The Biosphere
Teacher’s Guide
Middle School
Editors:
Brian A. Jerome, Ph.D.
Stephanie Zak Jerome
Assistant Editors:
Heidi Berry
Dean Ladago
Sue Dier
Anneliese Brown
Visual Learning Company
Brandon, Vermont
1-800-453-8481
www.visuallearningco.com
The Biosphere
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Biosphere. The right is restricted only for use with this video program. Any
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The Biosphere
Table of
Contents
Page
A Message From our Company
5
National Standards Correlations
6
Student Learning Objectives
7
Assessment
8
Introducing the Video
9
Video Viewing Suggestions
9
Video Script
11
Answers to Student Assessments
17
Answers to Student Activities
18
Assessment and Student Activity Masters
19
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The Biosphere
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The Biosphere
A Message from
our Company ...
Dear Educator:
Thank you for your interest in the educational videos produced by
the Visual Learning Company. We are a Vermont-based, family owned
and operated business specializing in the production of quality
educational science videos and materials.
We have a long family tradition of education. Our grandmothers
graduated from normal school in the 1920’s to become teachers.
Brian’s mother was an elementary teacher and guidance counselor,
and his father was a high school teacher and superintendent. This
family tradition inspired Brian to become a science teacher, and to
earn a Ph.D. in education, and lead Stephanie to work on science
educational programs at NASA.
In developing this video, accompanying teacher’s guide, and student
activities, our goal is to provide educators with the highest quality
materials, thus enabling students to be successful. In this era of more
demanding standards and assessment requirements, supplementary
materials need to be curricular and standards based - this is what we
do!
Our videos and accompanying materials focus on the key concepts
and vocabulary required by national and state standards and goals.
It is our mission to help students meet these goals and standards,
while experiencing the joy and thrill of science.
Sincerely,
Brian and Stephanie Jerome
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The Biosphere
National Standards
Correlations
National Science Education Standards
(Content Standards: 5-8, National Academy of Sciences, c. 1996)
Life Science- Content Standard C:
As a result of their activities in grades 5-8, all students should
develop an understanding that:
• The number of organisms an ecosystem can support depends
on the resources available and abiotic factors, such as
quantity of light and water, range of temperatures, and soil
composition. Lack of resources and other factors, such as
predation and climate, limit the growth of populations in
specific niches in the ecosystem.
Benchmarks for Science Literacy
(Project 2061 - AAAS, c. 1993)
The Living Environment - Interdependence of Life (5D), The Flow of
Matter and Energy (5E).
By the end of the 8th grade, students should know that:
• In all environments- freshwater, marine, forest, desert, grassland, mountain, and others-organisms with similar needs
may compete with one another for resources, including food,
space, water, air, and shelter. In any particular environment,
the growth and survival of organisms depend on the
physical conditions.
• Energy can change from one form to another in living things.
Animals get energy from oxidizing their food. Almost all
food energy comes originally from sunlight.
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The Biosphere
Student Learning
Objectives
Upon viewing the video and completing the enclosed student
activities, students should be able to do the following:
• Define the term biosphere.
• Describe the term ecosystem, and provide an example of a
nearby ecosystem.
• Describe the difference between biotic and abiotic components.
Provide three examples of biotic components, and three
examples of abiotic components in an ecosystem.
• Cite an example of a change in an ecosystem and describe how
that change may occur.
• Describe the process of primary succession in an ecosystem. List
an example of where primary succession might occur.
• Describe the process of secondary succession and list an example
of it occurring in an ecosystem.
• Differentiate between some of the different types of terrestrial
biomes; including the tundra, taiga, deciduous forest, grassland,
and desert.
• Explain some of the differences between freshwater and
saltwater biomes.
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The Biosphere
Assessment
Preliminary Test:
The Preliminary Test, provided in the Student Masters section, is an
assessment tool designed to gain an understanding of student
preexisting knowledge. It can also be used as a benchmark upon
which to assess student progress based on the objectives stated on
the previous pages.
Video Review:
The Video Review, provided in the Student Masters section, can be
used as an assessment tool or as a student activity. There are two
main parts. The first part contains questions titled “You Decide” that
can be answered during the video. The second series of ten questions
consists of a video quiz to be answered at the conclusion of the video.
