Biomes of the World.

Biomes of the World

What are biomes? * A biome is an area that has the same climate (weather) and the same organisms that live there. * Biomes help scientists describe the world.

Land Biomes * Tundra * Coniferous Forest * Deciduous Forest
* Tropical Rain Forest * Grassland * Desert

Tundra Where is the tundra?
Around the North Pole and near the Arctic Ocean Climate (weather) Very cold and dry. Winter temperatures average –34oC while summer temperatures usually average below 10oC Low precipitation (15–25 cm per year) but ground is usually wet because of low evaporation. What the land looks like Permafrost: the dirt that is always frozen (even in the spring and summer) Flat land with only a few small, thin trees

Plants and Animals of the Tundra
Tundra Plant Adaptations Growing close to the ground Having shallow roots to absorb the limited water resources. Trees grow less than 1 m high! The Tundra has a lot of plant life within this biome. Some common plants include the bearberry, arctic moss, Caribou moss, Diamond leafwillow, Labrador Tea, Pasque Flower, and the Tufted Saxifrage. The animals in the tundra eat these plants to survive and gain energy to stay warm. Some plants are useful for humans.

Tundra Animal Adaptations
snowy owl Arctic fox Grizzly Bear Wolf Caribou Tundra Animal Adaptations Musk ox Small ears Insulation, thick coat Many visitors, migration Few predators Little Competition

Tundra

Views of the Tundra

TOP 10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TUNDRA BIOME:
The Tundra Biome is the 2nd most deadliest environment. The Tundra Biome has only 6 weeks of summer. There is little to no precipitation. The soil has very little nutrients for plants. It the least inhabited by humans biome. The Tundra Biome is the biome most affected by human pollution. The sun is almost 24 hours up a summer day, meaning that there are mostly no nights. During the winter, this biome has few hours of sunlight. The Tundra Biome is covered permanently by a frozen layer of soil. The Tundra Biome is the most vital role in keeping global temperature at a stable place.

Coniferous Forest What the land looks like In the spring:
Also known as Tiaga and Boreal Forest. Climate Winters are long and cold Averages 100 in/yr precipitation—mostly snow Has two seasons . Long winters and short summers What the land looks like In the winter: Ground is frozen In the spring: Taiga: swampy forest Snow melts and the ground becomes wet and swampy because the deeper ground is frozen

Where are coniferous forests?
Alaska Canada Europe Asia In Canada, Alaska, northern Asia, and northern Europe

Have needles covered with wax Wax protects the needles from freezing
Conifer trees (have cones) Have needles covered with wax Wax protects the needles from freezing cone needles Kinds of conifer trees pine spruce fir

Taiga Plant adaptations
Balsam Fir Fireweed Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees are abundant. Stay green all year ( evergreens) Roots long to anchor trees Needles long, thin and waxy Low sunlight and poor soil keeps plants from growing on forest floor

Animals of the Coniferous Forest Moose Beaver Wolf Black bear
Wolverine Red Squirrel Hawk Owl Lynx Animals of the Coniferous Forest Snowshoe Rabbit

Animal Adaptations of the Taiga
Moose Animal Adaptations of the Taiga Adapt for cold winters Burrow, hibernate, warm coat, insulation, etc. Great Grey Owl

Ten Fun Facts! 1. Taiga/boreal forest is the Russian word for forest. 2. In the taiga/boreal forest biome, the average annual rainfall is aproximately 33 inches. 3. It is believed that more than 32,000 species of insects live in the taiga/boreal forest biome. 4. Many of the animals that live in the taiga/boreal forest biome are able to change color based on the time of year. 5. The trunks of the conifer trees in the taiga/boreal forest are used to produce paper. 6. The world's oldest trees can be found in the taiga/boreal forest. The bristlecone pines in California are a prime example. One of them is 4,600 years old! 7. Scientists believe that the area covered by the taiga/boreal forest will decrease by50-90% over the next 50 years, causing many species to become endangered andextinct. 8. Winter, with its below freezing temperatures, usually lasts about 6-7 months while the hot and rainy summer is much shorter. 9. In the taiga/boreal forest, leaves are needles on all the trees. 10. An interesting fact about the taiga/boreal forest is that as the seasons change rapidly, the weather goes from one extreme to another.

