of the organisms and the NON-LIVING
environment found in a particular place.
• 2. True or False: A pond is considered an
ecosystem.
• Name a nonliving factor.
• Biotic – living factors
• Abiotic – nonliving factors

5. COMMUNITIES
• A community is all the interacting organisms living in
an area.
• Ecologist studying a community often focus on how
species interact and how these interactions
influence the nature of the community.
• 3. True or False: The word community means the
same thing in biology as is means in everyday life.

6. POPULATION
• Includes all the members of a species that live in
one place at one time.
• Ex: Population of fish, birds, insects, etc.
• 4. True or False: Populations located in the same
area make up a community.

7. ORGANISM
• The simplest level of organization in ecology.
• A single member of a given species.
• Research at this level concentrates on the
adaptations that allow organisms to overcome the
challenges of their environment.
• More specific levels in study of biology include
tissues, cells, and molecules.

8. TUNDRA
• Cold, largest, northernmost biome, covers 1/5 of
world’s land surface.
• Few trees, permafrost – permanently frozen layer of
soil under surface.
• -26 to 12 degrees C (-14.8 to 53.6 degrees F)
• Less 25 cm precipitation yearly.
• 5. True or False: Tundra supports the GREATEST
amount of Biodiversity.
• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28112-
assignment-discovery-the-tundra-biomes-
video.htm

9. TAIGA
• Located just south of the Tundra.
• AKA: Borreal Forest, Coniferous Forest
• Forest dominated by evergreen trees, plants
adapted to long cold winters, moose, bears,
wolves.
• -10 to 14 degrees C (14 to 57.2 degrees F)
• 35-75 cm average precipitation.
• 6. Why do evergreens have needle-leaves?
• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28108-
assignment-discovery-taiga-biomes-video.htm

10. TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST
• Trees lose all leaves in fall= deciduous.
• Leaves are thin with large surface area.
• Pronounced seasons.
• Deer, foxes, raccoons, squirrels.
• 6 to 28 degrees C (42.8 to 82.4 F)
• 75-125 cm ave. precip.
• 7. True or False: We live in a temperate deciduous
forest.
• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28109-
assignment-discovery-temperate-forest-video.htm

11. TEMPERATE GRASSLAND
• Prairie, interior of continents, about same latitude as
TDF, less rainfall=no trees.
• 8. Why less rainfall?
• 0 to 25 degrees C (32 to 77 degrees F)
• 25-75 cm ave precip.
• Grasses and grazing animals.
• Rich soil – farmland.
• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28110-
assignment-discovery-temperate-grassland-biomes-
video.htm

12. DESERT
• NOT hot all the time, cold at night!
• Vegetation is sparse.
• Animals, active at night.
• Lizards, snakes, kit foxes.
• 7 to 38 degrees C (44.6 to100.4 degrees F)
• Less than 25 cm ave. precip.
• 9. True or False: The Tundra is like a frozen Desert.
• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28106-
assignment-discovery-desert-biomes-video.htm

13. SAVANNAS
• Tropical or subtropical grasslands
• Alternating wet and dry seasons
• Zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, gazelles.
• Lions, leopards and cheetahs.
• 16 to 34 degrees C (60.8 to 93.2 degrees F)
• 75-150 cm ave. precip.
• 10. True or False: There are more carnivores than
herbivores living in the savanna.
• http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28107-
assignment-discovery-savanna-biomes-video.htm

14. TROPICAL RAIN FOREST
• Stable, year-round growing season
• Abundant Rainfall
• Most Productive Biome – 1/5 of known species.
• 20 to 34 degrees C (68 to 93.2 degrees F)
• 200 to 400 cm ave. precip.
• Responsible for 28% of world’s oxygen turnover.
• 11. True or False: The tropical rain forest produces 28%
of the world’s oxygen.
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/30139-
assignment-discovery-tropical-ecosystem-video.htm
http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/28111-
assignment-discovery-the-tropic-biomes-video.htm