Biomes
Introduction
• A group of land ecosystems with similar
climates and organisms is called a biome.
• It is mostly climate conditions in an area
that determine its biome.
• We are going to talk about 7 land biomes
and 3 aquatic biomes.
Climatogram
• graph
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-32
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J F M A M J J A S O N D
Months
Pr e cipitation (C*)
Te m pe r atur e (cm )
Tropical Deciduous
• shows a biome’s
monthly
temperature and
precipitation data
in a single year
Abiotic Factors
Physical or
NONLIVING
component of an
ecosystem
Rocks, Sand, Cliffs
Wind
Snow, Rain,
Hail
Sun, Heat, Cold
Biotic Factors
• Living Parts of an ecosystem
– Plants
– Animals
– Bacteria
Rain Forest Biomes
• Known for their abundance of
– Rain
– Plant life
– Animal life
• The climate (warm with plenty of rain)
provides a great environment for plants.
• The more plants there are the more
animals that can be supported.
Tropical Rain Forest
• Typically found near the equator
• The temperature range is between 20 and
25 degrees Celsius. ( 68- 77 degrees
Fahrenheit)
• Receive an average of 200 - 1,000 cm of
precipitation each year
Tropical Rain Forest
• The abundant plant life provides habitats
for many species of animals.
– Millions of species of animals live here
– Insects are a major food source
– Probably contain more species of plants and
animals than all the other biomes combined.
Tropical Rain Forest
• The tall tress in a tropical rainforest form a
leafy roof called the canopy.
• Under the canopy is a second layer of
shorter trees and vines that form an
understory.
• The forest floor is nearly dark so only a
few plants live there.
Campa Pita, Belize Precipitation
Campa Pita, Belize Temperature
Temperate Rain Forest
• Found along the northwestern coast of the
United States and New Zealand.
• Twilight was set in a Temperate Rain
Forest.
• Has more moderate temperatures that
change throughout the year.
• Between 200-350 cm of precipitation.
• Further from the equator than tropical rain
forests.
Desert
• Typically found between 25o and 40o latitude
• Deserts are characterized by very dry climates.
• They have a wide yearly temperature range.
From -4 – 38 degrees Celsius. (24-100 F)
• Receive less than 25 cm of rain each year.
– The amount of evaporation is greater than the amount
of precipitation
Desert
• Organisms must adapt to the lack of rain
and extreme temperatures.
– Stem of the saguaro cactus stores water
– Gila monsters can spend weeks at a time in
their cool underground burrows
– Many other animals are most active at night
El-Oasr el-Akhdar, Egypt Precip
El-Oasr el-Akhdar, Egypt Temp
Grassland
Grasslands also known as prairie, pampas,
steppes, and veldt, are areas that receive more
rain than the desert but not enough to support
trees.
– Found on the interiors of continents between 30 and
50 degrees north and south latitude
– Average temperatures are between -20 and 30
degrees Celsius (-4 and 86 F)
– Receive 50-90 cm of rain each year
– They have very rich soil
– Home to many of the largest animals on Earth.
Grasslands
Grasslands
Savannah
• Grasslands that are closer to the equator
• Warm temperatures with wet and dry
seasons
• Temperatures range between -16 and 34
degrees Celsius (3-94 degrees F)
• Average precipitation is between 50-130 cm
• Since there is more precipitation some trees
can be found here
Savannah
Savannah
Ingeniera White, Argentina Temp
Ingeniera White, Argentina Precip
Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Where We Live!
• Named for Deciduous trees that are found there
– Trees that shed their leaves and grow new ones each
year
• Located between 30 and 50 degrees N and S Lat
• Temperatures range from -30 – 30 degrees Celsius
(-22 – 86 degrees F)
• Average precipitation is between 75-150 cm
Staunton, Virginia Temperature
Staunton, Virginia Precipitation
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Boreal/Taiga or Coniferous
Forest
• Known for its Coniferous trees
– Fir, Spruce, and Hemlock
• Further north than Deciduous Biome
• Between 50 and 60 degrees latitude
• Very cold winters—average temp between
-40 and 20 degrees Celsius (-40 and 68 F)
• Average precipitation between 30-90 cm
Boreal Forest / Taiga
Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
Tundra
• Extremely cold and dry biome
• Located between 55-70 degrees lat
• Average temperature range between -40 and 18
degrees Celsius (-40 and 64 F)
• Average precipitation less than 25 cm
• Very few plants
– Mosses
– Dwarf trees
• Layer of permanently frozen soil—Permafrost
Tundra
Yakutsk, Russia Precipitation
Yakutsk, Russia Temperature
Mountain and Ice
• Not a true biome
• As you move from the bottom to the top,
you would pass through a series of
biomes.