Coniferous Forest

Winter in the Coniferous Forest

Characterized by 4 seasons
Deciduous Forest Climate Summers are warm Winters are cold Gets 75 centimeters of rain every year (that’s over 2 feet of rain!) Characterized by 4 seasons What is special about deciduous trees? The leaves change colors and fall off the trees in autumn and grow new leaves in the spring The leaves on the ground decompose and make the soil have more nutrients to help plants grow.

Where Are Deciduous Forests?
Deciduous forests are between northeastern United States and Canada. Some are in the eastern United States. Others grow in Europe and eastern Asia. Much of the human population lives in this biome.

Plants of the Deciduous Forest
* Trees * Flowers * Oak * Hickory * Lily of the valley * Maple * Beech * Star Flower

Temperate Deciduous forest Plant adaptations
Lady Fern Temperate Deciduous forest Plant adaptations More diversity in the deciduous forest vs. the coniferous forest due to increased sunlight. Trees adapt to varied climate by becoming dormant in winter White Birch Birchhttp:// Deciduous forests grow in layers More sunlight reaches the ground compared to a rainforest so you will find more ground dwelling plants. Geulder Rose

Animals of the Deciduous Forest
Eagle Brown Bear Black Bear Chipmunk Raccoon Porcupine Red Fox White-tailed Deer Mouse Coyote

Temperate Deciduous Forest Animal Adaptations
Bald Eagle Temperate Deciduous Forest Animal Adaptations Shed Winter Coat Hibernate or migrate for the winter. Least Weasel Fat Dormouse

The Deciduous Forest

The trees of the temperate deciduous forest are deciduous of course
The trees of the temperate deciduous forest are deciduous of course. Their leaves change color with the season and eventually fall to the ground during winter. The four seasons are easily recognizable and each lasts about 3 months. Because there are deciduous trees here, the soil is very fertile and rich with nutrients. Many of the trees in the temperate deciduous forest contain sap which they use to keep their roots from freezing during the winter. Some insects of the temperate deciduous biome cannot survive winter so they lay eggs before they die. These eggs can survive winter and hatch once spring arrives. Black bears, wolves, and coyotes are very common animals that live in the temperate deciduous forest biome. Most animals in this biome are camouflaged with the ground so they blend in and can escape predators. Animals of this biome have to be extremely adaptive to deal with the ever changing seasons. The trees provide shelter, food, and also water for animals of this biome. The growing season of the temperate deciduous forest lasts about six month. The leaves of deciduous trees change color in the fall because the plant or tree stops producing chlorophyll which is what gives them their green color.

Tropical Rain Forest Climate Rains almost everyday which makes this biome very humid. Gets almost 10 feet of rain every year. (250 cm) Very hot all year long

Where are Tropical Rain Forests?
The largest tropical rainforest is in South America. It is called the Amazon rain forest. They are also found in central Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, Hawaii, and a small area of Australia.

Layers of the Rainforest
Emergent Layer Canopy Layer Understory Layer Forest Floor

Plants of the Rain Forest
Orchid Banana Vanilla Coffee Fern Cacao (chocolate)

Tropical Rainforest Plant adaptations Bougainvillea
Sunlight is a major limiting factor Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most light) Shallow, wide roots since soil is so thin and poor in nutrients Little sun reaches the floor Some plants have a drip tip to shed excess water. Bangul Bamboo

Birds of the Rain Forest
Blue Parrot Cassowary Blue-Gold Macaw Cockatoo Yellow-eared Parrot Rhino Hornbill Scarlet Macaw Toucan

Bugs, Snakes, and Frogs of the Rain Forest
Katydid Posion Dart Frogs Preying Mantis Python Red-Eyed Tree Frog Scorpion Walking Stick Zebra Butterfly Ulysses Butterfly

Animals of the Rain Forest
Flying Squirrel Benegal Tiger Capybara Chimpanzee Leopard Spider Monkey Gorilla Lemur Tapir Mandrill Jaguar Olive Baboon

Many symbiotic relationships
Silvery Gibbon Tropical Rainforest Animal Adaptations Many animals are specialists and require special habitat components to survive Many animals have physical characteristics that help them adapt to their rainforest environment like camouflage or poisons. Camouflage is common. Most are great climbers and never have to touch the forest floor. Wagler’s pit viper Many symbiotic relationships Live in different levels of canopy Slender Loris

Views from the Rain Forest

Rain Forest

Water Within the Rain Forest

Wow! What a sight!

