Transcript Biomes - Mrs. Tyler's Advanced Placement Biology

Biomes
Location
Arctic Tundra
Arctic Tundra
Location

About 55o to 70o North latitude
Arctic Tundra
What “Controls” This Biome?
Long winters & short
summers
 Growing season for
plants is often 8 weeks
or less therefore this
limits growth
Unique Information or
Adaptations
 Permafrost exists there
(ground is permanently
frozen below the ground
surface)
 Trees can’t grow in
tundra due to
permafrost

Arctic Tundra
Typical Species



In the summer, area
above permafrost melts
& ground becomes
spongy
Lots of wetlands here
that breed thousands of
insects & attract lots of
migratory birds
Caribou & herd animals,
arctic fox, snowy owl,
lemmings, grizzly bears
(fig. 6-26)
Arctic Tundra
Threats to this Biome


Oil & Gas
exploration &
drilling
Climate Change
Coniferous Evergreen Forest
Other Names: Boreal Forest or Taiga
Location

Just south of the Arctic tundra in the
northern hemisphere
Coniferous Forest
What “Controls” This Biome?




Cold & long winters (sun shines 68hrs/day)
Short cool summers (sun shines 19
hrs/day)
Low precipitation
Growing season for plants is short
Coniferous Forest
Unique Information or Adaptations



Needles of trees
have waxy coating to
help keep moisture
in the plant
Needles decompose
slowly and cause the
soil to be acidic &
nutrient poor
Low plant diversity
(few species can
survive w/ frozen
soil moisture)
Coniferous Forest
Typical Species

Primarily
Coniferous
Evergreen Trees


Black Spruce,
White Spruce,
Balsam Fir, also
may have Paper
Birch, and Quaking
Aspen
Bears, Wolves,
Moose, Beaver,
Owls
Coniferous Forest
Threats to this Biome


Deforestation
Climate Change
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Location

Eastern US, China & much of Europe
Temperate Deciduous Forest
What “Controls” This Biome?




Moderate average temperatures
that change significantly with the
season
Abundant precipitation throughout
the year
Long & warm summers & cold but
not severe winters
Thick layer of leaf litter (nutrients!)
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Unique Information or Adaptations


Fairly low rate of
decomposition & lots
of nutrients w/ fallen
leaves
Penetration of more
sunlight and high
precipitation support
variety of groundlevel plant life
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Typical Species




Broadleaf
Deciduous Trees
White-tailed deer
Lots of birds
Mice, frogs,
squirrels, rabbits,
opossums,
raccoons
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Threats to this Biome


Deforestation, habitat loss &
fragmentation
Replacement of old-growth forest
with tree plantations
Tropical Rainforest
Location

Northern South America, Southern Central America,
SE Asia, Equatorial Africa
Tropical Rainforest
What “Controls” This Biome?




Warm annual temperature with
heavy rainfall almost daily
Most nutrients are in the
plants/animals – not in the soil
Soil nutrients limit growth as
temperature & water are not
limiting
Rapid decomposition
Tropical Rainforest
Unique Information or Adaptations








Lots of biodiversity
Highly stratified
Lianas – hanging vines have
developed a twisting
adaptation to survive the
pulling between trees with
the wind
Green tree snakes –
camouflage
Epiphytes – “air plants”
(some are bromeliads)
Buttresses – large base of
trunk of a tree
Shallow roots so buttress
helps support tree
Also captures nutrients when
it rains
Tropical Rainforest
Typical Species


Broadleaf
Evergreen
High diversity of
trees here
Threats to this Biome
Deforestation
Temperate Rainforest
Other Names: Coastal Coniferous Forest
Location

Coastal area of Alaska
Temperate Rainforest
What “Controls” This Biome?


Coastal areas with ample rainfall or
moisture from dense fogs
Winters are mild & summers are
cool
Temperate Rainforest
Unique Information or Adaptations


Nearness to oceans
moderates the
temperatures
Trees depend of
frequent rains &
moisture from
summer fog
Temperate Rainforest
Typical Species

Large Conifers



Sitka Spruce
Douglas Fir
Redwoods
Threats to this Biome
Deforestation
Temperate Grasslands and
Tropical Grasslands
Other Names:
Prairies
Tall Grass
Short Grass
Pampas
Savanna – Tropical Grassland
Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands
Location

Varies widely but in the interiors of continents
Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands
What “Controls” This Biome?



Cold winters
Hot & dry summers
Uneven precipitation through the
year 10-40 inches or so
Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands
Unique Information or Adaptations

Fires in summer & fall are
often


Fires keep trees out
Tropical Grasslands may
have occasional deciduous
tree





Flat top acacias (Lion
King)
Eucalyptus in Australia
Prairie plants regenerate
after fire due to their
deep roots
Organic matter
accumulates to produce a
deep fertile soil
Soil held in place by thick
network of roots
Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands
Typical Species

Grasses
Beetles
Insects
Prairie Dogs

Tropical Grassland




Large herds of
grazing & hoofed
animals
 Gazelles
 Zebras
Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands
Threats to this Biome



Plowing
Agriculture
Overgrazing by domesticated animals
Chaparral
Other Names: Temperate Shrubland
Location

Varies widely
Chaparral
What “Controls” This Biome?

Mediterranean climate



Winters are mild
Moderate rain in winter
Summers are long, hot & dry
Chaparral
Unique Information or Adaptations




Fires are needed by this
biome
Dense undergrowth of
drought resistant shrubs
that have large root
systems
Dry brittle vegetation that
is dormant in hot & dry
season
Shrubs have a waxy
coating on “leaves” to
keep moisture in
Chaparral
Typical Species


Scrub Oak
Spiny Evergreen
shrubs
Threats to this Biome
People
Like to Live
Here & put out fires
Desert
Location

At about 30o of latitude where air has lost its
moisture from the tropics
Desert
What “Controls” This Biome?



An area where evaporation exceeds
precipitation
Precipitation typically less than 10
inches per year & scattered
unevenly throughout the year
Lack of water “controls” this biome
Desert
Unique Information or Adaptations




Succulent plants – thorns
& waxy coating to protect
and keep moisture in
Animals – nocturnal & live
in burrows
Rarely urinate & it may be
crystals
Plants have




Shallow & wide roots
No leaves
Vegetation is sparse
Cover 30% of the earth’s
land
Desert
Typical Species




Succulents
Rattlesnakes
Roadrunner
Red-tailed Hawk
Desert
Threats to this Biome

Deserts take a
long time to
recover



Tracks left by tanks
practicing during
WWII are still
visible
Off-roading
Irrigated crops
Rain Shadow Effect
•The up wind
side of
mountain
ranges are very
wet & dry
downwind
•Downwind
sides are often
deserts
Mountain Biome
Location

Scattered all over the world
Mountain Biome
What “Controls” This Biome?

Wide variety of various biomes as
you go up in elevation

100m gain in elevation = 100km
change in latitude (not always)
Mountain Biome
Unique Information or Adaptations

Wide variety of biomes on
a single mountain
Mountain Biome
Threats to this Biome






Rapidly increasing
population
Increased extraction
of timber & minerals
Dams
Skiing & tourism
Increase warfare in
mountainous areas
(guerilla warfare)
Climate Change