vocabulary terms to know
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Biome
Climate
Latitude
Altitude
Permafrost
Epiphyte
7. Understory
8. Canopy
9. Emergent Layer
Chapter 6
Remember to write the slides that show the
clipboard symbol. Examples written in italics do
not need to be written down. We will just
discuss them, along with the other slides.
Copy & answer the following
questions on a blank piece of
paper:
1. How do you think you did on the ch. 5
test?
2. How long did you study?
3. Have you been to tutoring?
4. What could YOU do to improve your
grade?
5. What could we do to help you?
Objectives
 Describe how plants determine the
name of a biome.
 Explain how temperature and
precipitation determine which plants grow
in an area.
 Explain how latitude and altitude affect
which plants grow in an area.
Standards
 SEV2c, d
 SEV5c, d
 SCSh6d
What is a Biome?
 Large regions characterized by a specific
type of climate & certain types of plant
and animal communities
 Made up of many individual ecosystems
Biomes and Vegetation
 Described by their vegetation because plants
that grow in an area determine the other
organisms that can live there
 Plants have characteristics, specialized
structures, or adaptations (size, shape, color)
that allow them to survive in that biome.
 For example, plants in the tundra tend to be short
because they cannot obtain enough water to grow
larger.
The World’s Major Terrestrial Biomes
Biomes and Climate
 Climate is the average weather
conditions in an area over a long period
of time.
 Main factor is determining which plants can
grow in a certain area, which in turn defines
the biome.
 Temperature and precipitation are the two
most important factors that determine a
region’s climate.
Temperature & Precipitation
 Most organisms are adapted to live within a
particular range of temps & won’t survive at
temps too far above or below their optimal
range.
 Precipitation also limits the organisms found in
a biome because all organisms need water.
 Biomes that do not receive enough rainfall to
support large trees support communities dominated
by small trees, shrubs, and grasses.
 In biomes where rainfall is not frequent, the
vegetation is mostly cactuses and desert shrubs. In
extreme cases, lack of rainfall results in no plants,
no matter what the temperature is.
 The higher the temperature & precipitation are,
the taller & denser the vegetation is.
Latitude & Altitude
 Latitude is the distance north or south from the
equator, & is expressed in degrees.
 Altitude is the height of an object above a reference
point, such as sea level or the Earth’s surface.
 Climate varies with latitude & altitude.
 For example, climate gets colder as latitude and altitude
increase. This is why it gets colder as you move further up a
mountain.
 As latitude and altitude increase, biomes & vegetation
change.
 Trees of tropical rainforests usually grow closer to the equator,
while mosses & lichen of the tundra grow closer to the poles.
 The temperate region includes biomes such as temperate
forests and grasslands, which usually have moderate
temperatures & fertile soil that is ideal for agriculture.
1. Distinguish between latitude & altitude.
2. Contrast weather & climate.
3. Large regions characterized by a specific
type of climate & certain types of plant &
animal communities are called _____.
Objectives
 List three characteristics of tropical rain
forests.
 Name and describe the main layers of a
tropical rain forest.
 Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous
forest and an adaptation that helps the plant
survive.
 Describe one adaptation that may help an
animal survive in the taiga.
 Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.
Standards
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
SEV2c
SCSh9a, c, d
SCSh1a, b
SCSh3c
SCSh4a
SCSh6a-d
Forest Biomes
 Most widespread & the most diverse
 Found where temps are mild to hot &
where rainfall is plenty
 3 main forest biomes of the world:
tropical, temperate, & coniferous
Tropical Rain Forests
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Forests or jungles near the equator.
Large amounts of rain & constant temps
Greatest known diversity of organisms
Help regulate world climate
Play vital roles in the nitrogen, oxygen, &
carbon cycles
 Are humid, warm, and get strong sunlight
which allows them to maintain a fairly constant
temp that is ideal for a variety of plants &
animals
Nutrients in Tropical Rain
Forests
 Most nutrients are within the plants, not the soil.
 Decomposers on the forest floor break down dead
organisms & return the nutrients to the soil, but plants
quickly absorb the nutrients.
 Some trees support fungi that feed on dead organic
matter on the rain-forest floor. In this relationship, the
fungi transfer the nutrients form the dead matter
directly to the tree.
