Transcript Land Biomes - American Academy

Land Biomes
Tundra
Found in parts of Canada, Alaska, and Siberia
Tundra –
“The Cold Desert”
• Found at latitudes
around the North Pole
• Less than 25 cm
precipitation yearly
• Very cold year round
(-40ºC in winter)
• Cold, dry, treeless
region
Tundra –
“The Land of the
Midnight Sun”
• Winter lasts 6 to 9
months with no
daylight
• Summer is short and
cold with 24 hours of
sunlight a day
Tundra-
• Soil is poor
• Permafrost
– Layer of
permanently
frozen soil
Plants of the Tundra
Tundra plants are resistant to drought
and cold
Examples:
• Reindeer moss (a lichen!)
• Lichens
• True mosses
• Grasses
• Small shrubs and flowers
Reindeer lichen
Tundra Plant Adaptations
Growing close to the ground
Having shallow roots to absorb the
limited water resources.
Trees grow less than 1 m high!
cottongrass
Perennials
Woody shrubs
Heaths
Examples of Tundra Plants
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tundra.html
snowy owl
Arctic fox
Small ears
Insulation, thick
coat
Tundra Animal
Adaptations
Many visitors, migration
Few predators
Grizzly Bear
Little Competition
Threats to the Tundra
Tufted Saxifrage
Oil drilling
is
proposed
in Alaska
and other
One of the
most
fragile
biomes on
the planet
Polar Bear
The tundra is
slow to
recover from
damage.
Plants of the Tundra
• Reindeer moss – It’s a lichen! (fungus
& algae)
Plants of the Tundra
• Lichens
Plants of the Tundra
• Lichen
Plants of the Tundra
• True Mosses
Plants of the Tundra
• Small shrubs and flowers
Plants of the Tundra
• Small shrubs and flowers
Plants of the Tundra
• Small shrubs and flowers
Plants of the Tundra
• Grasses
Animals of the Tundra
Many animals of the tundra migrate
there during the short summer
Examples:
• Biting insects
• Snowy owls
• Arctic hares
•Caribou
•Musk oxen
•Lemmings
Animals of the Tundra
• Biting insects
Mosquito
Blackfly
Animals of the Tundra
• Snowy owl
Animals of the Tundra
• Arctic hare
Animals of the Tundra
• Caribou – “Reindeer”
Animals of the Tundra
• Musk oxen
Animals of the Tundra
• Lemmings
Animals of the Tundra
• Lemmings
Taiga or Coniferous Forest
Found in parts of Canada, Alaska, and Russia
Taiga or
Coniferous
Forest
• World’s largest
land biome
• Latitudes
between 50ºN
and 60ºN
Taiga• Warmer and
wetter than the
Tundra
• Winters are long
and cold
• 35 to 40 cm of
precipitation yearly
(mostly snow)
Plants of the Taiga
There is no permafrost, so trees can
grow. Mosses and lichens grow on the
forest floor.
Examples:
• Cone-bearing Evergreen trees
– Firs
– Spruces
– Pines
–Hemlocks
–Cedars
Taiga
Abiotic factors
 Winters are long
and cold
 Averages 100 in/yr
precipitation—
mostly snow
 Soil poor in
nutrients and very
acidic
 Growing season is
very short
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/modules/
ecosystems_biomes/biomes_northern_forest.html
Taiga Plant adaptations




