1. vocabulary terms to know
Biome
Climate
Latitude
Altitude
Permafrost
Epiphyte
7. Understory 8. Canopy 9. Emergent Layer

2. Chapter 6
Remember to write the slides that show the clipboard symbol. Examples written in italics do not need to be written down. We will just discuss them, along with the other slides.

3. Copy & answer the following questions on a blank piece of paper:
How do you think you did on the ch. 5 test?
How long did you study?
Have you been to tutoring?
What could YOU do to improve your grade?
What could we do to help you?

4. Objectives Describe how plants determine the name of a biome.
Explain how temperature and precipitation determine which plants grow in an area.
Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants grow in an area.

5. Standards
SEV2c, d
SEV5c, d
SCSh6d

6. What is a Biome?
Large regions characterized by a specific type of climate & certain types of plant and animal communities
Made up of many individual ecosystems

7. Biomes and Vegetation
Described by their vegetation because plants that grow in an area determine the other organisms that can live there
Plants have characteristics, specialized structures, or adaptations (size, shape, color) that allow them to survive in that biome.
For example, plants in the tundra tend to be short because they cannot obtain enough water to grow larger.

8. The World’s Major Terrestrial Biomes

9. Biomes and Climate
Climate is the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.
Main factor is determining which plants can grow in a certain area, which in turn defines the biome.
Temperature and precipitation are the two most important factors that determine a region’s climate.

10. Temperature & Precipitation
Most organisms are adapted to live within a particular range of temps & won’t survive at temps too far above or below their optimal range.
Precipitation also limits the organisms found in a biome because all organisms need water.
Biomes that do not receive enough rainfall to support large trees support communities dominated by small trees, shrubs, and grasses.
In biomes where rainfall is not frequent, the vegetation is mostly cactuses and desert shrubs. In extreme cases, lack of rainfall results in no plants, no matter what the temperature is.
The higher the temperature & precipitation are, the taller & denser the vegetation is.

12. Latitude & Altitude
Latitude is the distance north or south from the equator, & is expressed in degrees.
Altitude is the height of an object above a reference point, such as sea level or the Earth’s surface.
Climate varies with latitude & altitude.
For example, climate gets colder as latitude and altitude increase. This is why it gets colder as you move further up a mountain.
As latitude and altitude increase, biomes & vegetation change.
Trees of tropical rainforests usually grow closer to the equator, while mosses & lichen of the tundra grow closer to the poles.
The temperate region includes biomes such as temperate forests and grasslands, which usually have moderate temperatures & fertile soil that is ideal for agriculture.

14. Distinguish between latitude & altitude.
Contrast weather & climate.
Large regions characterized by a specific type of climate & certain types of plant & animal communities are called _____.

15. Objectives List three characteristics of tropical rain forests.
Name and describe the main layers of a tropical rain forest.
Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaptation that helps the plant survive.
Describe one adaptation that may help an animal survive in the taiga.
Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.

16. Standards
SEV2c
SCSh9a, c, d
SCSh1a, b
SCSh3c
SCSh4a
SCSh6a-d

17. Forest Biomes Most widespread & the most diverse
Found where temps are mild to hot & where rainfall is plenty
3 main forest biomes of the world: tropical, temperate, & coniferous

18. Tropical Rain Forests Forests or jungles near the equator.
Large amounts of rain & constant temps
Greatest known diversity of organisms
Help regulate world climate
Play vital roles in the nitrogen, oxygen, & carbon cycles
Are humid, warm, and get strong sunlight which allows them to maintain a fairly constant temp that is ideal for a variety of plants & animals

20. Nutrients in Tropical Rain Forests
Most nutrients are within the plants, not the soil.
Decomposers on the forest floor break down dead organisms & return the nutrients to the soil, but plants quickly absorb the nutrients.
Some trees support fungi that feed on dead organic matter on the rain-forest floor. In this relationship, the fungi transfer the nutrients form the dead matter directly to the tree.
Nutrients from dead organic matter are removed so efficiently that runoff from rain forests is often as pure as distilled water.
Most tropical soils that are cleared of plants for agriculture lack nutrients & can’t support crops for more than a few years.
Many of the trees form above ground roots called buttresses or braces that grow sideways from the tree to provide it with extra support in the thin soil.