 Nutrients from dead organic matter are removed so
efficiently that runoff from rain forests is often as pure
as distilled water.
 Most tropical soils that are cleared of plants for
agriculture lack nutrients & can’t support crops for more
than a few years.
 Many of the trees form above ground roots called
buttresses or braces that grow sideways from the tree
to provide it with extra support in the thin soil.
Layers of the Rain Forest
 Different types of plants grow in different layers.
 There are 4 main layers of the rain forest:
• Emergent Layer
• Upper Canopy
• Lower Layer
• Understory
 The emergent layer is the top foliage
layer in a forest where the trees extend
above surrounding trees.
 Trees in this layer grow and emerge
into direct sunlight reaching heights of
60 to 70 m and can measure up to 5 m
around.
 Animals such as eagles, bats,
monkeys, and snakes live in the
emergent layer.
 The canopy is the layers of treetops that
shade the forest floor, & is considered to be the
primary layer of the rain forest.
 The tall trees, more than 30 m tall, form a
dense layer that absorbs up to 95 percent of
the sunlight.
 The canopy can be split into & upper & lower
canopy with the lower canopy receiving less
sunlight.
 Epiphytes are plants that use another plant for
support but not for nourishment, & are located on
high trees in the canopy.
 Growing on tall trees in allows them to reach the sunlight
needed for photosynthesis, & to absorb the water &
nutrients that run down the tree after it rains.
 Most animals that live in the rain forest live in the
canopy because they depend on the abundant
flowers & fruits that grow there.
 The understory is the foliage layer that
is beneath & shaded by the main canopy
of a forest.
 Little light reaches this layer allowing only
trees & shrubs adapted to shade to grow
there.
 Most plants in the understory do not grow
more that 3.5 m tall.
 Herbs with large flat leaves that grow on the
forest floor capture the small amount of light
that penetrates the understory.
Species Diversity
 The diversity of rain-forest vegetation has
led to the evolution of a diverse
community of animals.
 Most rainforest animals are specialists
that use specific resources in particular
ways to avoid competition and have
adapted amazing ways to capture prey &
avoid predators.
 Insects use camouflage to avoid predators &
may be shaped like leaves or twigs.
All pictures taken in Costa Rica 2005
Threats to Rain Forests
 Every minute of every day, 100 acres of
tropical rainforest are cleared for logging
operations, agriculture, & oil exploration.
 Exotic-pet trading robs the rain forests of rare
& valuable plant & animal species only found
there.
 Habitat destruction occurs when land inhabited
by an organism is destroyed or altered.
 An estimated 50 million native peoples live in
tropical rain forests & are also threatened by
habitat destruction.
 Because they obtain nearly everything they need
form the forest, the loss of their habitat could force
them to leave their homes and move into cities.
 This drastic change of lifestyle may then cause the
native peoples too lose their culture & traditions.
Temperate Forests
 Cool, humid weather
 Abundant rainfall
 Tree branches are draped with mosses, trunks
are covered with lichens, & the forest floor is
covered with ferns.
 North America, Australia, & New Zealand
 Although located north of most other rain forests,
the temperate rain forest of the Pacific Northwest
still maintains a moderate temperature year round.
 It rarely freezes because the nearby Pacific Ocean
waters keep temperatures mild by blowing cool
ocean water over the forest.
 As the ocean winds meet the costal Olympic
Mountains, a large amount of rainfall is produced
which keeps the temperature cool & moist.
Temperate Deciduous
Forests
 Have trees that shed their leaves in the fall
 Located between 30º & 50º north latitude
 Extreme temperature range
 Summer temps soaring to 35ºC and winter temps
often falling below freezing
 75 to 125 cm of precipitation annually
 Helps to decompose dead organic matter
contributing to the rich soils of the forest
Plants of Deciduous
Forests
 Grow in layers with tall trees dominating the
canopy while shrubs cover the understory
 More light reaches deciduous forest floors than
rain forests floors allowing more plants to grow.
 Plants are adapted to survive seasonal
changes.
 In the fall and winter, trees shed their leaves and
seeds go dormant under the insulation of the soil.
 With the returning warmth in the spring, the trees
grow new leaves & seeds germinate.
Animals of Deciduous
Forests
 Animals are adapted to use forest plants
for both food & shelter
 Birds can’t survive the harsh winter of the
deciduous forests so they migrate for
warmer weather & better availability of
food.
