BIOMES

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES

1. Describe how plants determine the name of a biome.2. Explain how temperature and precipitation determine

which plants grow in an area.3. Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants

grow in an area.4. Describe the characteristics of the worlds ten biomes.5. Name and describe plant and animal adaptations unique

to each biome.6. Describe threats to each biome.7. Name two threats to the forest biomes.

VOCABULARY1. Biome 2. Climate 3. Latitude 4. Altitude 5. Polar ice 6. Tropical rain forest 7. Taiga8. Temperate forest 9. Tropical savanna10. Temperate grassland 11. Chaparral 12. Desert 13. Tundra 14. Mountains 15. Emergent layer 16. Canopy 17. Epiphyte 18. understory 19. Temperate rain forest 20. permafrost 21. Temperate deciduous forest22. deforestation 23. slash and burn 24. Debt-for-nature swap 25. Ecotourism

WHAT DEFINES A BIOME?

Biomes are large groupings of ecosystems.Biomes are characterized by; 1. type of climate 2. type of plants 3. type of animals 4. many individual ecosystems.

TWO MAJOR TYPES OF BIOMES

1. Terrestrial (continental)2. Aquatic (fresh and salt water)

In this unit we will study terrestrial biomes.

PLANTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Which plants grow in a biome determine which animals have adapted to use those plants.

Plant adaptations include; 1. size – tundra, desert, rainforest 2. shape – small leaves, large leaves, water

storage ability 3. color – green, brown, bright, dull

CLIMATE

Climate includes; 1. temperature 2. precipitation 3. humidity 4. windsTemperature and precipitation are the most

important.

HOW DOES LATITUDE AND ALTITUDE AFFECT A BIOME?

Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator and is measured in degrees.

Altitude is the height of an object above sea level.

Climate varies with latitude and altitude. Climate get colder as latitude and altitude increase and the opposite as they decreas.

ALTITUDE VS LATITUDE

ALTITUDE – Low to highTropical- temperate-taiga-tundra-mountains

LATITUDE – Equator to polarTropical- temperate- taiga-tundra-polar

TYPES OF BIOMES

As classified by latitude.• Arctic or subarctic - tundra• Subarctic or boreal - taiga• Temperate cold – broadleaf and coniferous• Temperate warm or sub-tropical – moist

broadleaf and warm coniferous• Tropical – moist broadleafNote that desert areas are not included in this

classification.

BIOMES BY TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL

1. Polar ice2. Tundra3. Taiga4. Temperate forest5. Temperate grassland6. Mountains7. Chaparral8. Desert9. Tropical savanna10. Tropical rainforest

TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS

1. All are located near the equator2. All help regulate world climate3. All play vital roles in nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon cycles4. All are warm, humid, wet, and get sunlight year round.5. Rainfall can be 200 – 450 cm per year6. All have ideal climate for wide variety of organisms.7. 2.5 acres of tropical rain forest can contain more than 250

species, whereas in a temperate forest may contain several species.

RAIN FOREST CHARACTERISTICS

1. Nutrient poor soil, rapid decay causes most nutrients to be in plants.

2. Trees form buttress roots (above ground roots) used for extra support in thin soil.

3. Forest Layers a. emergent layer b. canopy c. understory

UNIQUE SPECIES IN A RAIN FOREST

1. Epiphytes – orchids2. Sloth3. Poison dart frogs4. Parrots, spoonbills, macaws’5. Coatimundi- raccoon6. Cappibarra – rodent7. anaconda

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RAINFOREST THREATS

1. Land clearing a. slash and burn farming b. oil exploration c. mineral exploration – gold, gems, coal2. Skins and feathers3. Pet trade4. Exotic woods

TEMPERATE RAIN FORESTS1. Are found in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.2. Heavy precipitation (200 – 350cm/ yr), high humidity,

moderate temperatures (influenced by the closeness of the ocean)

3. Big coniferous trees – Douglas fir, Western red cedar, Mountain hemlock.

4. Mosses, lichens, epiphytes, fungi5. Animals include large mammals and lots of snails and

slugs.6. More nutrients in the soil due to cooler temperatures

slowing decomposition.

THREATS

1. Logging2. Silting of water sources from logging.

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FORESTS1. Deciduous – loses leaves each year.2. Once covered large parts of North America, Europe, and Asia3. Located between 300 and 500 north latitude.4. Growing season 4 – 6 months5. Weather can be extreme 00 to 350 C.6. 75 – 125 cm of rain each year7. Commonly have deep rich soils8. Plants grow in stories, but more light reaches the ground. Tall trees,

shrubs, bushes, ferns, herbs, and mosses9. All plants adapt to seasonal changes.10. Animals – many migrate to avoid winter, others adapt to winter.

ADAPTATIONS

1. Plants adapt to survive the winter – bulbs, seeds, rhizomes.

2. Animals migrate to warmer climates or put on fat to survive the winter and find areas where food can be found.

3. Activity reduction to require less food.

TAIGA

1. Northern coniferous forest that is just below the arctic circle.

2. Winters are 6 – 10 months3. Average temperature – 200 C4. Forest floor is dark with little vegetation5. Plants – conifer trees w/ narrow shaped,

waxed leaves that do not lose water6. Acidic soil

THREATS

1. Oil exploration2. Commercial hunting

GRASSLANDS

1. Found in areas with less rain fall than forests.

2. Less rainfall means less diversity3. Numbers of individuals of a specific species

may be very large4. Two types tropical and temperate

grasslands.

TROPICAL GRASSLANDS

1. Commonly called SAVANNAS.2. Most have wet and dry seasons3. Most growth and reproduction take place

during wet season4. Dry season usually includes fires that return

nutrients to the soil5. Usually found in tropical and subtropical

areas near the equatior

Savanna plants

1. Large horizontal roots systems2. Vertical leaves or lose leaves3. Adapted for rapid water absorption and

retention during wet season4. Adapted for rapid growth after fires.5. Many have sharp thorns to ward off

herbivores

Savannah animals

1. Typically many individuals of one species; elephants, antelope, giraffes, kangaroos,

capybaras, tapirs, (herbivores).2. Various types of carnivores that feed on the

herbivores – usually types that hunt in groups.

3. Many insects and animals that feed on insects.

TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS

1. A biome dominated by grasses.2. Hot summers and cold winters3. 50 – 88 cm of rain per year4. Most fertile soil of any biome5. Most have been replaced with farms6. Found in the interior of continents7. Normally have mountains surrounding

them

GRASSLAND GRASSES

1. Rain determines type of grass a. Short grass prairie – 25 cm of rain b. Mixed grass prairie – 50 cm of rain c. Tall grass prairie – 88 cm of rain2. Wild flowers are abundant in grasslands

GRASSLAND ANIMALS

1. Antelope, bison (animals with large back teeth for chewing tough grasses)

2. Burrowing animals prairie dogs, badgers, owls

THREATS TO GRASSLANDS

1. Farming2. Overgrazing

CHAPPARAL

1. A type of temperate woodland biome2. Dominated by broad-leafed evergreen

shrubs.3. Located in the mid-latitudes about 300

north and south of the equator.4. Found mostly in coastal areas with a

Mediterranean climate5. Warm dry summers, mild wet winters.

CHAPARRAL PLANTS

1. Low lying evergreen shrubs and trees that tend to grow in patches.

2. Chamise, manzanita, scrub oak, olive trees, herbs (sage, bay)

3. Trees have small leathery leaves that retain water and produce oil – helps in fires that keep out taller trees.

ANIMALS OF THE CHAPARRAL

1. Camouflage,