17.2 Land Biomes

Why do you think there are so many different kinds of organisms in a tropical rain forest?

Deserts Very dry, and often very hot biomes Very dry, and often very hot biomes Example: Mojave Desert in California Example: Mojave Desert in California Plants grow farther apart reducing the competition for water. Plants grow farther apart reducing the competition for water. Some animals are active only at night. Some animals are active only at night.

Chaparral A biome that has a fairly dry climate but receives only a little more rainfall than a desert does. A biome that has a fairly dry climate but receives only a little more rainfall than a desert does. Summers – warm and dry; winters- mild and wet Summers – warm and dry; winters- mild and wet Small trees, low-lying broad-leaved evergreen shrubs Small trees, low-lying broad-leaved evergreen shrubs Quail, lizards, chipmunks Quail, lizards, chipmunks

Desert Biome

Name one adaptation that allows desert plants to survive with little water. Some plants have widespread roots just under the surface to take up water during a storm.

Chaparral

Identify the ecological role of a shrub from the chaparral and a cactus from the desert. Both the shrub from the chaparral and a cactus from the desert are producers.

Grasslands A biome in which the vegetation is mainly grasses, small flowering plants, and few trees. A biome in which the vegetation is mainly grasses, small flowering plants, and few trees. Temperate grasslands (prairies) Temperate grasslands (prairies) Tropical grasslands (savannas) Tropical grasslands (savannas)

Grasslands

Prairies Summers are warm. Winters are very cold. Soil is rich in nutrients. Support small seed-eating animals (praire dogs and mice)

Savannas A tropical grassland that has seasonal rains and scattered clumps of trees. A tropical grassland that has seasonal rains and scattered clumps of trees. Located in Africa, India, and South America Located in Africa, India, and South America Home to many large herbivores (elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests) Home to many large herbivores (elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeests)

Name an animal from the savanna that plays the same ecological role as the North American bison. The zebra from the savanna plays the same ecological role as the North American bison does.

Tundra A biome that has very cold temperatures and little rainfall. A biome that has very cold temperatures and little rainfall. Located near the North and South Poles. Located near the North and South Poles. Permafrost – made up of gravel and some finer materials. (layer of frozen soil) Permafrost – made up of gravel and some finer materials. (layer of frozen soil) Shallow rooted plants (grasses and small shrubs) Shallow rooted plants (grasses and small shrubs) Bear, caribou Bear, caribou

Forests Receive plenty of rain, temperatures are not extreme. Receive plenty of rain, temperatures are not extreme.

Tundra

How are the ecological roles of a lion in a savanna and a wolf in a tundra similar? The ecological roles of a lion in a savanna and a wolf in a tundra are similar because they are both consumers that prey on other animals.

Coniferous Forests Most trees are conifers( produce seeds in cones). Most trees are conifers( produce seeds in cones). Conifers have needle-shaped leaves to prevent water loss and protect from cold damage. Conifers have needle-shaped leaves to prevent water loss and protect from cold damage. Squirrels, finches, chickadees, jays, elk, moose Squirrels, finches, chickadees, jays, elk, moose

Coniferous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forests Trees shed leaves to save water during the winter which in turn fertilize the soil. Black bears and rabbits live on the forest floor. Squirrels move from the floor to tree tops (forest canopy). Birds (woodpeckers) nest in the canopy.

Deciduous Forest

Why can more plants grow on the floors of deciduous forests than on the floors of coniferous forests? More plants grow on the floors of deciduous forests than coniferous forests because the soils in a deciduous forest are richer. Also, more sunlight reaches the floor of a deciduous forest than the floor of a coniferous forest.

Tropical Rain Forests More kinds of plants and animals than any other biome. More kinds of plants and animals than any other biome. Warm temperatures, high amounts of rainfall Warm temperatures, high amounts of rainfall High diversity of plants support high diversity of animals. High diversity of plants support high diversity of animals. Most of the nutrients are in the plants. Most of the nutrients are in the plants.

Tropical Rain Forest

Identify a consumer found in a tropical rain forest. A harpy eagle is a consumer that is found in a tropical rain forest.

Review Questions 1. What are the major land biomes discussed in this section? What characteristics do all biomes share? Desert, chaparral, grassland, tundra, coniferous forest, temperate deciduous forest, and tropical rain forest are the major land biomes discussed in the section. Each of these biomes has unique plant communities that are determined by the climate of the biome.

2.What is the ecological role of a leopard in the savanna and of a harpy eagle in the rain forest? A leopard in the savanna and a harpy eagle in the rain forest are both consumers. 3.While excavating an area in the desert, a scientist discovers the fossils of very large trees and ferns. What might the scientist conclude about biomes in the area? The scientist might conclude that there used to be a different biome in the same area at sometime in the past. The scientist might also conclude that the climate in the area was also once very different.

4.You are looking after a friend’s plant. The plant needs a warm environment, lots of water, and very little sunlight. To which biome do you think the plant would be best adapted? Explain your answer. I think that the plant is best adapted to a tropical rain forest biome because the floor of a rainforest receives little sunlight and lots of water.