Transcript Biomes in our area

Biomes
What is a biome?
• a large naturally occurring community of flora
and fauna occupying a major habitat, e.g.,
forest or tundra.
• Usually synonymous with ecosystems.
Types of biomes in WA:
• In general:
– Tundra (alpine)
– Subalpine
– Taiga
– Temperate forest
– Temperate grassland
– Temperate scrubland
– Temperate rainforest
Tundra (alpine)
• Short summer season (8 weeks commonly)
• No permafrost
• Lichens, mosses, many huckleberry members,
some other small shrubs
• No trees!
Subalpine
•
•
•
•
~5000’ or so
AKA ‘parkland’
Very biodiverse
Some trees (firs)
do well here,
although their
growth may be
stunted
Taiga
• Dominated by conifers
• Some small-leaved flowering trees can live in
warmer areas of this biome (like alder,
birches)
Temperate
forest
• Mix of conifers and
broad-leaved
flowering trees (think
big-leaf maple!)
• Has upper canopy,
lower canopy, and
understory subzones
• Ferns (like sword fern)
can dominate
understory
Temperate rainforest
• West side of
Olympics
• Ex. Hoh River
Rainforest
• >100” rain
per year
Temperate grassland & scrubland:
•
•
•
•
Rainfall <26” per year
More rainfall = grassland
Less rainfall = scrubland
Scrubland dominated by drought-tolerant
bushes and plants
Biomes are influenced by climate
Biomes are influence by terrain:
Biomes are influenced by rainfall:
Ecoregions of Washington State
Biomes are influenced by altitude:
Effects of altitude on vegetation and temperature (about 3F decrease for every
1000 ft gain).
N