Biology Week 30 - Biomes

Day 1-3 | Day 4-5 | Lab | Key terms | Weekly Quiz | Quizstar

Topographic map Latitude Parallels Longitude Meridians Terrestrial biomes Desert Taiga or Boreal forest Temperate Grassland Tropical Rain forest Tundra	Tropical Savanna Temperate deciduous forest Mediterranean Scrub Aquatic biomes Ocean Freshwater Estuary Intertidal zone flora fauna Photic zone	Aphotic zone Pelagic zone  Benthic zone Abyssal zone Eutrophic Oligotrophic Good Ozone Bad Ozone Ultraviolet radiation Troposphere Stratosphere

Earth's Biomes: very large geographical areas described by their climate, soil, flora, and fauna.

How many feet above sea-level is Phoenix, Az?

Physical Models:

Scientists attempt to understand the world by acquiring ideas that correspond with reality as closely as possible. Geologists have traditionally modeled the surface and subsurface of the Earth using one or more physical dimensions. These are length, width, depth, and time. Most of these geological models would be considered maps.

• Types of physical models:
  • Operational models incorporate the time dimension.
    • Ordinary time is based on planetary motion.
      • Years are measured by revolution around the sun.
      • Days are measured by Earth's rotation on its axis.
        • One degree (^o) of rotation consists of 60 angular minutes (')
        • One minute consists of 60 angular seconds (").
        • Be sure to recognize that these angular units are not the same as time units!
  • Static models do not incorporate the time dimension.
    • Volumetric - static models with three dimensions.
    • Planar - static models with two dimensions.
    • Scalar - static models with one dimension.

  

• Topographic maps model the Earth's surface geology. It is important to read the information in the margin of maps before using them. This is where you find much of the information that follows:
  • Scale: maps may be scaled to any size in relation to the area they represent, but physical constraints on their production and use make certain scales more useful than others. World maps are generally reduced several million time, while maps of a town may be reduced only a few thousand times.
    • Fractional scale is generally expressed as a ratio. For example, 1:24,000 means that the actual area is 24,000 time larger than depicted on the map.
    • Verbal scale is a ratio that uses more than one unit. For example, 1 inch = 1 mile.
  • Direction: absolute direction on maps is usually specified by means of an arrow.
    • True North is labeled with an "N" or a star. Magnetic North arrows are usually indicated with a "MN". In the absence of arrows, the geographic grid of the printing may be used to determine direction, assuming the top of the map to be "north".
    • A direction from one place toward another is called a bearing. It can be expressed as azimuth, degrees of a circle with N = 0^o, E = 90^o, S = 180^o, and W = 270^o.
  • Location: several techniques have been used to locate positions on a map. The United States Geological Survey has surveyed the complete landmass of the United States and produced a complete series of topographic maps. During this survey, highly accurate bench marks have been placed at strategic sites. Locally conducted surveys use the bench marks for anchors. Topographic maps have gridlines to help in locating objects on the map.
    • Geographic grid: the grid of intersecting circles used for finding global location.
    • Rectangular grid: this system, the Public Land Survey System, is mainly used on a local scale. The system assumes a flat surface, ignoring the negligible curvature of the Earth in the area.
  • Symbols: the United States Geologic Survey uses standardized symbols and colors to represent the features on their maps.
  • Contour lines: these lines allow geologists to indicate relief, changes in elevation, on flat maps.
    • Contours connect points of equal elevation.
    • Contours never end, cross, separate, or merge.
    • Contours appear more closely spaced on steeper slopes.
    • Contours are darkened and labeled every 5th line (index contours).
• Geologic maps show the distribution of geologic features, including different kinds of rocks and faults.

Earth's surface features are located by their latitude and longitude. Latitude - describes north or south of the equator. The equator is 0o latitude. Lines of latitude circle the earth, never meeting. For this reason they are called parallels. Longitude - describes east or west of the prime meridian. Each line of longitude runs halfway around the earth, from the North Pole to the South Pole. Lines of longitude are called meridians. Meridians are spaced farthest apart at the equator and converge to a point at the poles. The prime meridian, indicating 0o longitude, was defined in 1884 as passing through the Royal Observatory, in Greenwich, England. The international dateline is 180o from the prime meridian.

