Biomes in NC

Biomes in NC Callum Warren 2023 Name: _________________________________________________________ Period: _____ Date: _______ Essential Question: How do biotic and abiotic interactions result to the survival of species? North Carolina is located within the temperate deciduous forest global biome, however, a great variety of forest and non-forest ecosystems may be found within the state. Temperate deciduous forests are most notable because they go through four seasons. Leaves change color in autumn, fall off in the winter, and grow back in the spring; this adaptation allows plants to survive cold winters. North Carolina's geography is usually divided into three geographic areas: Coastal, Piedmont, and the Appalachian Appalachian Mountains. mountain Atlantic Ocean North Carolina is the most ecologically unique state in the southeast because its borders contain sub-tropical, temperate, and boreal habitats. Although the state is at temperate latitudes, the Applachian mountains and the Gulf Stream influence climate and, hence, the vegetation (flora) and animals (fauna). Geographic Areas of North Carolina The Coastal Plain: The low, flat land of North Carolina's eastern region stretches from the sandy farmland of the Inner Coastal Plain to the state's Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands separated from the mainland by sounds or inlets. The Outer Banks has three capes -- Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, and Cape Fear. The Piedmont Piedmont is a French word meaning "foot of the mountain," and North Carolina's Piedmont region is sometimes referred to as "the foothills." The rolling hills of this region range in elevation from just 300 feet in the east to 1,500 feet near the mountains. The Piedmont is sometimes referred to as a plateau because it is high and mostly flat. The Mountains Western North Carolina's majestic landscape features the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains, which help make up the Appalachian Mountains, possibly the oldest mountain range in the United States. The region is also home to Mount Mitchell. Rising 6,684 feet above sea level, Mount Mitchell is the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River. Climate While North Carolina is located in a warm temperate zone, its diverse regions can experience a great variety of weather conditions. While locations in the mountains may see average temperatures of 30 degrees Fahrenheit in January and 65 degrees Fahrenheit in August, locations in the coastal plains can often experience January averages in the mid 40's and August averages in the 90's. The state averages 44 inches of rainfall each year, and 5 inches of snow. What are biomes? Biomes are very large ecological areas on the earth’s surface, with fauna and flora (animals and plants) adapting to their environment. Biomes are often defined by factors such as climate, relief, geology, soils and vegetation. If you take a close look, you will notice that plants and animals (biotic component) in any of the biomes have special adaptations that make it possible for them to survive. You may find many units of ecosystems within one biome. Generally, biome classification is determined by the climate and geography of an area. What are biotic and abiotic components? Abiotic factors refer to non-living physical and chemical elements in the ecosystem. Abiotic resources are usually obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Examples of abiotic factors are water, air, soil, sunlight, R. Angat and minerals. Biotic factors are living organisms in the ecosystem. These are obtained from the biosphere and are capable of reproduction. Examples of biotic factors are animals, birds, plants, fungi, and other similar organisms. Biotic and abiotic interactions A simple example would be of abiotic interaction in plants. Water, sunlight and carbon dioxide are necessary for plants to grow. The biotic interaction is that plants use water, sunlight and carbon dioxide to create their own nourishment through a process called photosynthesis. The red wolf once roamed over much of the southeast United States, but by the early 1900's it had almost disappeared. Fearing the species would become extinct, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured fourteen pure red wolves and started raising them in captivity. In the 1980's, the species became extinct in the wild. The first group of these captured wolves were released or re-introduced in the Alligator Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina in 1987. Additional red wolves were released on three islands off the coast of Florida and Georgia. The red wolf has gone through several adaptations in order to help their population survive in the wild. The first adaptation is the ability to live in the climate of the southeast United States. Since the red wolf has such a heavy coat, the red wolves in the south now go through a molt in which they will lose their heavy fur for a lighter coat. Another way the red wolf keeps itself cool in the hot southern summers is with their large ears. These ears will help the wolf lose heat through the large surface area. The red wolf preys on mammals such as swamp rabbits, coypu( rodent), deer and raccoons. All living things need food to give them the energy to grow and move. A food chain shows how each living thing gets its food. It shows who is eating who. The arrow means "is eaten by". Remember that a food chain always starts with a producer, plants or any photosynthetic organism. A food web consists of all the food chains in a single ecosystem. Each living thing in an ecosystem is part of multiple food chains. Each food chain is one possible path that energy and nutrients may take as they move through the ecosystem. All of the interconnected and overlapping food chains in an ecosystem make up a food web. Trophic Levels: Organisms in food webs are grouped into categories called trophic levels. Roughly speaking, these levels are divided into producers (plants, photosynthetic organisms), consumers ( herbivore, carnivore, and omnivores), and decomposers (bacteria and fungi). Biomes in NC Callum Warren 2023 Name: _________________________________________________________ Period: _____ Date: _______ Essential Question: How do biotic and abiotic interactions result to the survival of species? 