1. Biomes

2. Energy Transfer
The sun heats the earth unequally, causing differences in temperature.
Evaporation and precipitation of water occurs because of the unequal heating.
Because of these two main things, solar energy and precipitation, energy is transferred throughout the globe.

3. Weather vs. Climate
Energy transfer causes the weather; the state of the atmosphere at a given time or place (temperature, precipitation, humidity, air pressure)
Wind & Rain
Clouds, lightning, & thunder
Disasters: hurricanes, tornadoes
Weather is different from climate; the long term average of weather.

4. What affects climate?
Climate in an area is affected by two main things
Direct sunlight (heat)
Precipitation
Climate directly affects the type of biome
Biome is an environment with specific vegetation and organisms
If it is cold, you have organisms that are suitable to the ____

5. Sunlight Sunlight gives off different wavelengths
Greenhouse Effect
Sunlight gives off different wavelengths
When it strikes the earth, different wavelengths get reflected while others are absorbed, heating the Earth.
Some of it escapes into space, some reflects back to earth due to greenhouse gases
Sunlight
Some heat
escapes
into space
Greenhouse
gases trap
some heat`
Atmosphere
Earth’s surface

6. Latitude The amount of direct light can affect the temperature.
90°N North Pole
Low Sunlight
66.5°N
Arctic circle
Sunlight
Tropic of Cancer
23.5°N
Equator
Most direct sunlight 0°
Tropic of Capricorn
23.5°S
Sunlight
Arctic circle
66.5°S
Low Sunlight
90°S South Pole
The amount of direct light can affect the temperature.
Remember that the equator gets the most sunlight, and polar regions gets the least.

7. Precipitation
The amount of water falling in the given area can greatly affect the type of climate
Remember that precipitation falls at 0° and 60°

8. Biomes
Because of these two factors combined, we get specific biomes at specific areas.
For example, at the equator, there is a lot of sunlight, and a lot of precipitation, so there is a tropical rainforest.
At 30°, there is a lot of sunlight, but little or no precipitation, so there is a desert.

9. Overview Sunlight and precipitation affect the climate
Climate over an environment produces a biome
A biome has organisms suited to the climate
Biomes generally occur on the same latitudes

10. Biomes
There are two main types of biomes
Land
Aquatic (water)

11. Land Biomes Most land biomes are named after their climax community.
Some of the land biomes
Tundra
Taiga (TIGH-guh)
Temperate deciduous forest
Grassland
Tropical rain forest
Desert

12. Tropical rain forest
Temperate grassland
Temperate forest
Tundra
Tropical dry forest
Desert
Northwestern
coniferous forest
Mountains and
ice caps
Tropical savanna
Temperate woodland
and shrubland
Boreal forest
(Taiga)

13. Aquatic biomes There are 3 main types of aquatic biomes.
The amount of salt determines the type of biome.
The 3 main types of aquatic biomes
Freshwater
Marine (saltwater)
Estuaries

14. Tundra Tundra Located near the poles
Treeless biome covered by moss, lichens, and grasses
Permafrost – a layer of permanently frozen subsoil

16. Taiga Taiga Covered by coniferous (cone bearing) trees.
Bears, wolves, moose, elk are some of the typical animals

18. Temperate Deciduous Forest
Plants change during the seasons (leaves change color)

20. Grasslands Grasslands
Most of the rainfall occurs in one part of the season
Hot summers, cold winters

22. Tropical Rain Forest Tropical rain forest Located at equator
Receive centimeters of rain a year
Constant temperature.
Home of the most types of animals than any other biome. Many colorful

24. Deserts Deserts Located at 30° latitude
Less than 25 cm of rain falls a year
Both plants and animals must be able to retain moisture.
Birds, lizards, snakes, insects are typical
Cactus and sagebrush sparsely cover the area

26. Freshwater biomes
Rivers, streams, and lakes

28. Marine Biomes Includes all of the ocean
Marine biomes are divided into 4 subcategories
Intertidal zone
Neritic zone
Open-sea zone
Deep-sea zone

31. Estuaries
Estuaries are the boundaries between freshwater and saltwater.
Since it is a mix of the two, a variety of organisms can be supported.
Examples of estuaries
Delta, swamp, lagoon

33. Biome Project In groups of 4-5, create a biome presentation
Give information about the biome, including:
Temperature range (graph)
Precipitation (graph)
Location (latitudes/areas)
Plants (vegetation)
Animals
Brief Description (Examples)
Koppen climate classifications
Posterboard or Powerpoint acceptable
More visuals, the better
points

34. To help you out… A Biology Textbook http://mbgnet.mobot.org/

35. Preplan…
What kind of presentation will you do? Powerpoint? Posterboard?
Who is doing what? Research? Picture finding? Who’s good with computers? Who’s bringing materials?
When do you want to meet up? Contact info?
Anything else you can think of…