Terrestrial biomes  are described the by their average rainfall, temperature, and major plants and animals. Because environmental factors change gradually over a landscape, biomes seldom have distinct boundaries. As climate varies, one biome gradually changes into another. Scientists do not even agree on the number of terrestrial biomes represented on Earth. Even most textbooks lists different numbers of  "major" biomes and their characteristics. Here are links to one system of biomes:

Terrestrial Biomes	Investigative link
Desert
Taiga or Boreal forest
Temperate Grassland
Tropical rain forest
Tundra
Tropical Savanna
Temperate Deciduous forest
Mediterranean Scrub

Arizona has a wide range of conditions as you move across the state. The general topography of the state slopes downward from the northeastern Colorado plateau to the southern and southwest deserts of the state only to be interrupted by the central mountains cutting across the state from the northwest to the southeast. The Colorado river has cut the Grand Canyon in the North and Northeastern portion of the state. The highest elevation, 12,633 feet above sea level is located at Humphrey's Peak, while the lowest elevation is 70 feet above sea level at the Colorado river. Phoenix, AZ is at an elevation of about 1,200 feet above sea level. Normal yearly precipitation and mean temperature vary greatly across the state. Arizona is divided into these different geographic regions.

            What is the average yearly precipitation for Phoenix?

Earthquakes in Arizona? Take a look at this sight

What is meant when a lake or pond is said to "turn over"?

Science Technician

Aquatic biomes are described by the characteristics of the water, and the major plants and animals present. Almost three quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by seven seas.

Ocean water contains about 3% salt, which greatly affects the biology of the organisms that live there. Since water absorbs light, sunlight penetrates only the upper few hundred meters of the ocean, greatly affecting ocean life. Oceans are also very important in regulating the temperature on Earth. The Gulf Stream is one of several ocean currents the distribute heat.

Aquatic biomes

• Ocean:
  • Terms related to light penetration:
    • Photic zone - the part of the ocean that receives sunlight.
    • Aphotic zone - the part of the ocean where sunlight cannot penetrate.
  • Terms related to life zones in the ocean:
    • Pelagic refers to swimmers and drifters.
      • Epipelagic zones are surface waters less than 200 meters deep. These areas have enough sunlight to carry on photosynthesis and are the major energy producing areas of the ocean. They include the continental shelf and the surface layer of open oceans.
      • Mesopelagic or Bathyl zones are associated with continental slopes with water from 200 to 1,000 meters deep. There is some sunlight, but not enough to support photosynthesis.
    • Benthic refers to life on or near the ocean bottom.
    • Abyssal zones are associated with the bottom on the ocean plain. The continental slopes can level out into the abyssal plain at depths ranging from 2,000 to 11,000 meters. There is no sunlight at these depths and the pressure of the water is enormous.

• Intertidal zone:
  • Shore areas that are alternately covered and uncovered by the tide.

• Estuary:
  • Estuaries are tidally-influenced ecological systems where rivers meet the sea and fresh water mixes with salt water.

• Freshwater:
  • Water with a relatively low mineral content.
    • Lakes and ponds
      • Eutrophic lakes and ponds are rich in organic matter and vegetation, making the waters relatively murky.
      • Oligotrophic lakes and ponds contain little organic matter. The water is relatively clear and the bottom is usually sandy or rocky.
    • Rivers and streams
      • Flow rate is an important characteristic of rivers and streams determined by the gradient, or slope, of the land. Organisms must adapt to strong currents in swift flowing rivers and streams. For this reason, slow moving rivers and streams are richer in nutrients and support a greater diversity of life.
    • Wetlands

      • ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is present at or near the surface of the soil for at least part of the year

         

Day 1-3 Assignment - Biomes & Ozone
This assignment must be turned in at the beginning of class the day after tomorrow to receive credit.
Scoring criteria: see rubric below

Put together a group of  3 or 2 students and decide which terrestrial or aquatic biome your group is most interested in studying. Your task is to develop a brochure describing the biome your group has picked.  (word document template for a brochure )

• Include date and group member names on brochure
• Include a reference section of resources used
• Make a copy of brochure for each class mate
• include this grading rubric: Terrestrial   or   Aquatic
• Present your findings

Biomes:

Criteria for brochure: (describe the following topics on your chosen biome)

Research Links:

• Latitude and Longitude - NASA
• Latitude and Longitude of some Places - The Learning Network
• World biomes - UCMP: Berkeley
• Earth's Biomes - University of Maryland
• Latitude and Longitude - Hammond World Atlas Corporation
• Major Biomes of the World - Radford University
• World Biomes - University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
• Biogeography 235 - Radford University
• World Atlas - MapQuest
• Habitats and Biomes - The Virtual Zoo
• Global Climate Change Fact Sheets - U.S. Geological Survey
• Where did agriculture start? - Agronomy & Range Science, University of California
• Ecology Information - Sierra Club
• Goddard DAAC - NASA
• State and Regional Atlas - EPA
• Land Use Atlas - EPA
• The Earth Science of Oklahoma - Oklahoma Geological Survey
• Geology information - U.S. Geological Survey

Phoenix, Az is about 1,250 feet above sea-level.

None. All rivers in Arizona flow from north and east to south and west.

In warm weather, the coolest water in a pond or lake is at the bottom, while in cold weather, the water is coolest at the top. A body of water is said to "turn over" when the cold water and warm water switch places with the change of season.