Ecosystems and Habitats

Study Notes

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)

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

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

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

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).

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.

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.

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.