Interesting Tropical Rainforest Biome Facts:
Rainforests are extremely important because the water they produce is evaporated and then used as rain in other areas. The average temperature of the tropical rainforest remains between 70 and 85° F. The tropical rainforest is very rainy as its name implies. The rainfall can reach up to 400 inches in one year. Orchids are a type of epiphyte plant that grows in the tropical rainforest. It grows on the surface of other plants, usually trees. The tropical rainforest has hundreds of different types of trees living there. There are over 2,500 different vine species in the tropical rainforest. Some have a thickness that equals the circumference of a human being. Tropical rainforests are one of the oldest biomes on Earth and therefore have a great variety of animals living there. About half of all known species of plants and animals live in the tropical rainforest. There are some tropical rainforests that have been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Most of the animals living in the tropical rainforest live in the trees. There they can find all of their necessities and rarely have to come down to the floor of the forest. Insects make up the majority of living creatures in the tropical rainforest. Rainforests provide people with many cooking spices such as vanilla, allspice, and black pepper. Some people choose to live in the tropical rainforest and become farmers for the food and spices people eat. Because of the amount of trees in the tropical rainforest biome, it is responsible for the majority of the oxygen production in the air that we breathe. The droppings of birds in the tropical rainforest grow into new plants.

Grasslands There are _____ kinds of grasslands. two
Temperate grasslands: called prairies Tropical grasslands: called savannas Climate All grasslands get between 25 and 75 centimeters of rain every year. Coniferous forest

Where are grasslands? Savannas Temperate Grasslands
The largest grassland is in Africa. There are also grasslands in North America, South America, central Asia, and northern Australia.

Savannas (Tropical Grasslands)
Contain the greatest number of grazing animals on Earth. Location: Found in the tropics…near equator Mostly in Africa Climate All grasslands get between 25 and 75 centimeters of rain every year during wet season. Amount of precipitation supports tall grasses but only occasional trees. The word savanna stems from an Amerind term for plains

Tropical Grasslands (Savanna)
Largest savannas are found in Africa There are only a few trees on the savanna Why don’t a lot of trees grow? Savanna does not get a lot of rain People set the grass on fire to stop trees from growing Animals eat the trees before they can start growing tall

Acacia tree Baobab tree Plants of the Savanna
Grass: Rhodes grass, red oats grass, lemon grass, star grass Shrubs. Acacia tree Baobab tree

Tropical Savanna Plant Adaptations
Whistling Thorn Tropical Savanna Plant Adaptations Umbrella Thorn Acacia Grows in Tufts Resistance to Drought Many plants have thorns and sharp leaves to protect against predation. Kangaroos Paws Baobab

Animals of the Savanna Black Rhinoceros Cheetah Wild Dog
African elephant Giraffe Animals of the Savanna Zebra Ostrich Hippopotamus Hyena Warthog Lions

Tropical Savanna Animal Adaptations
Chacma Baboon Tropical Savanna Animal Adaptations Zebras —migrate as necessary to adapt to rainy seasons Reproduce during rainy season—ensures more young survive

Savanna Scenes

Interesting Savanna Biome Facts:
The savanna biome is mostly made up of grass but there are a few trees. Because of the availability of grass in the savanna, there are many grazing animals who take advantage of this abundant food supply. The savanna biome is rich with herbivores such as elephants, zebras, gazelles, and buffalo. The largest part of the savanna biome is located in Africa. Almost half of Africa is considered a savanna. Because of the extended periods of wet and dry climate in the savanna biome, the availability of food changes throughout the year. Some animals go so long without water during the dry season that they barely make it alive to the wet season. The savanna biome receives about 59 inches of rain. Majority of this occurs during the wet season. Although there are various types of soil in the savanna biome, it is not suitable for farming. In the savanna biome, all the animals and plants are extremely dependent upon each other for a food supply. If one species of animal were removed, the entire ecosystem would be altered. Climate is very important in the savanna biome. If the rainfall decreases and/or the temperature increases, the animals and plants will not be able to continue to survive. The savanna in Africa is a big tourist attraction but the introduction of vehicles and humans into that environment is very stressful to the plants and animals there. The savanna remains warm all year long. During the wet season, the temperature is more pleasant with an average of 63° F. There are many herbivores in the savanna biome which also bring many carnivores. Herbivores have developed traits which help them escape predators such as being fast, being large, or being tall. The savanna biome does have a long dry season so plants there have adapted to this climate. Some store water in their roots and others extend their long roots deep into the ground to recover water from the water table.

