1. 7-2 How Does Climate Affect the Nature and Locations of Biomes?
Concept 7-2 Differences in average annual precipitation and temperature lead to the formation of tropical, temperate, and cold deserts, grasslands, and forests, and largely determine their locations.

2. Climate Affects Where Organisms Can Live
Biomes characterized by having similar:
Climate
Precipitation
Temperature
Soil
Plants
Animal
Latitude and elevation
Biomes are mosaics of patches
Do not have distinct boundaries (ecotone)

3. The Earth’s Major Biomes

4. Generalized Effects of Elevation and Latitude on Climate and Biomes

5. Natural Capital: Average Precipitation and Average Temperature as Limiting Factors

6. Biome: Deciduous Forest
Climate
Temperature: Temperate & Tropical
Precipitation: 75 – 250 cm per year
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Hardwood (Deciduous) Trees
Loose leaves in winter to conserve energy

7. Biome: Deciduous Forest
Major Locations
North America, Europe, Australia, and Eastern Asia
Characteristic Fauna
Black bear, white-tail deer, squirrels, raccoons, opossums

8. Biome: Deciduous Forest
Soil Characteristics
Very rich soil with high organic content
Other Important Facts
Slow decomposition rates in the forest lead to high soil quality

9. Temperate Rain Forest in Washington State, U.S.9

10. Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Forests10

11. Biome: Tropical Rainforest
Climate
Temperature: Tropical
Precipitation: 200 – 400 cm per year
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Broadleaf Evergreen trees
Large leaves to catch rare sunlight
Vines, epiphytes
Get moisture from the air, roots not in ground
All plants adapted to LOW light

12. Biome: Tropical Rainforest
Major Locations
South America, West Africa, Southeast Asia
Characteristic Fauna
Monkeys, insects, amphibians, tropical birds

13. Biome: Tropical Rainforest
Soil Characteristics
POOR soil due to rapid rate of decomposition
Other Important Facts
Stratification provides niches for specialized species – leads to high biodiversity

14. Stratification of Specialized Plant and Animal Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest14

15. Biome: Grasslands Climate Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Temperature: Tropical & Temperate
Precipitation: 10 – 60 cm per year
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Sod-forming grasses which are adapted to fire
Grasses store most of their biomass in the roots, this ensures their recovery after a fire, and after grazers have eaten their tops

16. Biome: Grasslands Major Locations Characteristic Fauna
North American plains (prairies), Russia (steppes), South Africa (velds), Argentina (pampas), Africa (savanna)
Characteristic Fauna
Grazers & Browsers

17. Biome: Grasslands Soil Characteristics Other Important Facts Rich Soil
Has made the grasslands prime for human interference by agriculture
Other Important Facts
Fire adapted
Large animals

18. Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Grasslands18

19. Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically Diverse Temperate Grassland19

20. Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
Climate
Temperature: Cold
Precipitation: cm (mostly in summer)
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Coniferous evergreens
Small needle-shaped leaves with waxy coating to help conserve energy loss. Stay green all year because of relatively low solar intensity year-round

21. Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
Major Locations
Northern North America (Canada), Northern Eurasia
Characteristic Fauna
Bears, wolves, moose, lynx, and burrowing rodents

22. Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
Soil Characteristics
Soil is thin and nutrient poor because of the acidic tannins in pine needles
Other Important Facts
California’s Giant Redwoods (Sequoias)

23. Biome: Tundra Climate Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Temperature: Cold (grassland)
Precipitation: Less than 25 cm
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Herbaceous plants
Low-growing plants, dwarf shrubs, lichens

24. Biome: Tundra Major Locations Characteristic Fauna
Northern latitudes of North America, Europe and northern Eurasia
Characteristic Fauna
Caribou (reindeer), migratory waterfowl, arctic wolf, arctic fox, musk oxen, snowy owl

25. Biome: Tundra Soil Characteristics Other Important Facts Permafrost!!
Very thin, fragile soil
Other Important Facts
Most annual growth occurs in the 7-8 week long summer
Melting permafrost releases CH4 and CO2: both greenhouse gasses!!

26. Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)
Climate
Temperature: Temperate
Precipitation: 50 – 75 cm (mostly in winter)
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Small trees with large hard leaves, spiny shrubs, adapted to fire
Burn easily
Seeds germinate when exposed to hot fire

27. Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)
Major Locations
Western North America, the Mediterranean
Characteristic Fauna
Mule deer, chipmunks, jackrabbits, lizards, variety of birds

28. Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)
Soil Characteristics
Shallow and infertile soil
Other Important Facts
Prone to fire in dry season
Desirable climate w/ risks!

29. Chaparral Vegetation in Utah, U.S.29

30. Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)
Climate
Temperature: Tropical, Temperate, Cold
Precipitation: Less than 25 cm
Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
Cactus and other low-water adapted plants (Succulents)

31. Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)
Major Locations
30 North and South of the Equator
Characteristic Fauna
Camels, reptiles, rodents (kangaroo rat – never drinks water)

32. Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)
Soil Characteristics
Coarse texture (sandy)
not good at holding moisture or nutrients
Other Important Facts
Fragile ecosystem due to
Slow plant growth
Low species diversity
Slow nutrient recycling
Lack of water

33. Climate Graphs of Three Types of Deserts

35. La Mesa, CA

36. Philadelphia

38. Biome review!
What are some of the traits that are similar between biomes of the same type?
What is an ecotone?
Which type of grassland is found in Africa?
Which type of desert is found in Mongolia?
Why is Antarctica not considered a part of a biome?
Which biome do we live in?
What is stratification? Where do we see it?
If I hiked up a mountain, tell me what changes in vegetation I would experience.
Why do pine trees have needle shaped leaves?
Why do rainforest trees have broad-leaves?
Why do deciduous trees lose their leaves?
Explain how grasses are adapted to their environment.