1. Biomes
Chapter 6
Ms. Cuthrell
Ecology
2nd Period

2. Biomes
Biome
A large region with a specific type of climate and a certain type plant and animal communities
Made up of several ecosystems

3. Biomes
Biomes are classified based on the types of plants that live there
The types of plants will determine the other organisms
Organisms in each biome have specific adaptations that allow them to survive
Adaptations include size, shape, and color

4. Biomes
Organisms are adapted to survive a very small range of temperatures and precipitation
Small changes the temperature or the amount of precipitation can kill off a majority of organisms
Since organisms can only survive in specific conditions the biggest factor that affects biomes is climate

5. Biomes

6. Biomes
The climate around the world varies depending on altitude and latitude
Altitude
Height above sea level
Latitude
Distance north or south of the equator
“Lat lays Flat”
You can find the same climates by either going up a mountain or by going north

7. Biomes
Since climate depends on altitude and latitude, the type of biome depends on the same things
You can find the same biomes, by either going up a mountain or going north
“Altitude Substitutes for Latitude”

8. Biomes

9. Forest Biomes
Forest Biomes are the most widespread and diverse of all biomes.
They are typically found in areas where there is more precipitation
Big trees need a lot of water!
Three main types:
Tropical, Temperate, Taiga

10. Forest Biomes: Tropical
Located near the equator
Constant high temperature and lots of rain throughout the year
Direct sunlight all year and very humid
100x’s more species per acre as temperate forests

11. Forest Biomes: Tropical
The soil has very few nutrients
As dead organisms decompose, the nutrients are immediately sucked up by the plants
Most nutrients are stored in the plants
This makes the water run-off as pure as distilled water from a store
When the trees are cut down for farmland, the soil can only support crops for a few years

12. Forest Biomes: Tropical
Because the soil is so thin, trees have nothing to hold on to
The have adapted structures called buttresses to add support
Roots that are above ground

13. Forest Biomes: Tropical
There are 4 layers of forest:
Emergent, Upper Canopy, Lower Canopy, Understory

14. Forest Biomes: Tropical
Understory
Shade loving trees and shrubs
No more than ~11 ft high
Emergent
Top layer
The very tallest trees (~230 ft high)
Gets direct sunlight
Canopy
Primary layer of the rain forest
~98 ft high
Absorbs around 95% of the sunlight
Most animals live in this layer
Divided into upper and lower levels

15. Forest Biomes- Temperate Rain
Cooler temperatures than a Tropical Rain Forest
But still lots of precipitation
Found in Washington State, Australia, and New Zealand
Around the Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean keeps the temperature above freezing year-round

16. Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous
Trees have broad, flat leaves
Which are lost each fall
Has a large change in seasons
Very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer
Most 1st world countries are in this biome!

17. Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous
Plants grow for around half of the year
And go dormant as the weather gets cold
Animals will either hibernate or migrate during the winter
We live in this biome!

18. Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal)
Coniferous forest (trees with seed in cones) just below the arctic circle
Canada, Northern Europe, Russia, China
Winter lasts for 6 to 10 months
With very little sunlight

19. Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal)
Plants have as little as 50 days to grow each year
Plants are adapted to retain water and shed snow
Most animals are only in the Taiga for the short summer
Those that stay either go underground to hibernate or camouflage themselves to survive the winter

20. Grasslands- Savanna Found mostly in Africa, South America, India
Little precipitation (rain) throughout the year
The rain it gets comes all at one time
Fires during the dry season restore nutrients to the soil

21. Grasslands- Savanna
Plants must be able to survive long periods without water
Large horizontal root system
Leaves grow vertical to expose less area to the sun
Animals have a migratory life style
They follow the water
Give birth during the rainy season

22. Grasslands- Temperate
Dominated by grasses with very few trees
Hot summers and cold winters
Less rain than a forest
The most fertile soil of any biome
This is the world’s farming land

23. Grasslands- Temperate
Often found near mountains
They keep the amount of rain low
Grasses form a layer of roots below the surface
Helps to survive drought and fire
Animals are adapted to being mostly herbivores
Have underground burrows to provide protection
Over farming can cause this biome to become like a desert
From soil erosion and depletion of nutrients

24. Chaparral Temperate woodland biome with broad leaf evergreen shrubs
Found along the coast with Mediterranean climates

25. Chaparral Mostly low-lying shrubs
They stay close to the ground
Have leathery leaves covered in oils that promote burning
The fire will kill off trees that are competing for nutrients
Can quickly regrow after a fire
Animals are camouflaged to blend in with the environment
Humans develop this land for coastal housing

26. Desert Areas with little to no rain and plant life
Also have extreme temperatures (hot or cold)
Often found near large mountain ranges
Mountains block moisture in clouds

27. Desert
Plants have thick flesh with a waxy coating that helps to store water
Roots are found just below the surface and widespread
In severe drought, plants will die off and their seeds will go dormant until rainfall germinates them
Animals have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss
Most bury themselves underground to avoid the sunlight
They are only active at night (nocturnal)

28. Tundra
Area above the Arctic Circle with long, cold winters and short cool summers
Grasses, mosses/lichens, and herbs grow
Below the small amount of topsoil is permafrost
Permanently frozen soil

29. Tundra Plants stay very close to the ground Very few animals
Avoid the wind and get heat from the soil
Roots are just below the surface and widespread
Very few animals
Bird migrate in for the short summer
Some migrate through the tundra all year
Following food and water
With so few organisms the ecosystems are very simple
Any change to this biome can be a big threat to the ecosystems
The discovery of oil has influenced humans to develop