Ecosystems

How Do Ecosystems How Do Ecosystems Differ?Differ?

Let’s explore biotic and Let’s explore biotic and abiotic factors of different abiotic factors of different

ecosystems around the worldecosystems around the world

What Factors Cause What Factors Cause the Differences?the Differences?

Abiotic Factors:Abiotic Factors:•TemperatureTemperature•WaterWater•NutrientsNutrients•SunlightSunlight•TopographyTopography•Etc…Etc…

Biotic Factors:Biotic Factors:•Plant SpeciesPlant Species•Animal SpeciesAnimal Species•Organic MatterOrganic Matter•Etc…Etc…

Provo, Provo, UtahUtah40. 36° N 111. 40. 36° N 111.

71° W71° W

Provo, Utah, USAProvo, Utah, USA

Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct Nov

Dec

Yr

mm 38.2

36.4

42.1

41.0

39.0

22.4

18.4

22.5

29.7

40.3

36.5

39.4

407.

in 1.5 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.5 0.9 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.6 1.4 1.6 16.0

Average Rainfall by Average Rainfall by MonthMonth

Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

oC -2.2 1.0 5.1 9.5 14.3

19.2

23.6

22.3

17.3

11.1

4.5 -2.0 10.4

oF 28.0

33.8

41.2

49.1

57.7

66.6

74.5

72.1

63.1

52.0

40.1

30.2

50.7

24-hr Average 24-hr Average TemperatureTemperature

ABIOTIC ABIOTIC FACTORS:FACTORS:

Provo is a Temperate Coniferous Forest and a Provo is a Temperate Coniferous Forest and a Rainshadow ForestRainshadow Forest

Biotic Factors Include:Biotic Factors Include:

o Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Subalpine Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir, Subalpine Fir, Engelmann Spruce, Scrub OakFir, Engelmann Spruce, Scrub Oak

o Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Elk, Cougars, Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Elk, Cougars, Moose, Rocky Mountain GoatsMoose, Rocky Mountain Goats

Discuss in groups of Discuss in groups of three what would three what would happen if a) the happen if a) the average temperature average temperature increased by 20increased by 20oo and and b) if cougars went b) if cougars went extinctextinct

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congothe Congo

4.38°S 15.40°E4.38°S 15.40°E

Kinshasa, CongoKinshasa, Congo

Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

mm 138.2

147.6

184.0

219.7

144.7

4.7 2.8 3.7 39.8

133.3

235.1

156.0

1405.6

in 5.4 5.8 7.2 8.6 5.7 0.2 0.1 0.1 1.6 5.2 9.3 6.1 55.3


Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

oC 25.2

25.4

25.3

25.4

24.8

22.9

21.6

22.9

24.5

25.1

24.9

25.0

24.5

oF 77.4

77.7

77.5

77.7

76.6

73.2

70.9

73.2

76.1

77.2

76.8

77.0

76.1



Kinshasa is in the Tropical/Subtropical Kinshasa is in the Tropical/Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands

BiomeBiomeSome biotic Factors Include:Some biotic Factors Include:

o Grasses, shrubsGrasses, shrubs

o Numerous species of primates, elephants, Numerous species of primates, elephants, lions, forest buffalos, warthogs, various lions, forest buffalos, warthogs, various antelope species, numerous bird speciesantelope species, numerous bird species

In the same groups as before, In the same groups as before, discuss what might happen to discuss what might happen to this ecosystem if a) over grazing this ecosystem if a) over grazing destroyed the grasses and b) if destroyed the grasses and b) if the average temperature were to the average temperature were to decrease by 20decrease by 20oo

New York City, New YorkNew York City, New York40.78°N 73.96°W40.78°N 73.96°W

New York City, New York, New York City, New York, USAUSA

Jan Feb

Mar Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

mm

83.6

78.8

98.5 93.4

106.0

84.5

105.0

104.3

91.2

83.5

106.6

92.3

1128.9

in 3.3 3.1 3.9 3.7 4.2 3.3 4.1 4.1 3.6 3.3 4.2 3.6 44.4


Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

oC -0.2 0.8 5.7 11.3

17.0

22.0

24.8

24.1

20.1

14.1

8.6 2.5 12.6

oF 31.6

33.4

42.3

52.3

62.6

71.6

76.6

75.4

68.2

57.4

47.5

36.5

54.7



New York City is part of the Temperate New York City is part of the Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests BiomeBroadleaf and Mixed Forests Biome

Some Biotic Factors Include:Some Biotic Factors Include:

oVarious species of Oak, Maples, Beech, Various species of Oak, Maples, Beech, Chestnut, Hickory, Elm, and other broad Chestnut, Hickory, Elm, and other broad leaf deciduous treesleaf deciduous trees

oBlack bears, chipmunks, raccoons, white-Black bears, chipmunks, raccoons, white-tail deer, timber wolves, mountain lions, tail deer, timber wolves, mountain lions, and bobcatsand bobcats