 Other animals reduce their activity so that
they don’t need as much food for energy
Taiga
 Region of evergreen, coniferous forest
below the arctic & subarctic tundra
 Long winters & little vegetation
 Short growing season
 As short as 50 days with most plant growth
occurring during the summer months
because of nearly constant daylight & larger
amounts of precipitation
Plants of the Taiga
 A conifer is a tree that has seeds that develop
in cones.
 Arrow shape of leaf & waxy coating helps to
retain water
 Shape helps shed snow to the ground & not
get weighed down
 Needles contain substances that make the soil
acidic when they fall to the ground preventing
plants from growing on the floor
 Soil forms slowly because the climate & acidity
slow decomposition.
Animals of the Taiga
 Many lakes and swamps that in the
summer attract birds that feed on insects
 Many birds migrate
 Some animals burrow underground for
better insulation
 Some animals have adapted to avoid
predation by shedding their brown
summer fur & growing white fur that
camouflages them in the snow.
Mother moose and twin calves
Wolves
All pictures taken in Alaska 2007
Grizzly bear cubs
Porcupine
Caribou Crossing
1. List the 4 layers of plant growth of a tropical
rain forest from highest to lowest.
2. _______are plants that use another plant
for support but not for nourishment, & are
located on high trees in the canopy.
3. Contrast the conifers of the taiga with
deciduous trees.
Objectives
 Describe the difference between tropical
and temperate grasslands.
 Describe the climate in a chaparral
biome.
 Describe two desert animals and the
adaptations that help them survive.
 Describe one threat to the tundra biome.
Standards
 SEV2c, d
Grassland, Desert, and
Tundra Biomes
 In climates that have less rainfall, forest
biomes are replaced by savanna, grassland, &
chaparral biomes.
 As even less rain falls in these biomes, they change
into desert & tundra biomes.
 As precipitation decreases in an area, the
diversity of the species in the area also
decreases. But, the number of individuals of
each species present may still be very large.
Savannas
 Plains full of grasses & scattered trees &
shrubs that are found in tropical & subtropical
habitats
 Found mainly in regions with a dry climate
 Receive little precipitation throughout the year,
but do have a wet & a dry season
 Many animals are only active during the wet
season.
 Grass fires help to restore nutrients to the soil
during the dry season.
Plants of the Savanna
 Must be able to survive prolonged periods
without water
 Some have large horizontal root systems to
help them survive the dry season
 These roots enable the plant to grow quickly after a
fire.
 The grasses have coarse vertical leaves that
expose less surface area to help conserve
water, while some trees shed their leaves.
 Almost all have thorns for protection
Animals of the Savanna
 Grazing herbivores have migratory ways of life,
following the rains to areas of new grass &
fresh watering holes.
 Predators often stalk these animals for food.
 Many give birth only during the rainy season,
when food is abundant & the young are more
likely to survive.
 Some species of herbivores reduce
competition for food by eating vegetation at
different heights than other species do.
Temperate Grasslands
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Dominated by grasses
Few trees
Hot summers & cold winters
Intermediate amount of rainfall (between a forest
and a desert)
Fertile soil
Few remain because many have been replaced
by grazing areas & farms growing crops such as
corn, soybeans, & wheat.
Located on the interiors of continents where too
little rain falls for trees to grow
 Prairies of North America
Heavy precipitation is rare, making them
susceptible to fires.
Plants of Temperate Grasslands
 The roots system of prairie grasses form dense
layers that survive drought & fire allowing the
plants to come back from year to year.
 Few trees survive because of the lack of
rainfall, fire, & the constant winds.
 The amount of rainfall determines the types of
plants that will grow in that area with varying
root depth & grass height.
Animals of Temperate
Grasslands
 Some grazing animals have large, flat
teeth for chewing the coarse prairie
grasses.
 Others live in underground burrows that
protect them from predators on the open
grasslands.
Threats to Temperate
Grasslands
 Farming & overgrazing
 Grains crops can’t hold the soil in place as well
as native grasses can because the roots of
crops are shallow, so soil erosion eventually
occurs.
 Erosion is also caused as the grasses are
constantly eaten & trampled.
 Constant use can change the fruitful
grasslands into desert-like biomes.
