Ecosystems and Habitats

Desert Habitat

• Characterized by:
  • High temperatures
  • Low rainfall (less than 25 cm per year)
  • Limited vegetation
• Adaptations of desert organisms:
  • Specialized physical features (e.g. cacti, camels)
  • Behavioral adaptations (e.g. nocturnal activity, burrowing)
  • Water conservation strategies (e.g. CAM photosynthesis, water storage)
• Desert types:
  • Hot deserts (e.g. Sahara, Mojave)
  • Cold deserts (e.g. Gobi, Patagonia)

Forest Habitat

• Characterized by:
  • Dense vegetation
  • High temperatures and humidity
  • Abundant rainfall
• Types of forests:
  • Tropical rainforests (e.g. Amazon, Congo)
  • Temperate rainforests (e.g. Pacific Northwest, Valdivian)
  • Deciduous forests (e.g. eastern North America, European)
• Importance of forests:
  • Oxygen production
  • Carbon sequestration
  • Habitat for diverse species
  • Soil conservation and nutrient cycling

Arctic Habitat

• Characterized by:
  • Extremely cold temperatures
  • Low sunlight and short growing season
  • Permafrost and limited vegetation
• Adaptations of arctic organisms:
  • Insulating body coverings (e.g. fur, feathers)
  • Behavioral adaptations (e.g. hibernation, migration)
  • Cold-resistant enzymes and physiological adaptations
• Arctic ecosystem components:
  • Tundra (treeless plains)
  • Sea ice and glaciers
  • Freshwater and marine ecosystems

Ocean Habitat

• Characterized by:
  • Saline environment
  • High water pressure and corrosive properties
  • Dynamic water movement and currents
• Ocean zones:
  • Intertidal zone (coastal area between high and low tide)
  • Neritic zone (continental shelf and coastal waters)
  • Oceanic zone (open ocean beyond continental shelf)
  • Deep-sea zone (hadal and abyssal zones)
• Importance of oceans:
  • Oxygen production and carbon sequestration
  • Food source for humans and wildlife
  • Climate regulation and weather patterns
  • Habitat for diverse and unique species

Desert Habitat

• High temperatures and low rainfall (less than 25 cm per year) characterize deserts.
• Limited vegetation is a distinctive feature of deserts.
• Desert organisms have adapted in various ways, such as:
  • Developing specialized physical features (e.g., cacti, camels).
  • Exhibiting behavioral adaptations (e.g., nocturnal activity, burrowing).
  • Employing water conservation strategies (e.g., CAM photosynthesis, water storage).
• There are two main types of deserts: hot deserts (e.g., Sahara, Mojave) and cold deserts (e.g., Gobi, Patagonia).

Forest Habitat

• Dense vegetation, high temperatures, and humidity define forest habitats.
• Abundant rainfall is a characteristic of forests.
• Forests come in various types, including:
  • Tropical rainforests (e.g., Amazon, Congo).
  • Temperate rainforests (e.g., Pacific Northwest, Valdivian).
  • Deciduous forests (e.g., eastern North America, European).
• Forests play a crucial role in:
  • Producing oxygen.
  • Sequestering carbon.
  • Providing habitat for diverse species.
  • Conserving soil and facilitating nutrient cycling.

Arctic Habitat

• Extremely cold temperatures, low sunlight, and short growing seasons define arctic habitats.
• Permafrost and limited vegetation are characteristic of arctic regions.
• Arctic organisms have adapted in various ways, such as:
  • Developing insulating body coverings (e.g., fur, feathers).
  • Exhibiting behavioral adaptations (e.g., hibernation, migration).
  • Possessing cold-resistant enzymes and physiological adaptations.
• Arctic ecosystems consist of:
  • Tundra (treeless plains).
  • Sea ice and glaciers.
  • Freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Ocean Habitat

• Saline environments, high water pressure, and corrosive properties define ocean habitats.
• Dynamic water movement and currents are characteristic of oceans.
• Oceans consist of various zones, including:
  • Intertidal zone (coastal area between high and low tide).
  • Neritic zone (continental shelf and coastal waters).
  • Oceanic zone (open ocean beyond continental shelf).
  • Deep-sea zone (hadal and abyssal zones).
• Oceans are essential for:
  • Producing oxygen and sequestering carbon.
  • Providing food for humans and wildlife.
  • Regulating climate and weather patterns.
  • Supporting diverse and unique species.