Fireweed
Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees
are abundant
Roots long to anchor trees
Needles long, thin and waxy
Low sunlight and poor soil keeps
plants from growing on forest floor
http://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/plants.htm
Balsam Fir
Moose
Animal
Adaptations of
the Taiga
 Adapt for cold winters
 Burrow, hibernate, warm
coat, insulation, etc.
http://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/animals.htm
Great Grey Owl
Threats to the Taiga
Mining operations can
irreparably damage
this fragile
ecosystem.
Pollution left behind
can also put animals
and plants at risk.
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.h
Plants of the Taiga
• Fir tree
Plants of the Taiga
• Spruce tree
Plants of the Taiga
• Hemlock tree
Plants of the Taiga
• Liverwort (a moss)
Plants of the Taiga
• Mosses
Animals of the Taiga
Many animals live in the Taiga.
Examples:
• Moose
• Black Bear
• Lynx
• Wolves
•Badgers
•Wolverines
•Ermines
•Deer
Animals of the Taiga
• Moose
Animals of the Taiga
• Black bear
Animals of the Taiga
• Lynx
Animals of the Taiga
• Wolf
Animals of the Taiga
• Badger
Animals of the Taiga
• Wolverine
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Found in Europe, the eastern part of the
U.S.A., and China
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
• Found below
50ºN latitude
• 75 to 150 cm
precipitation
yearly
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html
Temperate Deciduous Forests
Location:
 found in temperate zone
(about 480 North lat)
 Much of the human population lives in this biome
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html
Temperate Deciduous Forests
Abiotic Factors
 Characterized by an
abundance of deciduous
(leaf bearing) trees
Characterized by 4 seasons
 Soils: Deep soil layers,
rich in nutrients
 Precipitation: 30–100 in/yr
in all forms (snow, rain,
hail, fog, etc.)
Lady Fern
Temperate Deciduous forest
Plant adaptations
White Birch
Birchhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_plant_
page.htm
More diversity in the deciduous forest vs.
the coniferous forest due to increased
sunlight.
Trees adapt to varied climate by
becoming dormant in winter
Deciduous forests grow in layers
More sunlight reaches the ground
compared to a rainforest so you
will find more ground dwelling
plants.
Geulder Rose
Bald Eagle
Temperate Deciduous
Forest
Animal Adaptations
Least Weasel
 Lose Winter
Coat
 Adapt to many
seasons
 Eat from
different layers
of the forest
Fat Dormouse
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_animal_page.htm
Threats to Temperate Deciduous
Forests
Many forests are
cleared to
provide housing
for humans.
Careful use of the
resource can
provide a
renewable
system if we
don’t take too
much habitat
away.
http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
• Wide range of
temperatures
with 4 seasons
• Below freezing
in winter to
30ºC in summer
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
• Soil is rich in
nutrients from
layers of
decomposing
leaves
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
• Layers of
vegetation
– Canopy
– Understory
– Forest floor
Layers of Vegetation
Canopy- tree tops that shade the
ground below
Understory- shrub layer
Forest floor- dark and moist layer
of dead leaves, twigs, and seeds
Layers of Vegetation
Canopy
Layers of Vegetation
Understory
Layers of Vegetation
Forest floor
Life in the Temperate Deciduous Forest
The mild climate and rich soil of
the temperate deciduous forest
supports a wide variety of plant
and animal life.
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Plant life is abundant.
Examples:
•Oak trees
•Shrubs
•Hickory trees
•Wildflowers
•Maple trees
•Ferns
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Oak tree
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Hickory tree
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Maple tree
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Shrubs (Azalea)
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Shrubs (Holly)
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Wildflowers
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Wildflowers
Plants of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Ferns
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Animal life is diverse.
Examples:
•Deer
•Birds
•Foxes
•Raccoons
•Snakes
•Amphibians
•Bears
•Small mammals
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Deer
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Fox
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Snakes (Eastern Garter Snake)
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Snakes (Copperhead)
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Black bear
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Birds (Bald Eagle)
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Birds
(Barn Owl)
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Birds
Woodpecker
Cardinal
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Raccoon
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Amphibians
Wood frog
Leopard Frog
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Amphibians
Spotted Salamander
Jefferson Salamander
Animals of the Temperate
Deciduous Forest
•Small Mammals
Field Mouse
Squirrel
Tropical Rain Forest
Found near the equator in Africa, South
America, Australia, and the Pacific Islands
Tropical Rain
Forest
• Found near the
equator
• 200 to 225 cm
precipitation
yearly
Tropical Rain
Forest
• Hot and humid all
year
• Temperatures
are fairly
constant around
25ºC
Tropical
Rainforest
Location: Found near
equator…little variation
in temperatures. No
distinct seasonal
changes.
Earth's most complex land
biome
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/
Tropical
Rainforest
Abiotic factors
 high biodiversity and
biomass
 both hot and moist;
 ideal for bacteria and other
microorganisms; they
quickly decompose matter
on the forest floor allowing
nutrients to be recycled.
 <1 cm of topsoil
 About 100 in/yr of rainfall
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysfl
Bougainvillea
Tropical Rainforest
Plant adaptations

Sunlight is a major limiting factor

Plants grow in layers (canopy
receives most light)