Chaparral
 Temperate woodland biome with
vegetation that includes broad leafed
evergreen shrubs & is located in areas
with hot, dry summers & mild, wet
winters.
 Located in the middle latitudes, about 30°
north & south of the equator
 Primarily in coastal areas that have
Mediterranean climates
Plants of the Chaparral
 Most are low-lying, evergreen shrubs & small
trees that grow in dense patches
 chamise, manzanita, scrub oak, & herbs like sage &
bay
 Have small, leathery leaves that contain oils
that promote burning, allowing natural fires to
destroy competing trees
 Well adapted to fire & can resprout from small bits
of surviving plant tissue
Animals of the Chaparral
 A common adaptation is camouflage
 Animals such as quail, lizards, chipmunks,
and mule deer have a brownish gray
coloring that lets them move through the
brush without being noticed.
Threats to the Chaparral
 Greatest threat is human development
 Humans tend to develop lands for
commercial & residential use because these
biomes get a lot of sun, are near the oceans,
& have a mild climate year round.
Deserts
 Have little or no vegetation, long periods
without rain, & extreme temperatures
 There are hot & cold deserts, but all are
the driest places on Earth.
 Usually near large mountain ranges
because mountains can block the
passage of moisture-filled clouds, limiting
precipitation
Plants of the Desert
 Have adaptations for obtaining &
conserving water, which allows the plants
to live in dry, desert conditions.
 Succulents have thick, fleshy stems &
leaves that conserve water.
 Leaves have waxy coating
 Sharp spines
 Roots spread out just under the surface
Animals of the Desert
 Adapted many different ways to prevent water
loss
 Reptiles have thick, scaly skin that prevents water
loss.
 Amphibians survive by estivating, or burying
themselves in the ground and sleeping through the
dry season.
 Insects are covered with body armor that helps
them retain water.
 Most are nocturnal
Tundra
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Treeless plain
Located in the Arctic or Antarctic
Very low winter temps
Short, cool summers, so only the top few
centimeters of soil thaw
 Permafrost is the permanently frozen
layer of soil or subsoil & can be found in
the tundra regions.
 Vegetation consists of grasses, lichens,
&perennial herbs
This picture was taken in Alaska 2007.
Notice the retreating glacier. Why is that happening?
The conifers are leaning. The locals said that it was because they were “drunken”
trees. What would really cause them to lean?
Vegetation of the Tundra
 Mosses & lichens cover rocks
 Thin soil, so they have wide, shallow roots to
help anchor them
 Most are short, which keeps them out of the
wind & helps them absorb heat from the sunlit
soil.
 Woody plants & perennials have evolved dwarf
forms that grow flat along the ground.
This picture was taken in Alaska 2007.
Notice the lack of tall vegetation & the orange lichens on the rocks.
Animals of the Tundra
 Millions of migratory birds fly to the tundra to
breed in the summer when food is abundant.
 Migrate in search of food and water.
 Hunters prey on migratory caribou, deer, and
moose.
 Burrow underground to avoid the cold.
 Lose their brown summer coat for white fur
This picture was taken in Alaska 2007. What is this thing?
Threats to the Tundra
 One of the most fragile biomes on the
planet
 The food chains are relatively simple so they
are easily disrupted.
 Until recently these areas have been
undisturbed by humans.
 Oil was located in parts of the tundra, & oil
exploration, extraction, & transport has
disrupted many habitats (poison food/water).
1. A forest with the greatest species diversity would
be located near the _______.
2. In the tundra, the frozen layer of soil just below
the surface is the ______.
3. Many forest biomes are experiencing _____
destruction.
4. Plants and animals of a particular biome have
______ that help them to survive.
1. The climate of a biome is determined mostly by
average ____ & precipitation.
2. During harsh winters, animals of the ____ have
adaptations such as the ability to change color to
avoid predators.
3. The ____ layer of the tropical rain forest receives
the most sunlight.
1. How do animals that live in the desert deal
with the (often) dry, hot conditions?
2. What types of plants are typically found in the
Taiga?
3. The _____ is found in coastal areas with
Mediterranean-style climates.
Chapter 6 Review
 P. 175 #10-18 only
 P. 176 #24-26 only
1. Why are tropical rain forests threatened?
2. Every minute of every day, ____ acres of
tropical rain forest are cleared.