Post-Test:
The Post-Test, provided in the Student Masters section, can be
utilized as an assessment tool following student completion of the
video and student activities. The results of the Post-Test can be
compared against the results of the Preliminary Test to assess student
progress.
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The Biosphere
Introducing the
Video
Before viewing the video, ask students to describe the environment in
which they live. Instruct them to list the animals and plants that are
common in the area. Next, ask students to describe some of the nonliving factors that affect living things such as wind, temperature, soil
type, and precipitation. Explain to students that these and other
characteristics of the environment in which they live make up an
ecosystem. As a class, describe some of the different types of
ecosystems found near their homes. Discuss how the living and
nonliving things differ from each other in these ecosystems.
Tell students to pay close attention to the video to gain additional information about ecosystems, and larger regions found on
earth called biomes.
Video Viewing Suggestions
The Student Master “Video Review” is provided for distribution to
students. You may choose to have your students complete this
Master while viewing the program or to do so upon its conclusion.
The program is approximately 20-minutes in length and includes a
ten-question video quiz. Answers are not provided to the Video Quiz
on the video, but are included in this teacher’s guide. You may
choose to grade student quizzes as an assessment tool or to review
the answers in class.
The video is content-rich with numerous vocabulary words. For this
reason you may want to periodically stop the video to review and
discuss new terminology and concepts.
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The Biosphere
Student Assessments
And Activities
Assessment Masters:
•
Preliminary Test
•
Video Review
•
Post-Test
Student Activity Masters:
•
Where in the World are Biomes?
•
Abiotic and Biotic Factors
•
Succession
•
Vocabulary of The Biosphere
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The Biosphere
Video Script:
The Biosphere
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
As you look across the surface of the ocean it looks relatively lifeless.
But beneath the water’s surface is a world full of life,...
...from microscopic organisms,…
…. to crabs,...
…to many different kinds of colorful fish.
Similarly, at first glance, this meadow seems absent of life, but a closer
inspection reveals a wide variety of plants,...
7. …insects, such as this butterfly,…
8. …and animals, such as rabbits...
9. …and bluebirds to name just a few.
10. This life is part of Earth’s biosphere. The biosphere is the thin layer of land,
air, and water that is home to all living things on Earth.
11. During the next few minutes we are going to explore some of the fascinating
characteristics of Earth’s biosphere.
12. Graphic Transition-What is an Ecosystem?
13. How would you describe this landscape?
14. As you can see, there is standing water, as well as plants growing in and
around the water.
15. This mixture of water and plants is called a wetland.
16. It is actually a specific type of wetland called a marsh. A marsh is an area
that is wet for most of the year and is made up of non-woody plants. Cattails
are a common plant in this marsh.
17. During certain times of the year it is full of many different kinds of animals
such as birds,…
18. …fish,
19. …amphibians, like this salamander,
20. …and mammals such as muskrats.
21. All these living things, the plants and the animals make up a community.
22. This wetland can be referred to as an ecosystem.
23. You Decide!
24. What is an ecosystem?
25. An ecosystem is a place where a community of living things interacts with
each other and the environment.
26. Most places on Earth can be considered ecosystems.
27. Each ecosystem has different boundaries and a different mix of living and
nonliving things.
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The Biosphere
Script (cont.)
28. Let’s take a look at some of the characteristics of ecosystems.
29. Graphic Transition-Biotic and Abiotic Factors
30. This forest located in New England is a particular type of ecosystem.
31. It is referred to as a maple-beech forest.
32. This is because the dominant trees are sugar maples and beech trees.
33. Dozens of different kinds of animals and plants live in or visit this ecosystem,
including insects,...
34. …ferns,…
35. …trees,…
36. … and mosses to name just a few. The living things are referred to as the
biotic components.
37. The nonliving factors that affect an ecosystem are referred to as abiotic
components.
38. There are many abiotic components. One of the first that comes to mind is
moisture or precipitation.
39. The amount and timing of rain or snow an ecosystem receives has a big effect
on the type of plants and animals that flourish there.
40. This forest receives precipitation throughout the year.
41. Temperature is another abiotic component. Not only does temperature
fluctuate from day to night in the forest,...
42. ...but it also fluctuates from season to season with warm summers,...
43. … cold winters,…
44. … and moderate springs, and falls.
45. Wind is another abiotic variable,…
46. …as is soil type.
47. Relative amounts of sand, clay, humus, and other compounds have a major
role in determining soil type.
48. These are just a few of the abiotic components that affect the nature of
ecosystems.
49. Let us now take a look at how ecosystems can change over time.
50. Graphic Transition- Change in Ecosystems
51. You Decide!
52. What animals made this pond?
53. Amazing animals, called beavers, dam small streams to flood forested areas.
54. Over a relatively short period of time they have the ability to change a forest
ecosystem into a pond and wetland ecosystem.
55. The process of an ecosystem changing over time is referred to as ecological
succession.
56. Eventually beavers will leave this pond to create a new one somewhere else.
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The Biosphere
Script (cont.)
57. Over time, the dam will break and the pond will drain, leaving a small stream.
58. Eventually grass will grow where water once existed.
59. And over more time trees will flourish. These are all examples of the process
of ecological succession.
60. The ground here on this island in Iceland is less than 30 years old.
61. A volcano erupted on this island spewing lava that seeped across the
landscape,...
62. …eventually cooling to form new land.
63. No life previously existed on this volcanic rock.
64. But over several years small plants and lichens began to grow.
65. The process of new organisms inhabiting areas where no life existed is called
primary succession.
66. A pioneer community is the first community of organisms to move into a new
environment.
67. This forest experienced a forest fire relatively recently.
68. These plants have replaced those that were burned. This is an example of
secondary succession.
69. The process of secondary succession occurs where soil and life once existed.
70. Secondary succession can be commonly observed in farm fields in eastern
North America, which were once tilled but are then abandoned and allowed to
grow naturally.
71. Eventually grass returns and small trees take root.
72. These pines are common trees to grow on abandoned fields in New England.
73. Over many years hardwood trees such as maple, beech, and oak will
eventually replace the pines.
74. A climax community is the final stage in the process of ecological succession.
75. You Decide!
76. What is a climax community?
77. Climax communities are generally regarded as more mature than previous
successional stages.
78. These giant redwood trees form a climax community that is thousands of
years old.
79. Stands of trees such as these form old-growth forests which tend to have a
greater mix of plants and animals than younger, less mature forests.
80. Climax communities also tend to be more stable.
81. Graphic Transition-Biomes
82. How does this scene feel different from a tropical one?
83. Probably the first thing that comes to mind is differences in temperature.
84. These icebergs are found in the northern country of Iceland,...
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The Biosphere
Script (cont.)
85. ...whereas these tropical plants are located in southern Florida.
86. These are two totally different biomes.
87. Biomes are large areas that have similar climates and ecosystems.
88. What factors affect the characteristics of different biomes?
89. Climate is the single biggest factor which causes one biome to be different
from another.
90. Climate is the overall weather of an area over a long period of time.
91. Factors such as temperature, elevation, and precipitation contribute to the
make-up of a region’s climate.
92. Climate, in turn, influences the type of plants and animals found in a given
biome.
93. Let’s take a look at a few of the different biomes found on Earth.
94. Graphic Transition- Terrestrial Biomes
95. Throughout the world, there are many different biomes.
96. A large variety of biomes exist on land and are referred to as terrestrial biomes.
97. The tundra biome is a cold, dry biome located in high latitudes.
98. The tundra biome is covered with snow and ice for a significant portion of the
year.
99. Plants and trees do not get very tall.
100. Many different types of birds spend their summer on the tundra,...
101. …as do these animals, called caribou.
102. Below the tundra in the northern hemisphere lies a belt of forest made up of
evergreen trees.
103. You Decide!
104. What is this biome called?
105. This biome is called the taiga. Spruce and fir are the dominant trees, and the
forest floor is covered with mosses.
106. The taiga is slightly warmer than the tundra and a wide variety of birds and
other animals, such as moose, inhabit the area.
107. South of the taiga lies another forest biome…
108. …but instead of being composed primarily of evergreen trees, this biome
consists largely of deciduous trees, -trees that lose their leaves every year.
109. A vast temperate deciduous forest once covered the eastern part of North
America.
110. Temperate deciduous forests tend to have four distinct seasons.
111. The tropical rain forest biome is in regions closer to the equator.
112. Tropical rain forests receive over 200 centimeters of rain per year, and . . .
113. . . . contain more different kinds of plants and animals than any other
terrestrial biome.
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The Biosphere
Script (cont.)
114. Grasslands are another type of biome that stretch great distances in the
heart of North America.
115. Dominated by different types of grasses, parts of this biome were once
inhabited by huge herds of bison.
116. Deserts, the last type of terrestrial biome we will discuss, have a limited
amount of rainfall, usually receiving less than 30 centimeters per year.
117. Different types of plants including cacti are common,…
118. . . . as are animals that can cope with dry conditions.
119. Graphic Transition- Aquatic Biomes
120. Perhaps you have been swimming in the ocean,...
121. …or in a lake.
122. These are examples of aquatic biomes. Aquatic biomes are water biomes.
123. There are two main types of aquatic biomes, the freshwater biome …
124. … and the marine biome. This biome is also called the ocean biome, and
covers much of the Earth’s surface.
125. You Decide!
126. How much of the Earth’s surface do the oceans cover?
127. Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface.
128. Things that live in the ocean, such as these fish, must be able to live in
saltwater.
129. Factors such as water temperature, pressure, the amount of sunlight, and
water movement vary throughout the oceans.
130. Different parts of the ocean possess different characteristics that affect the
type of organisms that live there.
131. The freshwater biome includes bodies of water that are moving, such as
streams and rivers,…
132. …and those that are relatively still, such as lakes and ponds.
133. Ponds are another type of freshwater biome.
134. Light is able to penetrate to the bottom of most ponds enabling plants such
as these water lilies to take root,...
135. ...whereas lakes, such as Lake Michigan, are larger bodies of standing
water and may be quite deep.
136. In some lakes, hundreds if not thousands of different kinds of plants and
animals may exist.
137. In most cases, freshwater eventually flows into the ocean from the land.
138. An estuary is the region where freshwater meets saltwater.
139. Here in the Florida Bay is a large estuary where freshwater from the
Everglades mixes with the ocean water,…
140. …providing a rich habitat for a wide range of plants and animals.
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The Biosphere
Script (cont.)
141. Graphic Transition- Summing Up
142. During the past few minutes we have taken a look at some of the fascinating
features of Earth’s biosphere…
143. …by exploring the characteristics of ecosystems and biomes.
144. We studied some of the different abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems.
145. And we explored how ecosystems can change over time through the process of
succession.
146. Then we took a brief look at some of the different terrestrial biomes found on
Earth including the tundra,…
147. …the taiga,...
148. …forests,...
149. …grasslands,...
150. …and deserts.
151. We also discussed aquatic biomes, including the marine biome…
152. …and the freshwater biome.
153. So the next time you take a walk in a park,…
154. …go swimming in a lake,…
155. …or visit another biome,…
156. …think about some of the things we discussed in the past few minutes.
157. You just might think about the biosphere a little differently.
Fill in the correct word to complete the sentence. Good luck and let’s get started.
1. An _______ consists of all living and nonliving things.
2. _______ components consist of living things.
3. Temperature is an ________ component.
4. Ecological _________ is the change of an ecosystem over time.
5. A ________ community is the first group of organisms to move into an area.
6. _________ communities tend to be more stable.
7. ___________ is the weather of an area over time.
8. The _____ is a cold, dry biome.
9. Bison once roamed the ________ biome.
10. The ________biome consists of salt water.
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The Biosphere
Answers to
Student Assessments
Video Quiz: (pg. 22)
1. ecosystem
2. biotic
3. abiotic
4. succession
5. pioneer
6. climax
7. climate
8. tundra
9. grassland
10. marine
Preliminary Test (pgs. 20-21)
1. biosphere
2. wetland
3. abiotic
4. climate
5. tundra
6. taiga
7. biotic
8. freshwater
9. marine
10. deciduous
11. false
12. true
13. true
14. false
15. false
16. false
17. true
18. true
19. false
20. true
Post Test (pgs. 23-24)
1. false
2. true
3. false
4. true
5. true
6. false
7. true
8. false
9. false
10. true
11. marine
12. taiga
13. wetland
14. freshwater
15. biosphere
16. deciduous
17. climate
18. biotic
19. abiotic
20. tundra
Video Review (pg. 22)
You Decide!
1. An ecosystem is a place where
a community of living things
interacts with each other and
the environment.
2. Beavers made this pond.
3. Climax communities are
generally regarded as more
mature than previous successional
stages.
4. This biome is called the taiga.
5. Oceans cover about 70% of Earth’s
surface.
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The Biosphere
Biomes (pg.26)
Answers to
Student Activities
* The above map does not highlight all of earth’s biomes.
1. The taiga is the largest terrestrial biome.
Succession (pg. 29)
2. The largest desert is located in Africa.
1. secondary succession
3. Maple tree - deciduous forest
2. primary succession
Polar bear - tundra
3. climax community
Cactus - desert
4. pioneer community
Vocabulary (pg. 30)
1. biosphere, e
2. ecosystem, f
3. primary succession, g
4. climate, h
5. tundra, i
6. terrestrial biomes, j
7. deserts, d
8. wetland, c
9. pioneer community, b
10. climax community, a
Abiotic and Biotic Factors (pg. 27)
Answers to table will vary.
Questions:
1. Examples: soil, precipitation, weather,
etc...
2. Answers will vary according to
geographical location.
3. Example: temperature. In both time
periods people would go swimming if
the temperature was hot.
4. Examples include nutrition/diet and
medical advancement.
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Assessment
and Student
Activity
Masters
19
The Biosphere
Name___________________
Preliminary Test
Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct word. A list of possible
answers is provided at the bottom of the page.
1. The_________________is the thin layer of land, air and water that is home to
all living organisms on Earth.
2. An ecosystem consisting of a mixture of water and plants is called a
____________.
3. Precipitation and wind are examples of _______________ factors.
.
4. ________________ is the general weather of an area over a long period of
time.
5. The __________________ is a cold, dry biome located at high latitudes.
6. The __________________ is located below the tundra and is dominated by
evergreen trees.
7. Trees and ferns are examples of ________________components of an
ecosystem.
8. Lakes and rivers are part of the _________________ biome.
9. The _______________ biome is also called the ocean biome and covers
much of Earth’s surface.
10. Trees that lose their leaves every year are called__________________ trees.
deciduous
marine
freshwater
grasslands
taiga
rain forest
tundra
climate
abiotic
wetland
biosphere
biotic
20

The Biosphere
Name___________________
Preliminary
Test
Directions: Decide whether the answer is True (T) or False (F).
11. A marsh is a dry area that consists of non-woody plants.
T
F
12. Temperature is considered to be an abiotic component.
T
F
13. Biomes, that exist on land are referred to as terrestrial
biomes.
T
F
14. The taiga is extremely cold compared to the tundra.
T
F
15. Tropical rain forests get about 50 centimeters of rain per
year.
T
F
16. Plants taking root on recently hardened lava is an example
of secondary succession.
T
F
17. Temperate deciduous forests are commonly found in the
eastern United States.
T
F
18. Climax communities tend to be relatively stable
environments.
T
F
19. The marine biome only covers a small amount of the
Earth’s surface.
T
F
20. A pond is a type of freshwater biome.
T
F
21

The Biosphere
Name___________________
Video Review
Directions: During the course of the program, answer the “You Decide”
questions as they are presented in the video. Answer the Video Quiz questions at
the end of the video.
You Decide:
1. What is an ecosystem?
Answer _______________________
2. What animals made this pond?
Answer _______________________
3. What is a climax community?
Answer _______________________
4. What is this biome called?
Answer _______________________
5. How much of the earth’s surface do the
oceans cover?
Answer _______________________
Video Quiz:
1. An _________________ consists of all living and nonliving things.
2. _________________ components consist of living things.
3. Temperature is an __________________ component.
4. Ecological __________________ is the change of an ecosystem over time.
5. A _________________ community is the first group of organisms to move into
an area.
6. ___________________ communities tend to be more stable.
7. ___________________ is the weather of an area over time.
8. The _________________ is a cold dry biome.
9. Bison once roamed the _____________ biome.
10. The __________________ biome consists of salt water.
22

The Biosphere
Name___________________
Post Test
Directions: Decide whether the answer is True (T) or False (F).
1. Tropical rain forests get about 50 centimeters of rain per
year.
T
F
2. Climax communities tend to be relatively stable
environments.
T
F
3. A marsh is a dry area that consists of non-woody plants.
T
F
4. A pond is a type of freshwater biome.
T
F
5. Biomes, that exist on land are referred to as terrestrial
biomes.
T
F
6. Plants taking root on recently hardened lava is an example
of secondary succession.
T
F
7. Temperature is considered to be an abiotic component.
T
F
8. The marine biome only covers a small amount of the
Earth’s surface.
T
F
9. The taiga is extremely cold compared to the tundra.
T
F
10. Temperate deciduous forests are commonly found in
the eastern United States.
T
F
23

The Biosphere
Name___________________
Post Test
Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct word. Choose from the
list of possible answers at the bottom of the page.
11. The _______________ biome is also called the ocean biome and covers
much of Earth’s surface.
12. The __________________ is located below the tundra and is dominated by
evergreen trees.
13. An ecosystem consisting of a mixture of water and plants is called a ____________.
14. Lakes and rivers are part of the _________________ biome.
15. The _________________ is the thin layer of land, air and water that is home to all
living organisms on Earth.
16. Trees that lose their leaves every year are called__________________ trees.
17. ________________ is the general weather of an area over a long period of
time.
18. Trees and ferns are examples of _________________ components of an ecosystem.
19. Precipitation and wind are examples of _______________ factors.
20. The __________________is a cold, dry biome located at high latitudes.
deciduous
marine
freshwater
grasslands
taiga
rain forest
tundra
climate
abiotic
wetland
biosphere
biotic
24

The Biosphere
Name___________________
Where In the World
are the Biomes?
Objective: Students will locate and outline the terrestrial biomes of the world.
Background: The biosphere is the thin layer of land, air and water that is home to all
living things on Earth. The Earth’s biosphere contains abundant life, found both on land
and in the water. We live in the biosphere. People are capable of living in a wide variety
of biomes in the biosphere.
Biomes are geographic areas that have similar climates and ecosystems. Climate is the
weather of an area over a long period of time. It is the most significant factor in causing
one biome to differ from another. Factors such as temperature, elevation, and
precipitation contribute to a region’s climate. In turn climate influences the type of plants
and animals found in a given biome. Land biomes are referred to as terrestrial biomes,
and water biomes are referred to as aquatic biomes. Below are brief descriptions of
common terrestrial biomes:
Tundra - The tundra, which is covered with snow and ice for a significant portion of the
year, is the coldest biome. A permanently frozen layer of ground called permafrost lies
beneath a thin layer of soil on the tundra biome. The tundra receives little rainfall, and
due to the short growing season supports low-lying plants such as lichens, grasses,
mosses, and shrubs.
Taiga - The taiga is slightly warmer than the tundra, and coniferous (evergreen) trees are
the dominant trees in this biome. The taiga has defined seasons with both cold and warm
temperatures. A wide variety of birds and other animals such as moose inhabit the taiga.
Temperate Deciduous Forest - Temperate deciduous forests have four distinct seasons.
The leaves of deciduous trees change color in autumn and fall off. The leaves grow back
in the spring. Temperate deciduous forests have a wide variety of plants and animals.
Rain forest - Rain forests have warm and moist climates throughout the year. Rain
forests receive over 200 centimeters of rain per year. This biome contains a greater
number of different kinds of plants and animals than any other terrestrial biome.
Grasslands - Grasslands consist of primarily continuous and open, flat areas of grass.
Grasslands stretch great distances in the heart of North America.
Deserts - Deserts receive limited amounts of rainfall and are very arid. The average
rainfall is less than 25 centimeters per year. Desert plants such as cacti and sagebrush are
able to adapt to the dry conditions of this biome.
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The Biosphere
Name___________________
Where in the World
are the Biomes?
Directions: Fill in the key below with colored pencils or markers. Illustrate the
areas on the map using the key. Please note that there are many other biomes than the
ones you will identify. Leave those blank on your map.
Materials : A world atlas that includes the terrestrial biomes, and colored pencils or
markers.
Biome Key: tundra
rain forest
desert
taiga
grassland
temperate deciduous forest
Directions: Answer the questions using both the background information and the map
above.