21. Layers of the Rain Forest
Different types of plants grow in different layers.
There are 4 main layers of the rain forest:
Emergent Layer
Upper Canopy
Lower Layer
Understory

22. The emergent layer is the top foliage layer in a forest where the trees extend above surrounding trees.
Trees in this layer grow and emerge into direct sunlight reaching heights of 60 to 70 m and can measure up to 5 m around.
Animals such as eagles, bats, monkeys, and snakes live in the emergent layer.

23. The canopy is the layers of treetops that shade the forest floor, & is considered to be the primary layer of the rain forest.
The tall trees, more than 30 m tall, form a dense layer that absorbs up to 95 percent of the sunlight.
The canopy can be split into & upper & lower canopy with the lower canopy receiving less sunlight.
Epiphytes are plants that use another plant for support but not for nourishment, & are located on high trees in the canopy.
Growing on tall trees in allows them to reach the sunlight needed for photosynthesis, & to absorb the water & nutrients that run down the tree after it rains.
Most animals that live in the rain forest live in the canopy because they depend on the abundant flowers & fruits that grow there.

24. The understory is the foliage layer that is beneath & shaded by the main canopy of a forest.
Little light reaches this layer allowing only trees & shrubs adapted to shade to grow there.
Most plants in the understory do not grow more that 3.5 m tall.
Herbs with large flat leaves that grow on the forest floor capture the small amount of light that penetrates the understory.

25. Species Diversity
The diversity of rain-forest vegetation has led to the evolution of a diverse community of animals.
Most rainforest animals are specialists that use specific resources in particular ways to avoid competition and have adapted amazing ways to capture prey & avoid predators.
Insects use camouflage to avoid predators & may be shaped like leaves or twigs.

26. All pictures taken in Costa Rica 2005

27. Threats to Rain Forests
Every minute of every day, 100 acres of tropical rainforest are cleared for logging operations, agriculture, & oil exploration.
Exotic-pet trading robs the rain forests of rare & valuable plant & animal species only found there.
Habitat destruction occurs when land inhabited by an organism is destroyed or altered.
An estimated 50 million native peoples live in tropical rain forests & are also threatened by habitat destruction.
Because they obtain nearly everything they need form the forest, the loss of their habitat could force them to leave their homes and move into cities.
This drastic change of lifestyle may then cause the native peoples too lose their culture & traditions.

28. Temperate Forests Cool, humid weather Abundant rainfall
Tree branches are draped with mosses, trunks are covered with lichens, & the forest floor is covered with ferns.
North America, Australia, & New Zealand
Although located north of most other rain forests, the temperate rain forest of the Pacific Northwest still maintains a moderate temperature year round.
It rarely freezes because the nearby Pacific Ocean waters keep temperatures mild by blowing cool ocean water over the forest.
As the ocean winds meet the costal Olympic Mountains, a large amount of rainfall is produced which keeps the temperature cool & moist.

29. Temperate Deciduous Forests
Have trees that shed their leaves in the fall
Located between 30º & 50º north latitude
Extreme temperature range
Summer temps soaring to 35ºC and winter temps often falling below freezing
75 to 125 cm of precipitation annually
Helps to decompose dead organic matter contributing to the rich soils of the forest

31. Plants of Deciduous Forests
Grow in layers with tall trees dominating the canopy while shrubs cover the understory
More light reaches deciduous forest floors than rain forests floors allowing more plants to grow.
Plants are adapted to survive seasonal changes.
In the fall and winter, trees shed their leaves and seeds go dormant under the insulation of the soil.
With the returning warmth in the spring, the trees grow new leaves & seeds germinate.

32. Animals of Deciduous Forests
Animals are adapted to use forest plants for both food & shelter
Birds can’t survive the harsh winter of the deciduous forests so they migrate for warmer weather & better availability of food.
Other animals reduce their activity so that they don’t need as much food for energy

33. Taiga
Region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic & subarctic tundra
Long winters & little vegetation
Short growing season
As short as 50 days with most plant growth occurring during the summer months because of nearly constant daylight & larger amounts of precipitation

35. Plants of the Taiga
A conifer is a tree that has seeds that develop in cones.
Arrow shape of leaf & waxy coating helps to retain water
Shape helps shed snow to the ground & not get weighed down
Needles contain substances that make the soil acidic when they fall to the ground preventing plants from growing on the floor
Soil forms slowly because the climate & acidity slow decomposition.

36. Animals of the Taiga
Many lakes and swamps that in the summer attract birds that feed on insects
Many birds migrate
Some animals burrow underground for better insulation
Some animals have adapted to avoid predation by shedding their brown summer fur & growing white fur that camouflages them in the snow.

37. Mother moose and twin calves
Wolves
All pictures taken in Alaska 2007
Grizzly bear cubs
Porcupine
Caribou Crossing

38. List the 4 layers of plant growth of a tropical rain forest from highest to lowest.
_______are plants that use another plant for support but not for nourishment, & are located on high trees in the canopy.
Contrast the conifers of the taiga with deciduous trees.

39. Objectives
Describe the difference between tropical and temperate grasslands.
Describe the climate in a chaparral biome.
Describe two desert animals and the adaptations that help them survive.
Describe one threat to the tundra biome.

40. Standards
SEV2c, d

41. Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes
In climates that have less rainfall, forest biomes are replaced by savanna, grassland, & chaparral biomes.
As even less rain falls in these biomes, they change into desert & tundra biomes.
As precipitation decreases in an area, the diversity of the species in the area also decreases. But, the number of individuals of each species present may still be very large.

42. Savannas
Plains full of grasses & scattered trees & shrubs that are found in tropical & subtropical habitats
Found mainly in regions with a dry climate
Receive little precipitation throughout the year, but do have a wet & a dry season
Many animals are only active during the wet season.
Grass fires help to restore nutrients to the soil during the dry season.

44. Plants of the Savanna
Must be able to survive prolonged periods without water
Some have large horizontal root systems to help them survive the dry season
These roots enable the plant to grow quickly after a fire.
The grasses have coarse vertical leaves that expose less surface area to help conserve water, while some trees shed their leaves.
Almost all have thorns for protection

45. Animals of the Savanna
Grazing herbivores have migratory ways of life, following the rains to areas of new grass & fresh watering holes.
Predators often stalk these animals for food.
Many give birth only during the rainy season, when food is abundant & the young are more likely to survive.
Some species of herbivores reduce competition for food by eating vegetation at different heights than other species do.

46. Temperate Grasslands Dominated by grasses Few trees
Hot summers & cold winters
Intermediate amount of rainfall (between a forest and a desert)
Fertile soil
Few remain because many have been replaced by grazing areas & farms growing crops such as corn, soybeans, & wheat.
Located on the interiors of continents where too little rain falls for trees to grow
Prairies of North America
Heavy precipitation is rare, making them susceptible to fires.

48. Plants of Temperate Grasslands
The roots system of prairie grasses form dense layers that survive drought & fire allowing the plants to come back from year to year.
Few trees survive because of the lack of rainfall, fire, & the constant winds.
The amount of rainfall determines the types of plants that will grow in that area with varying root depth & grass height.

49. Animals of Temperate Grasslands
Some grazing animals have large, flat teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses.
Others live in underground burrows that protect them from predators on the open grasslands.

50. Threats to Temperate Grasslands
Farming & overgrazing
Grains crops can’t hold the soil in place as well as native grasses can because the roots of crops are shallow, so soil erosion eventually occurs.
Erosion is also caused as the grasses are constantly eaten & trampled.
Constant use can change the fruitful grasslands into desert-like biomes.

