Earth’s Biomes Section 4

Biome A biome is a group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms. Mostly the climate conditions, temperature and rainfall in an area determine its biome

Rain Forest Biomes Tropical Rain Forests Temperate Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forests Found in warm regions close to the equator Typically receive a lot of rain fall. Rain forests contain an astounding variety of species.

Canopy Tall trees form a leafy roof in the rain forest.

Understory Second layer of shorter trees and vines form the understory.

Temperate Rain Forests Northwestern coast of the United States resembles a tropical rain forest in some ways. Region receives more than 300 centimeters of rain a year This region is too far north and too cool to be a tropical rain forest.

Temperate Rain Forests

Desert Biomes Receives less than 25 centimeters of rain per year. Amount of evaporation in a desert is greater than the amount of precipitation. May be scorching hot during the day and cools rapidly each night when the sun goes down. Organisms that live in the desert are adapted to the lack of rain and to the extreme temperatures.

Desert Biomes

Grassland Biomes Located in the middle latitudes. Receives more rain than that of the desert, but not enough to support many trees to grow. Grassland receives between 25 and 75 centimeters of rain each year, and is typically populated by grasses and other non-woody plants. Grasslands that are located closer to the equator than prairies, called savannas, receive as much as 120 centimeters of rain each year.

Grassland Biomes

Deciduous Forest Biomes Deciduous trees shed their leaves and grow new ones each year. Receives at least 50 centimeters of rain per year. Temperatures vary during the year. Supports many different organisms.

Deciduous Forest Biomes

Boreal Forest Biomes Contains coniferous trees that produce their seeds in cones and have leaves shaped like needles. Winters in these forest are very cold Limited number of trees have adapted to the cold climate of boreal forests.

Boreal Forest Biomes

Tundra Biomes Extremely cold and dry Most of the soil is frozen year round. Frozen soil is called Permafrost Plants include mosses, grasses, shrubs, and dwarf forms of a few trees.

Tundra Biomes

Freshwater Biomes Important factor in a water biome is sunlight. Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis. Because water absorbs sunlight, there is only enough light for photosynthesis near the surface or in shallow water. Ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers are all freshwater biomes.

Freshwater Biomes

Marine Biomes Ocean biomes First habitat is called an estuary, this is found where the fresh water of a river meets the salt water of the ocean. Intertidal Zone is part of the shore between the highest high-tide line and the lowest low tide line. Neritic Zone is below the low tide line which is a region of shallow water. Surface Zones and Deep Zones are two other Marine Biomes

Estuary

Intertidal Zone

Neritic Zone

Marine Biomes