1. Chapter 6 - Biomes

2. Biomes
A biome is a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.
Biomes are described by plant life because they determine what other organisms live there.
The plant life found in a biome is determined by temperature and rainfall.

3. Biomes of the World

4. Biomes
Climate plays a huge role in what organisms develop. Temperature and Precipitation are the two main factors.

5. Biomes Latitude and Altitude also play an important role in climate.
Latitude = distance from equator. Altitude = height above sea level.

6. Forest Biomes Tropical Rainforest
Located near the equator and characterized by average temperatures of 25o C (77o F) rainfall cm per year.
Has poor soil quality due to heavy leaching of soil by water.
Contains more biodiversity than any other land biome including up to 50 % of the world’s species.
Many of mankind’s medicines originated in the tropical rainforest.

7. Layers of the Rainforest
Emergent Layer
Upper Canopy
Lower Canopy
Understory

9. Forest Biomes (cont.) Threats to the tropical rainforest include:
Deforestation/Habitat Destruction/Loss of Biodiversity

10. Forest Biomes (cont.) Temperate Forests Temperate Deciduous Forest
Temperate Rainforest

11. Forest Biomes (cont.) Temperate Rainforest
in North America in the Northwest Pacific Coast
Characterized by moist climate, evergreen trees and lush ferns covering forest floor

12. Forest Biomes (cont.) Temperate Deciduous Forest
located between 30o and 50o North Latitude
temperature ranges from below 0o to 35oC (32o – 95oF)
characterized by distinctive seasons
plants adapt by shedding leaves in winter

13. Forest Biomes (cont.) Taiga also called boreal forest
temperature ranges from -10o C to 20o C (14o – 68o F)
plants have modified leaves, triangle shape, and natural resin “antifreeze” (Conifers)
animals adapt in many ways including camouflage and hibernation

14. Forest Biomes (cont.)
The greatest threat to temperate forests is Deforestation

15. Grasslands Tropical Savanna
found between deserts and tropical rainforests

16. Grasslands Tropical Savanna
found between deserts and tropical rainforests
temperature is ranges between 20o -30o C (68o- 86o F)
characterized by 2 distinctive seasons – wet and dry

17. Grasslands (cont.) Tropical Savanna – Plant adaptations
Grasses have extensive horizontal root systems to obtain as much water as possible and combat fires.
Grass leaves have limited surface area exposed to the sun
Trees conserve water by storing it in trunks (Boabab tree) or shedding leaves in the dry season
Some trees (Acacia tree) and shrubs have thorns to combat herbivores

18. Grasslands (cont.) Tropical Savanna – Animal adaptations
Vertical feeding patterns means different organisms feed at different levels
For example : Zebra and Giraffe

19. Grasslands (cont.) Tropical Savanna – Animal adaptations
Vertical feeding patterns means different organisms feed at different levels
For example : Zebra and Giraffe
Large herds of herbivores migrate to follow precipitation patterns and only give birth once a year

20. Grasslands (cont.) Temperate Grasslands
found in the interior of continents and have little rainfall
characterized by very cold winters and warm summers

21. Grasslands (cont.) Temperate Grasslands - includes
Prairies in North America
Steppes of Mongolia or Ukraine
Pampas of South America

22. Grasslands (cont.) Temperate Grasslands – Plant Adaptations
dominated by grasses, virtually no trees due to lack of rainfall, wind, and fires
dense root systems hold very fertile soil in place
Height of plants depends upon amount of rainfall – shortgrass (25cm), mixed grass (50cm), tallgrass (88cm)

23. Grasslands (cont.) Temperate Grasslands – Animal Adaptations
some animals burrow underground to escape predators, fire, or harsh weather
herbivores have teeth for grazing and coats for winter that shed in summer

24. Grasslands (cont.) Temperate Grasslands – Threats
Overgrazing cattle can lead to desertification
Poor farming practices can lead to soil erosion

25. Grasslands (cont.)
Chaparal – characterized by broad-leafed evergreen shrubs
warm, dry summers/ mild ,wet winters
plants have leathery leaves to retain water
For example: Sage
These plants also contain oils that promote burning
plants are very adapted to fire

26. Grasslands (cont.)
Chaparal – characterized by broad-leafed evergreen shrubs
warm, dry summers/ mild ,wet winters
plants have leathery leaves to retain water
animals are usually colored to be camouflaged within the biome

27. Grasslands (cont.)
Chaparal – characterized by broad-leafed evergreen shrubs
warm, dry summers/ mild ,wet winters
plants have leathery leaves to retain water
animals are usually colored to be camouflaged within the biome
Greatest threat to chaparral is development by humans

28. Deserts receive less than 25 cm of precipitation per year
deserts have extreme temperatures

29. Deserts receive less than 25 cm of precipitation per year
deserts have extreme temperatures
deserts range from no vegetation to varied vegetation
Some are hot like the Sahara
Some are cold like the Gobi

30. Deserts Plants called succulents are adapted for life in the desert
waxy coating to prevent water loss
folds to capture water and facilitate expansion
root systems that use a long tap root as well as multiple shallow spreading roots
many desert plants have thorns or spines to prevent herbivores from eating them

31. Deserts
Animals
most are nocturnal functioning at night when its cooler
reptiles have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss
some move in ways that combat heat

32. Deserts Animals Some animals estivate to avoid heat and drought
Some mammals have exteme ways of cooling down

33. Rain Shadow Effect
Process that creates deserts on the eastern side of mountains

34. Tundra

35. Tundra
Receives very little precipitation. Precipitation is usually in the form of snow.
Has layer of soil that is permanently frozen called permafrost.

36. Tundra Is characterized by two distinct seasons
long winters in which the biome is covered in snow

37. Tundra Is characterized by two distinct seasons
short summers in which the biome vegetation blooms and the landscape is covered in bogs and swamps (which are breeding grounds for insects)

38. Tundra Plant adaptations include
growing close to the ground to avoid wind and absorb heat from soil
wide shallow roots to help anchor in the thin soil

39. Tundra Animal adaptations include burrowing during winter months
camouflage to blend into snow in winter

40. Tundra Animal adaptations include burrowing during winter months
camouflage to blend into snow in winter
Migration of birds and large herds of grazing mammals
Large reserves of fat

41. Tundra Threats to biome include
global warming causing melting of vast regions of permafrost

42. Tundra Threats to biome include
global warming causing melting of vast regions of permafrost
oil pipelines may disrupt migration patterns or cause spills
very fragile ecosystem that takes many years to recover from any change or damage