Transcript are regions in the world with similar: Biomes •

Biomes are regions in
the world with similar:
• Climate (weather, temperature)
• Flora (vegetation, or plants)
• Fauna (animals & insects)
How is sunlight different at
different latitudes?
90°N North Pole
Sunlight
Arctic circle
66.5°N
Sunlight
Tropic of Cancer
23.5°N
Equator
0°
Most direct sunlight
Tropic of Capricorn
23.5°S
Sunlight
Arctic circle
Sunlight
66.5°S
90°S South Pole
Figure 4-11 The World’s Major Land Biomes
Tropical rain forest
Temperate grassland
Temperate forest
Tundra
Tropical dry forest
Desert
Mountains and
ice caps
Tropical savanna
Temperate woodland
and shrubland
Northwestern
coniferous forest
Boreal forest
(Taiga)
TERRESTRIAL or LAND
BIOMES INCLUDE:
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Tundra
Northwest Coniferous Forest
Temperate Forest
Temperate Grassland
Temperate Woodlands
Boreal Forest
Tropical Rainforest
Tropical Savannah
Tropical Dry
Desert
Tundra
Coniferous forest
Deciduous Forest
Savannah
Desert
Rainforest
TUNDRA
• Has a permanently frozen subsoil called
permafrost
• too cold for many animals or plants to survive
(Avg. temp. -10° c)
• Average precipitation is less than 50 cm/year
• Plants: includes mosses, lichens, grass &
small
shrubs.
• Animals: Polar bears, Arctic foxes, caribou
TUNDRA
T
U
N
D
R
A
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Coniferous Forest
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Cold, wet climate
Has long cold winters (average temp. 0° c)
Average annual precipitation 100 cm.
Animals: Deer, lynx, fox, hare and grizzly
bears. Many animals hibernate or migrate to
escape the long, cold winter months.
- Plants: Coniferous trees
(pine tree, fir, evergreens)
Coniferous Forest
Coniferous
Forest
TEMPERATE FOREST
Deciduous Forest
• Deciduous trees lose their leaves once each
year when weather turns cold.
• Houston, Texas is in a temperate forest
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Weather is moderate (Avg. temp. 10° c)
Rainfall tends to be heavy (70-105 cm).
Animals include deer, black bear, squirrels
Oak and hickory trees, grasses and flowering
plants grow here.
HOUSTON
TEMPERATE FOREST
(Deciduous Forest)
Temperate Forest
TROPICAL
RAINFOREST
• Most diverse biome – over 2 million species.
• Humid, temperature is consistent, (avg. temp. 25° c).
• lots of rain - year round (avg. 200-400 cm/year)
• Plants: diverse flowers, hard wood trees, medicinal
plants and canopy trees.
• Animals: monkeys, cat like mammals (jaguar), reptiles,
sloth and insects.
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F
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S
T
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F
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Tropical Rain Forest
Washington State
Costa Rica
The Amazon River
Tropical Savannah
• Also called prairies or savannahs
• Good soil, most crops are grown here.
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Average temperature 15° c.
semi-dry biome. Rain Avg. (25-75 cm/year)
Plants: Grasses are the main plant life.
Animals: antelope, buffalo, giraffes
and other large herbivores. Also, lions and
cheetahs.
Savannah
S
A
V
A
N
N
A
H
DESERT
• Very hot, dry biomes
• there is little rainfall (less than 25 cm/year)
• few types of plants. Vegetation includes
cactus and the Joshua tree.
• Desert animals include snakes and lizards.
• Animals are nocturnal or live underground
or under rocks when the sun is out.
Desert
Desert
Tropical Dry Forest
Biome that experiences an annual hard, dry season
Precipitation VARIES
Mild Temperature, RICH SOIL
Many found in Mexico and Central America
Plants and trees can survive long periods of little to
no precipitation-a leafless period exists and
plants/trees have DEEP roots.
Vegetation includes: Acacias, Giant Barrel Cactus
TREES/GRASSES medium
Moderate diversity
Animals include: Howler Monkeys, scorpions
*Estivation- The summer equivalency of hibernation.
Tropical Dry Forest
Tropical Dry Forest
Temperate Grassland
• Contain some of the world’s most fertile soil.
• Drought and fire play large roles in keeping
trees from taking over the grasslands.
• Avg. rain 20-35 in/yr (moderate)
• Temp is HOT
• Vegetation includes: buffalo grass, Johnson
grass (GRASSES dense!) Trees ABSENT
• Animals include: bison, pronghorns, deer, mice,
rabbits, grouse, badgers, skunks, owls, garter
snakes, rattle-snakes, red-tailed hawks and
prairie dogs.
Temperate Grassland
Temperate Woodlands
• Also known as the Mediterranean Biome
• Summers are hot and dry in interior locations
and cooler near the coasts. Their winters are
rainy but mild.
• Poor soil, low diversity
• Vegetation: Trees and grasses are medium
• Animals include: Coyotes, bobcats, mountain
lions, badgers, foxes, small rodents
• Avg. Rainfall- 27 in/yr
growing season about 140 to 200 days
Temperate Woodlands
Boreal Forest/ Taiga
• Climate in the taiga is cold, with
average annual temperatures from
about +5 to -5 degrees C
• Precipitation varies
Boreal Forest/Taiga
Aquatic Environments
Fresh Water Ecosystems: lakes, ponds, streams,
rivers and Wetlands.
Marine Ecosystems: intertidal and estuaries
• photic zone – area of the marine biome where
sunlight can penetrate. It is the most productive
region. Why?
• Aphotic zone – the area of the marine biome
where sunlight does not penetrate. Animals in
this biome are heterotrophic. Why?
Ten Major Biomes
Biome
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tropical Dry
Forest
Tropical
Savanna
Desert
Temperate
Grassland
Temperate
woodland and
Shrubland
Temperate
Forest
Precipitatio Temperature
n
high
hot
Soil
Diversity
Trees
Grasses
poor
high
dense
sparse
variable
mild
rich
moderate
medium
medium
variable
mild
clay
moderate
sparse
dense
low
moderate
variable
summer hot
poor
rich
moderate
moderate
sparse
absent
sparse
dense
summer
low, winter
moderate
moderate
summer hot
poor
low
medium
medium
summer
rich
moderate,
winter cold
summer mild, rocky,
winter cold
acidic
high
dense
sparse
low
dense
sparse
summer mild, poor,
winter cool
acidic
summer mild, poor
winter cold
moderate
dense
sparse
low
absent
medium
Northwestern
Coniferous
Forest
Boreal Forest
high
Tundra
low
moderate