Shallow, wide roots since soil is so
thin and poor in nutrients

Little sun reaches the floor
Bangul Bamboo
Tropical Rain
Forest
• Soil is nutrient
poor and acidic
• Most plants have
shallow roots
Tropical Rain Forest Layers
of Vegetation
Life in the Tropical Rain Forest
The tropical rain forest is a lush,
productive ecosystem containing
more than half of all the species
that live on Earth.
Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest
A rain forest may contain more than
700 species of trees and over 1000
species of flowering plants.
Examples:
•Mahogany trees
•Bromeliads and orchids
•Giant ferns
•Many flowering plants
Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Mahogany tree
Notice how the
roots rise above
the ground to
help support this
giant tree!
Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Bromeliads
Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Orchids
Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Giant ferns
Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Flowering plants
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
The rain forest is home to a huge
number of animals.
Examples:
•Monkeys
•Bats
•Exotic birds
•Insects
•Snakes
•Large cats
•Sloths
•Exotic mammals
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Monkeys
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Exotic birds
Toucan
Parrots
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Exotic birds
Cockatoo
Hummingbird
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Snakes (Anaconda)
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Snakes
Albino Ball Python
Green Mamba
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Sloths
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Bat (Fruit bat)
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Insects
Butterfly
Beetle
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Large Cats (Jaguar)
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Large Cats (Sumatran Tiger)
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Large Cat (Ocelot)
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Exotic mammals
Paca
Peccary
Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest
•Exotic mammals
Agouti
Nutria
Tropical Savanna
Characteristics of the Savanna
• Tropical, rolling grassland scattered
with shrubs and isolated trees
• Not enough rainfall to support
forests
• Long dry winter with 4” rainfall and
rainy summer with 15 – 50 inches
of rainfall annually
• 90oF in dry season; 70oF in summer
• Clay and sand mixed soils
Savanna Producers
• Tall, wild
grasses
• Acacia trees
• Small shrubs
Savanna Consumers
• Large herbivores such
as antelope, gazelles,
giraffes, elephants,
zebras, wildebeests
• Large carnivores such
as lions, hyenas, and
leopards
Animals of the African Grassland
•Gazelle
Animals of the African Grassland
•Wildebeest
Animals of the African Grassland
•Lion
Animals of the African Grassland
•Elephant
Animals of the African Grassland
•Giraffe
Grassland - Prairie
“The Bread Basket of the World”
Found on every continent.
Grassland
Grasslands are known by many names.
U.S.A. – Prairie or Plains
•Asia – Steppe
•South America – Pampas
•Africa –Veldt or Savanna
•Australia - Savanna
Grassland
• Wet seasons
followed by a
season of
drought
• 25 to 75 cm
precipitation
yearly
Grassland
• The soil is rich
and fertile.
• The grass has
extensive root
systems, called
sod.
Plants of the Grassland
Grassland regions of the world are
important farming areas. Cereal and
grains grow here.
Examples:
•Wheat
•Rye
•Barley
•Corn
Plants of the Grassland
•Wheat
Plants of the Grassland
•Rye
Plants of the Grassland
•Barley
Plants of the Grassland
•Corn
Animals of the Grassland
The most noticeable animals in
grassland ecosystems are usually
grazing mammals.
Animals of the American Grassland
•Bison
Animals of the American Grassland
•Prairie Dog
Animals of the American Grassland
•Pronghorn
Animals of the American Grassland
•Coyote
Animals of the Australian Grassland
•Long Nosed Bandicoot
Animals of the Australian Grassland
•Wallaby
Animals of the Australian Grassland
•Wombat
Chapparal (Scrub)
Chapparal Characteristics
• Cross between a grassland and a forest
• May contain mountain slopes and
plains
• Hot, dry summers and mild winters
• Average winter temperature ~ 46oF
• Average summer temperature ~
72oF
• Annual rainfall 15 - 40 inches
• Nutrient poor soil with low moisture
Chapparal Organisms
Producers
• Trees such as
oak
• Shrubs with
thick waxy
coverings to
conserve water
Consumers
•
•
•
•
Aardvark
Coyotes
Lynx
Chipmunks
Chapparals
Animals of the Australian Grassland
Australian grassland animals are
marsupials
•Kangaroo
Desert
Found on every continent.
The driest biome on Earth
Desert
• Extreme
temperaturesVery hot during
the day and cool
at night
Desert
• Very little
rainfall
• Less than
25 cm
precipitation
yearly
Desert
• The soil ranges
from gravel to
sand.
• Soil is nutrient
poor.
Plants of the Desert
Desert plants have evolved adaptations
to help them survive in the extreme
temperatures and dryness of this biome.
Examples:
•Cactus
•Wildflowers
•Mesquite
•Creosote
•Joshua trees
•Cactus
Plants of the Desert
Saguaro
Prickly Pear
Plants of the Desert
•Mesquite
Plants of the Desert
•Joshua tree
Plants of the Desert
•Wildflowers
Plants of the Desert
•Creosote
Animals of the Desert
The animals of the desert are
adapted to the hot temperatures.
Examples:
•Lizards
•Kangaroo rat
•Camels
•Gila Monster
•Snakes
•Predatory birds
•Scorpions
•Tarantula
Animals of the Desert
•Lizards
Desert Iguana
Frilled Lizard
Animals of the Desert
•Camel
Animals of the Desert
•Snakes
Diamondback Rattlesnake
Sidewinder
Animals of the Desert
•Scorpion
Animals of the Desert
•Kangaroo rat
Animals of the Desert
•Gila Monster
Animals of the Desert
•Predatory birds
Great Horned Owl
Kestrel
Animals of the Desert
•Tarantula
Questions: due Wed. with your maps
1. Name the three main land biomes in the US.
2. What two biomes are closest where you live?
3. What US state could a person visit a tropical rain forest
in?
4. How about a temperate rain forest?
5. If you traveled due north from your current location,
what biomes would you pass through ?
6. A person is driving from L.A., to Washington D.C. Name
the biomes the person will pass through, in the correct
order.
7. A person is driving from Alaska to Mexico, staying close
to the west coastline. Name the biomes the person will
pass through, in the correct order.