In your groups, discuss the In your groups, discuss the effects on this ecosystem of effects on this ecosystem of a) heavy logging and a) heavy logging and deforestation and b) a severe deforestation and b) a severe decrease in annual decrease in annual precipitation (drought)precipitation (drought)

Bangkok, Bangkok, ThailandThailand13.7313.73oo N N

100.50100.50oo E E

Bangkok, ThailandBangkok, Thailand

Jan Feb

Mar Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

mm

10.6

28.2

30.7 71.8

189.4

151.7

158.2

187.0

319.9

230.8

57.3

9.4 1466.9

In 0.4 1.1 1.2 2.8 7.5 6.0 6.2 7.4 12.6

9.1 2.3 0.4 57.8


Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

oC 25.9

27.6

29.2

30.1

29.6

29.0

28.5

28.4

28.1

27.7

26.8

25.5

28.1

oF 78.6

81.7

84.6

86.2

85.3

84.2

83.3

83.1

82.6

81.9

80.2

77.9

82.6



Bangkok is part of the Mangrove Bangkok is part of the Mangrove EcosystemEcosystemSome Biotic Factors Include:Some Biotic Factors Include:

o Mangrove Trees!Mangrove Trees!

o Water birds such as storks, kingfishers, Water birds such as storks, kingfishers, and pelicans, mammals such as tapir and and pelicans, mammals such as tapir and gibbons, reptiles such as lizards, false gibbons, reptiles such as lizards, false gavial, and crocodilesgavial, and crocodiles

In your groups, discuss the In your groups, discuss the effects on the Mangrove effects on the Mangrove Ecosystem if a) the water Ecosystem if a) the water became heavily polluted and became heavily polluted and b) if a tsunami wiped out all b) if a tsunami wiped out all the mangrove treesthe mangrove trees

Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqIraq33.22° N 33.22° N

44.20° E44.20° E

Baghdad, IraqBaghdad, Iraq

Jan Feb

Mar Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

mm

27.1

27.5

26.9 18.8

7.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1 2.6 20.0

26.3

154.8

in 1.1 1.1 1.1 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.8 1.0 6.1


Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

oC 9.4 11.8

16.2

21.6

27.7

32.3

34.6

34.2

30.8

24.9

17.2

11.1

22.7

oF 48.9

53.2

61.2

70.9

81.9

90.1

94.3

93.6

87.4

76.8

63.0

52.0

72.9



Baghdad is Included in the Deserts Baghdad is Included in the Deserts and Xeric Shrublands Ecosystemand Xeric Shrublands Ecosystem

Biotic Factors Include:Biotic Factors Include:

o Sparse grasslands, shrubs, succulent Sparse grasslands, shrubs, succulent plants, and wildflowersplants, and wildflowers

o Sand gazelles, striped hyenas, red foxes, Sand gazelles, striped hyenas, red foxes, sand cats, small rodent-like animals called sand cats, small rodent-like animals called jerboas. Animals are frequently nocturnal.jerboas. Animals are frequently nocturnal.

In groups, discuss the effects In groups, discuss the effects on the Desert and Xeric on the Desert and Xeric Shrublands Ecosystem if a) Shrublands Ecosystem if a) annual rainfall was 10x what annual rainfall was 10x what it is now, and b) a new it is now, and b) a new desert-loving plant was desert-loving plant was introduced and flourished.introduced and flourished.

62.262.2oo N N 129.44129.44oo E E

Yakutsk, Yakutsk, SiberiaSiberia

Yakutsk, SiberiaYakutsk, Siberia

Jan Feb

Mar Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

mm

9 7 6 10 18 37 39 37 29 20 16 12 240

In 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.7 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.1 0.8 0.6 0.5 9.4


Jan Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun Jul Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Yr

oC -42 -36 -24 -7 6 15 18 15 6.5 -8 -29 -40 -11

oF -45 -33 -14 14 42 59 65 59 43 18 -18 -40 13



Yakusk is Included in the Boreal Yakusk is Included in the Boreal Forests/Taiga EcosystemForests/Taiga EcosystemSome Biotic Factors Include:Some Biotic Factors Include:

o Light needle-leaf taiga, larch, lichen, moss, pine Light needle-leaf taiga, larch, lichen, moss, pine treestrees

o Moose, elk, roe deer, wild pigs, golden eagles, Moose, elk, roe deer, wild pigs, golden eagles, ospreys, peregrine falconsospreys, peregrine falcons

In groups, discuss what In groups, discuss what would happen to the taiga would happen to the taiga ecosystem if a) the average ecosystem if a) the average monthly temperature monthly temperature increased by 50increased by 50oo (hint: (hint: consider the rainfall!) and b) consider the rainfall!) and b) if moss and lichen were if moss and lichen were suddenly unable to grow.suddenly unable to grow.

Education

Ecosystems