Temperate Grasslands Prairie and Steppe: Grassland areas
Location: These grasslands are in North America, South America, central Asia, and northern Australia.

Climate Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures can be well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while winter temperatures can be as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. They typically have between 10 and 35 inches of precipitation a year, much of it occurring in the late spring and early summer. Snow often serves as a reservoir of moisture for the beginning of the growing season. Seasonal drought and occasional fires help maintain these grasslands.

PLANTS: Grasses dominate temperate grasslands
PLANTS: Grasses dominate temperate grasslands. Trees and large shrubs are rarely found in grassland areas. There are many species of grasses that live in this biome, including, purple needlegrass, wild oats, foxtail, ryegrass, and buffalo grass.

Prairie Plant Adaptations
-Sod-forming grasses that won’t dry out or blow away in wind Long root systems - Grass grows quickly during short rainy season Fleabane Buffalo Grass

ANIMALS OF THE TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS
In North America, wolves, coyotes and foxes hunt for mice, rabbits and deer. These predators help keep populations of grazing animals in check so the grazers do not eat all the grass and other plants in the biome.

Prairie Animal Adaptations
Many adaptations to survive extremes Grazing animals Burrow to stay cool camouflage Bobcat Geoffrey’s cat Prairie dog

Facts about theTemparate Grassland Biome
Forbs are plants that grow in the grasslands that aren't grasses. They are leafy and soft-stemmed plants such as sunflowers. Prairie dogs are rodents that live in burrows under the prairies. They live in large groups called towns that can sometimes cover hundreds of acres of land. It is thought that there were over a billion prairie dogs on the Great Plains at one point. Other grassland animals need the prairie dog to survive, but the population is declining. Only around 2% of the original prairies of North America still exist. Much of it has been turned into farmland. Fires on grasslands can move as fast as 600 feet per minute.

Desert two There are __________ kinds of deserts.
Hot deserts and cold deserts cold desert hot desert Sahara Desert Antartica

Hot Deserts Cold Deserts * Climate
* gets less than 25 centimeters of rain every year * hot during the day and cool at night Cold Deserts * Climate * gets less than 25 centimeters of rain every year * cold all of the time While there are many types of deserts, they all share one characteristic: They are the driest places on Earth!

One is on every continent except Europe.
Desert Ecosystems Location: One is on every continent except Europe. Depending on type of desert, you will find them in various locations.

Plants of the Deserts * can live there because the roots are close to the top of the ground and can get the water quickly. Cactus Aloe Barrel Cactus Prickly Pear Cactus

Joshua Tree http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm
Barrel Cactus Desert Plant Adaptations: Spines Store Water (Succulents) Shallow, broad roots( to absorb water quickly) Joshua Tree Ocotollio

Black-collared lizard
snakes camel Animals of the Desert desert iguana roadrunner jackrabbit

Desert Animal Adaptations: Get water from food they eat
Bob Cat Desert Animal Adaptations: Get water from food they eat njnNocturnal ( active at night) Large ears Store water Smaller animals = less surface area Armadillo Lizard Javelina

Desert Scenes

More Desert Scenes

Interesting Desert Biome Facts:
Although the daytime temperatures of the desert biome are very hot, they can get very cold at night. The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the desert biome. It covers over 300 million square miles. The vegetation does not grow very tall so the desert biome can only accommodate small animals, rodents, and reptiles. These animals can escape the harsh Sun by hiding under small scrubs or hiding in burrows. Many desert animals tend to be nocturnal, sleeping during the day and coming out at night when the temperatures are more tolerable. Because there is hardly any standing water in the desert biome, animals either store water in their bodies or get their water needs met by the foods they eat. Dust storms occur when the wind picks up dust from the surface. These storms can be up to 1 mile high and travel over a hundred miles. The plants that are able to grow in the desert biome store water in their stem. They normally grow spaced out so that their roots can extend and find water. Some deserts are so hot that when it rains, the water evaporates in the air before ever hitting the ground. There are some deserts in Antarctica that are known as cold deserts. They are considered deserts because of the small amount of vegetation that grows there. The driest desert on Earth receives on average 1 centimeter of rainfall every 5 to 20 years. Because body fat retains heat, most desert animals have an adaptation that allows them to store all their body fat in one area of their body. The camel stores all its body fat in its hump. Cacti have many adaptions to survive in the desert. Their spines protect them from being eaten by animals and their waxy outer covering keeps moisture from escaping. Cold deserts (like in Antarctica) have very little plants and grasses. The ones they do have only grow during the summer. The desert biome is actually a big tourist attraction. People enjoy rock climbing, dirt biking, and hiking in the desert. The desert biome can be found on every continent except Europe.