51. Chaparral
Temperate woodland biome with vegetation that includes broad leafed evergreen shrubs & is located in areas with hot, dry summers & mild, wet winters.
Located in the middle latitudes, about 30° north & south of the equator
Primarily in coastal areas that have Mediterranean climates

53. Plants of the Chaparral
Most are low-lying, evergreen shrubs & small trees that grow in dense patches
chamise, manzanita, scrub oak, & herbs like sage & bay
Have small, leathery leaves that contain oils that promote burning, allowing natural fires to destroy competing trees
Well adapted to fire & can resprout from small bits of surviving plant tissue

54. Animals of the Chaparral
A common adaptation is camouflage
Animals such as quail, lizards, chipmunks, and mule deer have a brownish gray coloring that lets them move through the brush without being noticed.

55. Threats to the Chaparral
Greatest threat is human development
Humans tend to develop lands for commercial & residential use because these biomes get a lot of sun, are near the oceans, & have a mild climate year round.

56. Deserts
Have little or no vegetation, long periods without rain, & extreme temperatures
There are hot & cold deserts, but all are the driest places on Earth.
Usually near large mountain ranges because mountains can block the passage of moisture-filled clouds, limiting precipitation

58. Plants of the Desert
Have adaptations for obtaining & conserving water, which allows the plants to live in dry, desert conditions.
Succulents have thick, fleshy stems & leaves that conserve water.
Leaves have waxy coating
Sharp spines
Roots spread out just under the surface

59. Animals of the Desert
Adapted many different ways to prevent water loss
Reptiles have thick, scaly skin that prevents water loss.
Amphibians survive by estivating, or burying themselves in the ground and sleeping through the dry season.
Insects are covered with body armor that helps them retain water.
Most are nocturnal

60. Tundra Treeless plain Located in the Arctic or Antarctic
Very low winter temps
Short, cool summers, so only the top few centimeters of soil thaw
Permafrost is the permanently frozen layer of soil or subsoil & can be found in the tundra regions.
Vegetation consists of grasses, lichens, &perennial herbs

61. This picture was taken in Alaska 2007.
Notice the retreating glacier. Why is that happening?
The conifers are leaning. The locals said that it was because they were “drunken”
trees. What would really cause them to lean?

63. Vegetation of the Tundra
Mosses & lichens cover rocks
Thin soil, so they have wide, shallow roots to help anchor them
Most are short, which keeps them out of the wind & helps them absorb heat from the sunlit soil.
Woody plants & perennials have evolved dwarf forms that grow flat along the ground.

64. This picture was taken in Alaska 2007.
Notice the lack of tall vegetation & the orange lichens on the rocks.

65. Animals of the Tundra
Millions of migratory birds fly to the tundra to breed in the summer when food is abundant.
Migrate in search of food and water.
Hunters prey on migratory caribou, deer, and moose.
Burrow underground to avoid the cold.
Lose their brown summer coat for white fur

66. This picture was taken in Alaska 2007. What is this thing?

67. Threats to the Tundra One of the most fragile biomes on the planet
The food chains are relatively simple so they are easily disrupted.
Until recently these areas have been undisturbed by humans.
Oil was located in parts of the tundra, & oil exploration, extraction, & transport has disrupted many habitats (poison food/water).

68. A forest with the greatest species diversity would be located near the _______.
In the tundra, the frozen layer of soil just below the surface is the ______.
Many forest biomes are experiencing _____ destruction.
Plants and animals of a particular biome have ______ that help them to survive.

69. The climate of a biome is determined mostly by average ____ & precipitation.
During harsh winters, animals of the ____ have adaptations such as the ability to change color to avoid predators.
The ____ layer of the tropical rain forest receives the most sunlight.

70. How do animals that live in the desert deal with the (often) dry, hot conditions?
What types of plants are typically found in the Taiga?
The _____ is found in coastal areas with Mediterranean-style climates.

71. Chapter 6 Review
P. 175 #10-18 only
P. 176 #24-26 only

72. Why are tropical rain forests threatened?
Every minute of every day, ____ acres of tropical rain forest are cleared.