1. What kind of biome do we have in North Carolina? In North Carolina, we have temperate deciduous forests as the primary biome _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What is most notable about temperate deciduous forests? The most notable feature of temperate deciduous forests is the seasonal shedding of leaves by trees during autumn and their regrowth in spring. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. How do the trees in temperate deciduous forests adapt to the cold winters? Trees in temperate deciduous forests adapt to cold winters by shedding their leaves to conserve water and energy, and by entering dormancy. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 4. What are the three geographic areas of North Carolina? The three geographic areas of North Carolina are the Coastal Plain (or Tidewater), the Piedmont, and the Mountains (Appalachian Mountains). _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Why is North Carolina the most ecologically unique state in the southeast? North Carolina is the most ecologically unique state in the Southeast because it encompasses a diverse range of habitats, including coastal areas, forests, mountains. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What geographical area is the eastern region of North Carolina? The eastern region of North Carolina is the Coastal Plain, characterized by low-lying flatlands and sandy beaches. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. What are the three capes of North Carolina’s outer banks? The three capes of North Carolina's Outer Banks are Cape Hatteras, Cape Lookout, and Cape Fear. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. What does it mean by Piedmont? Piedmont refers to a plateau region situated between the Coastal Plain and the Mountains. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. What is the elevation of the Piedmont area? The elevation of the Piedmont area varies but is generally lower than that of the Mountain region. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. What geographical area is the western region of North Carolina? The western region of North Carolina comprises the Appalachian Mountains, including the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Where can you find the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains? The Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains are located in the western part of North Carolina. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Describe the location of Mount Mitchell based on where you are. Think! Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains, is located in western North Carolina and can be observed from various vantage points in the region. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. What factors contribute to the varying weather conditions in North Carolina? Think! Varying weather conditions in North Carolina are influenced by factors such as elevation, latitude, proximity to bodies of water, and prevailing wind patterns. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. Why is it colder in the mountains than in the piedmont and coastal region? Think! Mountains are colder than piedmont and coastal regions due to the lapse rate, where temperature decreases with altitude. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. What are biomes? Biomes are large geographical regions characterized by distinct plant and animal communities adapted to specific environmental conditions. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. What are the factors that define the type of biome? The factors that define the type of biome include temperature, precipitation, soil type, sunlight, and altitude. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 16. What should living things do in order to survive in a certain type of biome? Think! Living things must adapt to the specific environmental conditions of a biome to survive, including temperature fluctuations, availability of water and nutrients. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 17. What are abiotic factors? Abiotic factors are non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, sunlight, water, soil, and air. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 18. What are biotic factors? Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 19. Explain how plants (biotic) interact with abiotic factors like water, sunlight and carbon dioxide? Plants interact with abiotic factors like water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide through processes such as photosynthesis, ________________________________________________________________________________________________ where they utilize sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich organic compounds. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20. What are the probable reasons for the near extinction of the red wolf in the 1900’s? Think! Research. The near extinction of the red wolf in the 1900s was likely due to habitat loss, predator control programs, and human persecution. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 21. Why did the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service capture fourteen pure red wolves and started raising them in captivity? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured fourteen pure red wolves and started raising them in captivity to establish a breeding program aimed at conserving the species. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 22. Upon re-introduction in the wild in 1987, what did the red wolf do in order to survive? Upon reintroduction into the wild in 1987, red wolves adapted to their environment by establishing territories, hunting for prey, and avoiding human disturbances. 