Water Biomes * Marine * Freshwater

Aquatic biomes are often determined by salinity and depth of the water, as opposed to precipitation and temperature (terrestrial/land biomes).

Salinity The salinity of ocean water is 30 parts per thousand, whereas the salinity of freshwater is 0.5 parts per thousand. Water that has a reading in between these #s is called brackish (delta, estuary).

Sunlight Aquatic biomes are also impacted by the amount of sunlight that can penetrate the water. Photic = top layer; light can penetrate (plants, consumers) Aphotic = water below photic zones (consumers) Benthic = bottom of the body of water (scavengers, decomposers) Some bodies of water may not have aphotic zones!

The Marine Biome different organisms live in each area
* The marine biome ( AKA Ocean biome.) * covers about 70% of the Earth * has salt water * Organisms that live in the ocean are able to live in the salt water. * sunlight, water pressure, and water movement affect the organisms too because of these things, the ocean is divided into different areas different organisms live in each area * The water that is very deep has cold temperatures, high pressures, and is very dark

Many of the producers live near the top of the water
Marine Plant Life Many of the producers live near the top of the water they need the sunlight to help them grow and make food Algae and plankton is a major producer for the marine ecosystem. ecosystem.

Marine Animal Life Most marine organisms live near the top of the water or close to land Many animals dig down into the sand or hang on to rocks, so they do not get lost in the sea Other larger animals live where the water is deep barracuda star fish clown fish crab flashlight fish green sea turtle killer whale shrimp

Plants and Animals of Oceans
Deep ocean no sunlight most food at the ocean floor consists of dead organisms that fall from the surface Decomposers, filter feeders & the organisms that eat them live in the deep areas of the ocean The types of organisms that may be found in the layers of the ocean at various depths is dependent on available sunlight

Coral Reefs Coral reefs - limestone ridges found in tropical climates and composed of coral fragments that are deposited around organic remains Coral reefs of the ocean are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth thousands of species of plants and animals live in the cracks and crevices of coral reefs Corals are predators that use stinging tentacles to capture small animals, such as zooplankton, that float or swim close to the reef

Coral Reefs Corals live only in clear, warm salt water where there is enough light for photosynthesis.

The Freshwater Biome * Freshwater – Less than 1% salt concentration
* Includes still water and moving water * Examples of still water * Examples of moving water * lakes and ponds * rivers and streams

Pond/Lake Organisms

River/Stream Organisms

Freshwater Plant Life * Many of the plants that live in freshwater have strong roots to keep them in one place. * Some plants grow around the edge of the lake or float on the top of the water cattail water lily

Freshwater Animal Life
carp trout bass bull frog mallards

A Special Kind of Water * Estuary
* border between a freshwater biome and a marine biome * are salt marshes, lagoons, swamps, and mouths of rivers that go into the ocean * are a mixture of freshwater and salt water * some scientists believe estuaries are another biome, other scientists believe estuaries are an ecosystem * not very deep, so sunlight gets to all the water * have many fish and plants

Plants and Animals of Estuaries
Estuaries support many marine organisms plenty of light for photosynthesis plenty of nutrients for plants and animals Light and nutrients support large populations of rooted plants plankton plankton feed fish fish eaten by larger animals such as dolphins. Oysters and clams live anchored to rocks feed by filtering plankton from the water

Wetlands Areas of land flooded with water at least part of the year
Include freshwater marshes (non-woody plants), swamps (woody plants), bogs, and fens

A Quick Review 6 * There are __________ land biomes: 2
Tundra Tropical Rain Forest ____________________ ____________________ Coniferous Forest Grassland ____________________ ____________________ Deciduous Forest Desert ____________________ ____________________ 2 * There are __________ water biomes: Marine Freshwater ____________________ ____________________ estuary * The special kind of water is an ___________________.

What are two things do scientist use to classify a biome?
2. Describe the leaves of a tree that live in a deciduous forest. 3. Which biome gets the most rainfall? 4. Where are evergreen trees found? 5. Why is the African savanna home to many large herbivores? 6. Why are most desert animals only active at night? 7. What is permafrost and in which biome is it located? 8. What makes Estuaries unique?

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