Biomes Chapter 6 Ms. Cuthrell Ecology 2nd Period

Biomes Biome A large region with a specific type of climate and a certain type plant and animal communities Made up of several ecosystems

Biomes Biomes are classified based on the types of plants that live there The types of plants will determine the other organisms Organisms in each biome have specific adaptations that allow them to survive Adaptations include size, shape, and color

Biomes Organisms are adapted to survive a very small range of temperatures and precipitation Small changes the temperature or the amount of precipitation can kill off a majority of organisms Since organisms can only survive in specific conditions the biggest factor that affects biomes is climate

Biomes

Biomes The climate around the world varies depending on altitude and latitude Altitude Height above sea level Latitude Distance north or south of the equator “Lat lays Flat” You can find the same climates by either going up a mountain or by going north

Biomes Since climate depends on altitude and latitude, the type of biome depends on the same things You can find the same biomes, by either going up a mountain or going north “Altitude Substitutes for Latitude”

Biomes

Forest Biomes Forest Biomes are the most widespread and diverse of all biomes. They are typically found in areas where there is more precipitation Big trees need a lot of water! Three main types: Tropical, Temperate, Taiga

Forest Biomes: Tropical Located near the equator Constant high temperature and lots of rain throughout the year Direct sunlight all year and very humid 100x’s more species per acre as temperate forests

Forest Biomes: Tropical The soil has very few nutrients As dead organisms decompose, the nutrients are immediately sucked up by the plants Most nutrients are stored in the plants This makes the water run-off as pure as distilled water from a store When the trees are cut down for farmland, the soil can only support crops for a few years

Forest Biomes: Tropical Because the soil is so thin, trees have nothing to hold on to The have adapted structures called buttresses to add support Roots that are above ground

Forest Biomes: Tropical There are 4 layers of forest: Emergent, Upper Canopy, Lower Canopy, Understory

Forest Biomes: Tropical Understory Shade loving trees and shrubs No more than ~11 ft high Emergent Top layer The very tallest trees (~230 ft high) Gets direct sunlight Canopy Primary layer of the rain forest ~98 ft high Absorbs around 95% of the sunlight Most animals live in this layer Divided into upper and lower levels

Forest Biomes- Temperate Rain Cooler temperatures than a Tropical Rain Forest But still lots of precipitation Found in Washington State, Australia, and New Zealand Around the Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean keeps the temperature above freezing year-round

Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous Trees have broad, flat leaves Which are lost each fall Has a large change in seasons Very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer Most 1st world countries are in this biome!

Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous Plants grow for around half of the year And go dormant as the weather gets cold Animals will either hibernate or migrate during the winter We live in this biome!

Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal) Coniferous forest (trees with seed in cones) just below the arctic circle Canada, Northern Europe, Russia, China Winter lasts for 6 to 10 months With very little sunlight

Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal) Plants have as little as 50 days to grow each year Plants are adapted to retain water and shed snow Most animals are only in the Taiga for the short summer Those that stay either go underground to hibernate or camouflage themselves to survive the winter

Grasslands- Savanna Found mostly in Africa, South America, India Little precipitation (rain) throughout the year The rain it gets comes all at one time Fires during the dry season restore nutrients to the soil

Grasslands- Savanna Plants must be able to survive long periods without water Large horizontal root system Leaves grow vertical to expose less area to the sun Animals have a migratory life style They follow the water Give birth during the rainy season

Grasslands- Temperate Dominated by grasses with very few trees Hot summers and cold winters Less rain than a forest The most fertile soil of any biome This is the world’s farming land

Grasslands- Temperate Often found near mountains They keep the amount of rain low Grasses form a layer of roots below the surface Helps to survive drought and fire Animals are adapted to being mostly herbivores Have underground burrows to provide protection Over farming can cause this biome to become like a desert From soil erosion and depletion of nutrients

Chaparral Temperate woodland biome with broad leaf evergreen shrubs Found along the coast with Mediterranean climates

Chaparral Mostly low-lying shrubs They stay close to the ground Have leathery leaves covered in oils that promote burning The fire will kill off trees that are competing for nutrients Can quickly regrow after a fire Animals are camouflaged to blend in with the environment Humans develop this land for coastal housing

Desert Areas with little to no rain and plant life Also have extreme temperatures (hot or cold) Often found near large mountain ranges Mountains block moisture in clouds

Desert Plants have thick flesh with a waxy coating that helps to store water Roots are found just below the surface and widespread In severe drought, plants will die off and their seeds will go dormant until rainfall germinates them Animals have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss Most bury themselves underground to avoid the sunlight They are only active at night (nocturnal)

Tundra Area above the Arctic Circle with long, cold winters and short cool summers Grasses, mosses/lichens, and herbs grow Below the small amount of topsoil is permafrost Permanently frozen soil

Tundra Plants stay very close to the ground Very few animals Avoid the wind and get heat from the soil Roots are just below the surface and widespread Very few animals Bird migrate in for the short summer Some migrate through the tundra all year Following food and water With so few organisms the ecosystems are very simple Any change to this biome can be a big threat to the ecosystems The discovery of oil has influenced humans to develop