”Land Biomes” Bell Work Question Earth has many different biomes— deserts, forests, grasslands, tundra, ocean. Describe two abiotic factors you think may determine where different biomes occur.

Climate determines the biome.

Study the world map. You see different biomes at different latitudes Study the world map. You see different biomes at different latitudes. Which biome occurs around the equator? Which biome mostly occurs at 30 degrees north and south?

Earth’s Biomes A biome is a large area characterized by climate and the plants and animals that live there. There are six type: Temperate deciduous forest Coniferous forest Tropical rain forest Grassland Desert Tundra

Temperate Deciduous Forest Main Plants: Deciduous Trees that lose leaves in winter Limiting Factor: Winter rainfall (trees drop their leaves to deal with this)

Temperate Deciduous Forest This is our biome in Tennessee! Would you agree this is our climate pattern? Study the “climatograph”. It shows temperature and rainfall. Temperate Deciduous Forests have summer rain, dry winters and warm summers and cool winters.

Temperate Deciduous Forest Go back to the slide with the world map. Where in the world are the Temperate Deciduous Forests? * Northeast US *China *Europe/Russia

Coniferous Forest Main Plants: Conifer Trees with needles Limiting Factor: very cold, dry winter (trees have needles with a waxy coating to deal with this) note: Coniferous Forest may also be called “Taiga” or ”Boreal Forest”

Coniferous Forest/Taiga/Boreal Forest What does this “climatograph show? Very little rainfall all year and warm summers and much colder winters.

Boreal/Coniferous Forest or Taiga Go back to the slide with the world map. Where in the world are these forests? Russia Canada

Tropical Rain Forest Main Plants: Limiting Factor: Huge biodiversity—many different kinds of evergreen plants. Limiting Factor: thin, poor soil (most nutrients are in the “canopy”, not soil)

Tropical Rain Forest This climatograph shows pretty much constant rain and temperature year round: lots of rain year round and warm year round.

Tropical Rain Forest Go back to the slide with the world map. Where in the world are these forests? Amazon (Brazil) Congo (central Africa) Southeast Asia

Grassland There are two kinds of grassland. Savannas have scattered trees; Temperate Grasslands do not! Temperate Grassland Savanna Main Plants: deep-rooted grass (how do you think the deep roots help the grass survive?) Limiting Factor: fire, grazing by herbivores, and dry winters with no rain.

Temperate Grassland: Summer rain & dry winter; hot summer, cool winter. Savanna: summer rain, dry winter; hot year round.

Where are these biomes located? Grassland Where are these biomes located? Temperate Grassland Savanna * Central US *Central Asia (steppe) * Central Africa

Desert Main Plants: Cactus, small/thorny leaf shrubs (to conserve water) Limiting Factor: very dry year-round; little water

Desert This climatograph shows almost no rain and hot summers and cool winters.

Desert Go back to the slide with the world map. Where in the world are these biomes? 30 degrees north & south North Africa West US Australia (there are also “cold deserts” that we won’t be covering here)

Tundra Main Plants: Shallow-rooted, miniature plants (why would plants be shallow-rooted & small?) Limiting Factor: very cold, wind, permafrost (soil that is permanently frozen)

Tundra Climatograph: almost no rainfall; very cold summers and winters.

Tundra Go back to the slide with the world map. Where in the world are these biomes? Polar areas Far north Canada & Russisa (Tundra also occurs anywhere in the world on the top of high mountains where it is very cold, this is “alpine tundra”)

Wrap Up Questions Write these on the backside of your paper: What is a climatograph? What is the main difference between temperate grasslands and savannas? What is one adaptation plants have to survive dry winters (hint: there are at least two answers depending on the biome)