Biomes

A terrestrial ecosystem determined by: –A. climate –B. vegetation and –C. organisms adapted to the environment

Wetland Ecosystem intermediate between an aquatic and a terrestrial one Soil is saturated with water permanently or periodically

Estuary is where freshwater stream or river emerge with the ocean

familiar examples of estuaries San Francisco Bay Puget Sound Chesapeake Bay Boston Harbor Tampa Bay Mississippi Delta

Productive Estuaries provide habitat for more than 75% of America's commercial fish catch, and for 80-90% of the recreational fish catch

Louisiana Coastal Issues Louisiana's combined land loss/subsidence and loss of wetlands has made them much more vulnerable to hurricanes than ever before

Problems RADIO MESSAGE: and Handout Restoring the Mississippi, Part 1: Reducing Dead Zones in Louisiana's Gulf CoastRestoring the Mississippi, Part 1: Reducing Dead Zones in Louisiana's Gulf Coast

Levees Create Problems Levees have cut off the normal overflow of sediment from the Mississippi River which would otherwise gradually rebuild the coast.

Rocky Intertidal Big Sur, California

Tundra Rainfall less than 10 inches (low) Alpine Tundra at high elevation.

Tundra: Cold Wind Temperature: -40°C to 18°C Arctic Tundra is circumpolar (scanty Antarctic).

Tundra (Circumpolar)

Tundra Treeless low (less than 1 m) vegetation water frozen (Permafrost) Typical plants: sedges, lichens, mosses, grasses, and dwarf woody plants. Cotton grass

Tundra Typical animals: snowy owls, musk ox, reindeer, polar bears, and migrant birds Musk ox

Has 4 Seasons

Temperate Deciduous Forest Rainfall cm/30-60 inches Medium Temperature: -10°C to 25°C hot summers, cold winters

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Tall trees creating deep shade.

Temperate Deciduous Forest Typical plants include maples, oaks, elms, spruce

Temperate Deciduous Forest Typical animals include deer and squirrels.

Boreal Forest (Taiga) Coniferous

Taiga Cold winters with deep snow, but longer growing season than tundra. TEMPERATURE: -30 o C to 20 o C Periodic fires common.

Taiga Rainfall 8-50 cm/12-33 inches Medium

Taiga PLANTS: dense evergreen needle-leafed forest, white spruce, black spruce, and jack pine.

Taiga Typical animals: moose, black bears, wolves, and migrant birds.

Taiga Intense solar radiation High winds Large diurnal temperature fluctuations

Grasslands Rainfall:25-75cm/ inches Medium EXAMPLES: –Savannas or veldt (Africa) –Steppes (Eurasia) –Pampas (S. America) –Prairies (N. America)

Grasslands Cold or warm winters with growing seasons with moisture too dry for trees.

Grasslands Tropical Savanna

Temperate Grasslands

Grasslands (Steppe) Treeless vegetation less than 1 m high.

Savanna Cheetahs are well-adapted predators who prey on grazing animals

Savanna (Africa)

Prairie Typical plants include grasses and members of the sunflower family. FescuePrairie,Canada Sunflowers, ND

Veldt Africa Typical animals: large grazing ungulates such as horses, buffalo, and rhinoceros.

Pampas Treeless plains of Argentina

CHAPARRAL Typical plants: oaks, manzanita, chamise low pines, and junipers.

CHAPPARAL (a little bit found in all continents) “” Wild West". Hot and dry

CHAPARRAL sparse Low trees shrubs

DESERT sparse drought-resistant vegetation, typically spiny and with tiny leaves and photosynthetic bark.

DESERT Rainfall less than 25cm/10 inches Low Evaporation High Temperature: 10 o C to 29 o C in hot deserts

Polar Desert Polar Desert: - 2 o C to 26 o C Antarctica Pantagonia Turkestan Gobi Namib Emperor Penguins Antarctica Turkestan

Hot Desert Typical plants include cacti, acacias and short- lived annuals. Prickly pear

Desert Typical animals include reptiles and ground- dwelling rodents. Great Jerboa Gila monster Thorny Devil

TROPICAL RAINFOREST Rainfall: cm Temperature: 20 o -30 o C

Tropical Rainforest FROST-FREE & WET YEAR-ROUND

Tropical Rainforest Typical plants: strangler figs and tree ferns.

Tropical Rainforest Has the greatest amount of biodiversity

Tropical Rainforest Typical animals include snakes, frogs and birds.

Rainforest Animals Orangutan Slender Loris Chameleon

Rainforest SPIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Temperate Rainforest Cooler Frost Lots of Rain Washington State

Problem Much of the temperate rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula has been logged because the trees have great economic value.

Temperate Rainforest Olympic National Park, Washington

???????????????? World wide the most extensive biome is? desert rain forest grassland

Which biome is also called the boreal or coniferous forests? a) DesertsDeserts b) Chaparrals Chaparrals c) Taigas Taigas d) Tropical Rain ForestsTropical Rain Forests

If you were to travel or hike through this biome, you would notice an extreme lack of moisture and few trees. You may also be surprised to find great extremes in temperature. a)Arctic tundra b)desert c)savanna d)tropical scrub forest

Multiple layers of vegetation thriving in a warm, humid environment characterize this biome. A curious lack of ground vegetation due to minimal sunlight and nutrients also characterizes this biome. a)tropical savanna b)temperate deciduous forest c)coniferous forest d)tropical rain forest

The eastern portion of the United States is dominated by what biome? A. temperate forest B. desert C. taiga D. prairie

In which biome of Africa would you find lions, giraffes, and elephants? A. savanna B. chaparral C. desert D. tropical rain forest

In which biome do you live?

You can thank this biome for the air you breathe and, to a large extent, the weather you enjoy or dread. It is larger than all the other biomes combined. a)coral reef biome b)marine biome c)savanna d)estuary

If you were to take a ski trip to the mountains, you probably would enjoy yourself in this biome, which often receives large amounts of snow in the winter and is known for the timber it produces. a)chaparral b)none of the above c)savanna d)boreal forest

Which two biomes are the most similar with regard to rainfall? A.tundra & taiga B.tundra & desert C.rain forest & savanna D. temperate forest & prairie

Biodiversity is greatest in which biome? A. taiga B. polar C. rain forest D. savanna

If you were to visit this biome, you would notice that it resembles a grassland and contains a mixture of small shrubs. Permafrost is a common characteristic of this biome. a)boreal forest b)Arctic tundra c)desert d)temperate deciduous forest

This biome, which boasts large populations and is home to some of the world's largest cities, has probably endured the impact of humans more than any other biome. Trees such as oak, maple and birch are often its dominant plant resident. This biome is found primarily in the eastern United States, central Europe and eastern Asia. a)desert b)temperate grassland c)temperate deciduous forest d)taiga