23. How did the red wolf adapt to the south southern summer? In_______________________________________________________________________________________________ the southern summer, red wolves adapt to warmer temperatures by seeking shade, resting during the hottest parts of the day, and being more active during cooler periods. 24. What is the diet of the red wolf in the wild? The diet of red wolves in the wild primarily consists of small to medium-sized mammals such as deer, rabbits, rodents, and raccoons. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 25. How do livings thing acquire energy for growth and movement? Living things acquire energy for growth and movement through the consumption of food, which provides them with nutrients and energy. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 26. What is a food chain? A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms where each organism serves as a source of food for the next organism in the chain. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ producers, which are typically green plants or algae capable of photosynthesis. 27. Food chains begin with ________________________________________________________________________. 28. Draw an example of a food chain. Think! 29. What is a food web? A food web is a complex network of interconnected food chains that illustrates the feeding relationships between various organisms in an ecosystem. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 30. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web? Think! The main difference between a food chain and a food web is that a food chain represents a single pathway of energy transfer, ________________________________________________________________________________________________ while a food web depicts multiple interconnected pathways. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 31. Describe producers. Think! Producers are organisms that can produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, converting energy from sunlight or inorganic compounds ________________________________________________________________________________________________ into organic matter. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 32. Describe consumers. Think! Consumers are organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms. They can be herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 33. What will happen to the fox and the owl if the rabbit population becomes extinct? Think! If the rabbit population becomes extinct, the fox population would decline due to a lack of prey, leading to a subsequent decline in the owl population that preys on foxes. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Explain your answer for number 33. Think! This illustrates the interconnectedness of species within an ecosystem. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 34. What will happen to the fox and the owl if the rabbit, squirrel, and mice populations become extinct? Think! If the rabbit, squirrel, and mice populations become extinct, the fox and owl populations would face severe food shortages, potentially leading to their decline or ________________________________________________________________________________________________ extinction as well. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 35. What will happen to the toads and snakes if all the insect populations become extinct? Think! If all insect populations become extinct, the toad population would suffer due to a lack of food, leading to a decline in their population. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Similarly, the snake population, which preys on toads, would also decline. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 36. What are trophic levels? Trophic levels are hierarchical levels in an ecosystem that categorize organisms based on their position in the food chain and ________________________________________________________________________________________________ their feeding relationships. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 37. Give examples of the following trophic levels: Grass, trees, algae A. Producers ( 1st trophic level ): _____________________________________________________________________ Herbivores, carnivores, omnivores B. Consumers ( 2nd trophic level): ____________________________________________________________________ Bacteria, fungi, detritivores C. Decomposers ( 3rd trophic level): __________________________________________________________________ 38. Why is a more complex food web more stable than a simple food chain? Think! Research. ( 15 pts. ) A more complex food web is more stable than a simple food chain because it allows for greater biodiversity and redundancy in ________________________________________________________________________________________________ energy pathways, reducing the impact of disturbances or fluctuations in populations of individual species. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ R. Angat In geography, a cape is a headland or a promontory of large size extending into a body of water, usually the sea. A cape usually represents a marked change in trend of the coastline. Abiotic Biotic Introduction In ecology and biology, abiotic components are non-living, chemical and physical factors in the environment which affect ecosystems. Biotic describes a living component of an ecosystem; for example organisms, such as plants and animals. Examples Water, light, wind, soil, humidity, minerals, gases. All living things — autotrophs like plants and heterotrophs like animals, fungi, and bacteria. Factors Affect the ability of organisms to survive, reproduce; help determine types and numbers of organisms able to exist in environment. Living things that directly or indirectly affect organisms in environment; organisms, interactions, waste; parasitism, disease, predation. Affects Individual of a species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere. Individual of a species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere.