Biology, Eighth Edition (Raven)

Chapter 58: The Biosphere

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how the overall characteristics of the major biomes change as one travels farther away from the equator or as one ascends from sea level.
• Describe how environments vary from one area to another.
• Explain how organisms adapt to environmental change.
• Understand how the sun, earth’s rotation, continental geography, and wind circulation patterns combine to produce major climatic trends.
• Compare the eight major biomes in terms of overall productivity, species diversity, general climate, and precipitation.
• Understand how oceanic habitats affect species diversity.
• Describe the major zones of the oceans and the types of organisms that can be found in each.
• Explain how bodies of fresh water are layered and the importance of seasonal overturns.
• Differentiate between oligotrophic and eutrophic lakes.