Biomes of the World

1. Biomes of the World Chapter 6 Ms. Hubbuch Environmental Science

2. What is a biome? • A biome is a large region characterized by a specific type of climate, plant and animal communities. • It is described by vegetation which influences other organisms.

3. Where are the biomes located?

4. How does climate affect biomes? • Climate is the weather conditions over a long period of time. • The two most important climate factors are • Temperature • Precipitation

5. How do latitude and altitude affect biomes? • Latitude is the distance north or south of the Equator. • Altitude is the height of an object above sea level. • As latitude and altitude increase, climates get cooler. • The most productive areas are 30-60 degrees North and South of the Equator are the most productive.

6. Forest biomes • Forests are the most widespread biomes. • They also have the most diversity of organisms. • There are four types of forest biomes: • Tropical Rain Forest • Temperate Rain Forest • Temperate Deciduous Forest • Taiga

7. Tropical Rain Forest • TRF is located in a belt around the Equator • It is always humid and warm and gets 200-450 cm/year of rain. • It also receives strong sunlight year round. • The plant life is very diverse which leads to quick nutrient uptake. • As a result, the soil is poor in this biome because of a lack of nutrients and quick decomposers.

8. Tropical rain forest

9. Tropical Rain Forest • There are three distinct layers of the TRF • Emergent – has the tallest trees in the brightest light • Canopy – split into upper and lower layers based on sunlight • Has epiphytes – plants that use other plants for support • Most organisms in the TRF live here • Understory – trees and shrubs adapted to shade live here

10. Tropical rain forest • The TRF has the greatest amount of plant and animal diversity. • The diversity of vegetation has led to the evolution of lots of species. • The species are specialist that use specific resources in a particular way to minimize competition.

11. Temperate Rain Forest • This biome has large amounts of precipitation, high humidity and moderate temps. • They occur around 30 degrees latitude. • It is filled with evergreen trees draped with mosses and lichens. • The forest floor is covered with ferns.

12. Temperate Rain Forest

13. Temperate Deciduous Forest • This biome has trees that change colors and drop leaves. • It is located between 30 – 50 degrees latitudes. • Temperature ranges here can be extreme. • Growing season lasts 4-6 months. • It has good soil because of soil decomposition. • It also experiences seasons. • Animals here acclimate by migrating or hibernating.

14. Temperate deciduous forest

15. Taiga • This biome is a northern coniferous forest that is a band below the Arctic Circle. • It has long winters with temps well below freezing. • It is dominated by conifers with needle-like leaves ad coned seeds. • Pine needles make the soil acidic preventing forest floor growth. • Animal adaptations include hibernating, migrating and camouflage.

16. taiga

17. Forest recap • They are the most diverse and widespread because of lots of precipitation. • Tropical Rainforest • Temperate rainforest • Temperate Deciduous Forest • Taiga

18. Biomes with Less precipitation • In climates with less rainfall, forest biomes are replaced by savannah, chaparral and grassland biomes. • With very little precipitation, they transition to tundras and deserts. • These areas are fire adapted. • With a decrease in precipitation, we see a decrease in diversity. • Keep in mind, individual species numbers may still be high even if diversity is not.

19. Savanna • A tropical biome dominated by grasses, shrubs and small trees. • Rain only appears during wet season (only a few months). • Supports a large number of herbivorous animals and their predators.

20. Savanna • Plants have adaptations to survive fire, herbivory and little precipitation, • Some plants lose leaves to conserve water • Some plants have thorns to keep herbivores away • Many plants have large, horizontal root systems to draw water from large areas. • These root systems allow plants to grow back quickly after a fire.

21. Temperate grassland • Moderate rainfall but too little for trees to grow • Found in the prairies of North America and the veldt of South America. • Most fertile soil of all biomes. • Vegetation is grasses and wildflowers. • As more precipitation occurs in the biome, the vegetation grows taller.

22. Temperate Grassland • Plants and animals are adapted to little precipitation and fire. • Plants have dense roots to survive fire. • Herbivores have large, flat back teeth for chewing grass. • Some animals burrow to escape fire, weather or predators.

23. chaparral • Temperate woodland biome dominated by broad-leaf evergreen shrubs. • Located at middle latitudes about 30 degrees North or South • Found near the coast with a warm, dry summer and mild, wet winters.

24. Chaparral • This biome is very fire adapted. • Plants have small, leathery leaves that retain water. • Some plant have oils that promote burning to wipeout competing plants. • Many plants can resprout from bits of tissue after fire.

25. Chaparral • Most animals in the chaparral have camouflage. • The greatest threat to the biome is human development.

26. Deserts • Areas that are characterized by scattered vegetation and little precipitation • Extreme cases have no vegetation or rain • The hotter deserts are located near the equator while colder ones are further away. • They are often located near mountain ranges which block passage of rain clouds.

27. deserts • Many plants are called succulents and have thick, fleshy stems and leaves that store water. • Plants have leaves with a waxy coat. • Many plants die and drop seeds that wait for rain.

28. deserts • Many animals have thick, scaly skin to prevent water loss. • Some animals estivate by sleeping through the hot, dry season • Most animals are nocturnal.

29. Tundra • Biome of cold, dry, winters in northern Arctic regions. • Has permafrost which is areas of soil that remain frozen most of the year. • Topsoil thaws and forms bogs which support insects and birds • Covered in moss and lichens

30. tundra • Plants have wide shallow roots to anchor them from winds. • Animals migrate to the tundra to enjoy the summers. • Rodents burrow to avoid the cold. • Many animals have summer and winter coats.