Warm-up How would you describe the area we live in? Biomes Warm-up How would you describe the area we live in?

What is a biome? -large areas of the world that have similar soil and climate characteristics and are the homes of specific types of plants and animals. So the areas within the same biome… -look similar -grow similar plants -feel similar -have similar kinds of animal friends Even if they are in different parts of the world The conditions in a biome are perfect for that biome’s system of plants and animals

Ten Biomes Tropical Rain Forest Home to more species than all other biomes combined, treetops form canopies-creates dark shade, organic debris is quickly recycled into nutrients -hot and wet year round, thin soil -broad leaved trees, ferns and exotic flowers -animals out the wazoo, sloths, tapirs, toucans, insects, piranhas, anacondas and jaguars -South and Central America, SE Asia, parts of Africa, India and Australia

Ten Biomes Tropical Dry Forest Unlike rainforest- the rain is seasonal, during the dry season most of the trees lose their leaves (deciduous) -warm year-round, wet and dry season, rich soil -tall trees, drought tolerant plants -variety of wildlife, tigers, Asian elephants, deer, hornbills, insects, snakes and monitors -parts of Africa, South and Central America, Mexico, India, Australia and tropical islands

10 Biomes Tropical Savanna These are large flat areas of grasslands with small scattered areas of trees. Annual rainfall is between that of a desert and a tropical dry forest -warm temperatures year-round, seasonal rain, compact soil, frequent fires -tall grasses, drought tolerant trees and shrubs -lions, hyenas, elephants, antelopes, eagles, termites -Large part of E. Africa, Brazil, Australia

10 Biomes Desert Annual precipitation < 25 cm. , but can be at different elevations and latitudes, can have extreme temperature changes night-day. -low precipitation, variable temperatures, mineral-rich soil but w/ little organic nutrients -cacti and succulents -foxes, bobcats, rodents, sheep, bats, roadrunners, insects -Africa, Asia, Middle East, SW U.S., Mexico, S. America and Australia

10 Biomes Temperate Grasslands Rich mix of grass with fertile soil, most have been turned into farmland -warm summers w/ cold winters, seasonal rain -grasses that come back every year -coyotes, deer, rabbits, hawks, snakes and insects -Central Asia, North America, Australia, Europe and parts of South America

10 Biomes Temperate Woodland/Scrubland Mix of woods and shrubs-with open land mixed in too Very prone to wildfires -hot dry summers w/ cool wet winters, thin poor soils -evergreens, shrubs, oak trees and wildflowers -foxes, bobcats, deer, squirrels, rabbits, songbirds,insects -Western North and South America, Mediterranean Coast, South Africa and Australia

10 Biomes Temperate Forest Mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees, cold winters cause the trees to go into a period of no growth and hibernation -cold winters w/ warm summers, year-round precipitation and fertile soil -deciduous and evergreen trees, mosses and ferns -deer, bears, squirrels, raccoons, turkeys, birds and insects -Eastern U.S., SE Canada, Europe, parts of Asia and Australia

10 Biomes Northwestern Coniferous Forest Only on northwestern coast of North America, has a variety of cone-bearing trees along with smaller trees and lush vegetation -mild temperatures, lots of rain during non-summer mos. -Fir trees, giant Redwood, -bears, elk, deer, beavers, owls, weasels, insects and rodents -Pacific Coast of NW U.S and Canada

10 Biomes Boreal Forest (Taiga) Between Tundra and Temperate Forests, mainly coniferous trees -cold winters w/ mild summers, high humidity moderate rainfall -Pine Trees, small berry shrubs -lynxes, wolves, moose, beavers and birds -North America, Asia and Northern Europe

10 Biomes Tundra Ground is permanently frozen, in summer only the top inch or two thaws and becomes soggy= stunted plants -strong winds, little rainfall, long, cold winters w/ short summers -short plants like moss, lichens and short grasses, no trees -caribou, musk ox, polar bears, migratory birds small rodents -Northern Canada & Alaska, Asia and Europe