3. biomes

What are the six major biomes?

● The climate - the average annual temperature and amount of precipitation - determines the biome of an area○ Climate limits the types of plants that can grow there, and the types

of plants determines the species of animals that can live there

What are the six major biomes?

● A biome is a group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms○ There are six major biomes:

■ Desert■ Rainforest ■ Grassland■ Deciduous forest■ Boreal forest■ tundra

What are the six major biomes? ● Desert - An area that receives less than 25 centimeters of rain a year

○ Deserts go through big changes in temperature in a day! ■ During the day it can be scorching hot, but at night it can drop to below

freezing! ○ Organisms in the desert must be adapted to little to no rain and

extreme temperatures■ Cactus plants■ Gila monsters ■ Fennec

What are the six major biomes? ● Rainforest - an area where large amounts of rain fall in a year

○ After it rains, the sun appears, but very little of it reaches the ground!

○ There are two types of rainforest biomes:■ Temperate■ Tropical

What are the six major biomes? ● Temperate rainforest

○ Northwest of the united states○ Receives more than 300 centimeters of rain a year○ Huge trees like redwoods, cedars, and firs

What are the six major biomes? ● Tropical rainforest

○ Warm, humid climate with a lot of rain. Perfect for a great variety of plants! ■ Plants: venus fly traps, orchids, rubber trees■ Animals: Monkey, jaguar, toucan, frogs

○ There are four layers to the trees of a rainforest■ Emergent layer - the tallest layer, gets the most sunlight■ Canopy - leafy layer under the emergent■ Understory - short trees and vines, shaded■ Forest floor - ground under the trees

What are the six major biomes? ● Grassland - grassy plains, called prairies

○ Comfortable temperatures with 25 to 75 centimeters of rain a year○ A savanna is a grassland closer to the equator○ Grasslands are home to large animals such as:

■ Elephants■ Bison■ Giraffes■ Rhinos■ zebras

What are the six major biomes? ● Deciduous forest - trees shed their leaves and grow new ones each year

○ Around 50 centimeters of rain a year ○ Temperatures vary greatly during the year○ Trees include oaks and maples○ Animals include squirrels, chipmunks, and skunks

What are the six major biomes? ● Boreal forest - dense forests found in the northern hemisphere (also

known as taiga)○ Coniferous trees like firs and hemlocks○ Animals include red squirrels, finches, moose, beavers, and owls

What are the six major biomes? ● Tundra - an extremely cold and dry biome

○ Soil is frozen most of the year, this is called permafrost ○ Plants include moss, grass, and dwarf trees○ Animals include foxes, caribou, and wolves