1. What is the largest terrestrial biome?
2. On which continent is the largest desert located?
3. In what type of biome would you find a: maple tree, b: polar bear, c: cactus?
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The Biosphere
Name___________________
Abiotic and Biotic Factors
An ecosystem is a place where a community of living things interacts with each other
and the environment. Both living and nonliving components exist within an
ecosystem. The living organisms of an ecosystem are called biotic components and
include plants and animals. Abiotic components are the nonliving factors that affect
an ecosystem. Temperature, water, and light are examples of abiotic factors. We are
affected by both abiotic and biotic factors in our environment
Directions: Use the data table below to contrast how we are affected by the following
abiotic and biotic factors today as opposed to 200 years ago. In the blank spaces
write how you would cope with the situation today, and how you might have coped
with it 200 years ago.
Situation
Light
Now
200 years ago
It is dark and you need to
do your homework.
Temperature It is very cold in your
house.
Water
You need water to wash
your clothes.
Food
You are hungry and need
some food to eat.
Disease
You have a bacterial
infection and feel quite ill.
Grass
You need to cut the grass
around your home.
Questions:
1. What are some examples of other abiotic factors that affect your life?
2. Which abiotic factor affects your life the most. Why?
3. What same abiotic factors could be dealt with today as well as 200 years ago?
4. Name one advancement over the past 200 years that has enabled people to live longer and
healthier today?
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The Biosphere
Name___________________
Succession
Background: Ecological succession is a natural process that occurs in many
environments. For example, when a fire sweeps through a forest, much in its’ path is
destroyed. Following a forest fire, what appears to be a lifeless area is actually the
beginning of a new and sometimes completely different ecosystem. Soon after the
fire subsides, new life begins to sprout. Over time, more and more plants replace the
once barren land. This process of gradual change in an ecosystem is referred to as
ecological succession.
When a volcano erupts and lava spews out, it may cover the ground in sheets of hot
liquid rock. When the rock cools it forms new land. After years of weathering and
erosion, the rock is broken down and soil begins to form. With the help of rain, wind,
bacteria, and fungal spores, soil gradually forms and gains nutrients. Plants start the
cycle of growth and decay, building a new ecosystem. This type of succession is
called primary succession.
The first community of organisms to live in a new ecosystem is called a pioneer
community. Pioneer communities consist of organisms such as lichens, mosses, or
ferns that can survive the harsh conditions of a developing ecosystem. Pioneer
communities eventually change the conditions of the environment promoting the
gradual take over of other types of organisms such as grass, flowers, and finally
shrubs and trees.
Succession following a forest fire is different than primary succession because it
involves replacing an existing environment with another environment. When
succession occurs in any place where there had at one time been living organisms, it
is called secondary succession. Have you ever noticed on the highway an abandoned
exit or entrance ramp that is covered with grass, or a farm field that has been
abandoned? If you have, than you have witnessed the beginning stages of secondary
succession.
Over many, many years the mix of plants and animals in an ecosystem change to
eventually form a climax community. The redwood forest in California is an
example of a climax community. Redwoods are towering trees that have been
growing for centuries. There are many different types of plants and animals that
thrive in this old growth forest. This lack of change over time creates a very stable
environment, a characteristic of climax communities.
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The Biosphere
Name___________________
Succession (cont.)
Directions: Match the terms listed below to the correct successional illustration.
1. _________________________
New growth following a forest fire.
2. ________________________
Flowers growing on hardened lava.
3. __________________________
Old growth forest.
4. _________________________
Lichens and mosses on rocks.
climax community
pioneer community
ecological succession
secondary succession
primary succession
Activity Extension: On the back of this piece of paper create an additional drawing to
illustrate the end of successional stages.
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The Biosphere
Vocabulary of The
Biosphere
Directions: Unscramble the vocabulary words in the first column. Match the words
to the definitions in the second column.
___1) oiphsereb_______________
a. final stage in the process of ecological
succession
___2) socysteme______________
___3) rmariyp ccsseuions ________
___4) etamilc ____________
b. first community of organisms to move
into a new environment
c. an ecosystem consisting of a mixture of
water and plants
___5) adrunt_____________
d. arid biomes with frequent warm
temperatures
___6) trreestialr iombse ________
___7) estersd ______________
e. the thin layer of land, air, and water that
is home to all living organisms
___8) etlawnd______________
f. a place where a community of living
things interacts with each other
___9) reeniop counmiytm______
___10)xamilc counmiytm _______
g. the process of new organisms inhabiting
an area where no life existed
h. overall weather of an area over a long
period of time
i. a biome dominated by snow and ice
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