• Animals with adaptations to ice
– Penguins, polar bears, and seals
Mountain Biome
Freshwater Ecosystem
• Types of freshwater ecosystems
– Streams
– Rivers
– Ponds
– Lakes
• Bodies of water with high oxygen levels
and less than 1% salt
• Streams and Rivers have running water
• Ponds and Lakes have standing water
Freshwater Ecosystem
• Plants include
– Algae
– Cattails
– Swamp frond
– Lilly pads
– Grasses
Freshwater Ecosystem
• Animal Life
–
–
–
–
Flagellates
Diatoms
Leeches
River rats, Muskrats,
Otters and Minks
–
–
–
–
Sunfish and Bass
Salmon and Perch
Catfish species
Turtle speices
Marine Ecosystem
• Ecosystems that exist in salt water.
• This includes the oceans, seas, and
estuaries
• Oceans are divided into 4 different zones
Marine Ecosystems
• Intertidal zone—between the highest and
lowest tide
• Neritic zone—below the low-tide line and
out over the continental shelf
• Surface zone—on the surface of the open
ocean
• Deep zone—below the surface of the open
ocean
Intertidal Zone
• Difficult to live here
– pounding waves
– sudden changes in temperature
– covered with water and then exposed to air
Neritic Zone
• Rich with life
• Many large schools of fish feed there
• Coral reefs may form here
• Where did Nemo live?
Deep Zone
• Throughout much of the deep zone it is
completely dark
• Some animals in the deep zone glow in the dark
– Some use for
camouflage or
identification and
attraction
– Anglerfish: uses
its glow as a lure
Food Webs in the Ocean
• Algae form the basis of almost all openocean food webs
• Phytoplankton are also producers
Estuary
• A type of Marine ecosystem
• Where fresh river water and salty ocean
water meet
• Algae and plants such as marsh grasses
provide food and shelter for numerous
animals.
– Crabs, worms, clams, and fish
• Many animals use the calm waters of
estuaries for breeding grounds
Temp
Precipita Plant Life
tion
Animal Life
Tropica near the
l
equator
Rainfor
Between the
est
20-25° C
68-77° F
200 1,000
cm
Bamboo
Coconut trees
Strangler fig
Tualang tree
Kapok tree
Tiger, Bats
Chimps,
Sloth, Eagles,
Monkeys,
Toucan, many
insects
Rainfor Northwestern
est
US
moderate
temps
Change
throughout
the year
200350cm
Moss
Ferns
Redwoods
Cedar Trees
Wolves
Bear,
Raccoon
Insects
Birds, Deer
Less
than 25
cm a
year
Cactus
Brittle Bush
Creosote Bush
Joshua Tree
Soaptree Yucca
Gila Monster
Cactus Wren
Coyote
Kangaroo Rat
Desert
Tortoise
Location
Tropic of
Cancer and
the Tropic of
Capricorn
New Zealand
Desert
Between 25
-4 – 38°C
and 40° N and
S latitude
24-100° F
Rain shadow
of mountains
Grassland
Savannah
Precipitat Plant Life
ion
Location
Temp
interiors of
continents
30 and 45°
north and south
latitude
-20 - 30° 50-90
C
cm
Closer to
equator
-16 – 34
C
-30 –
30°C
Temperate Where we
Deciduous live!
Forest
Between 30
and 45° north
and south
latitude
Grasses
Milkweed
Purple
Coneflower
Stinging Nettle
Bald Eagle
Badger Bobcat
Bumble Bee
Coyote
Prairie Dog
Swift Fox
50-130
cm
Grasses and
trees
Lions, elephant,
baboon, antelope
zebra
75-150
cm
Deciduous
trees—oak,
beech, birch,
maple,
walnut, ferns,
moss
Raccoons,
Deer,
squirrels,
opossum,
black bear
-4 - 86°F
-22-86°
F
Animal Life
Taiga /
Boreal
Forest
Precipitat Plant Life
ion
Location
Temp
Between 45
and 60° North
-40 - 20° 30-90
C
cm
latitude
-40 68°F
Tundra
55° to 70°
North latitude
-40 –
18°C
Permafrost
-40 –
64° F
Less
than 25
cm
Coniferous
trees
•Fir
•Spruce
•Hemlock
•Pine
•Spruce
Animal Life
Bobcat
Canadian Lynx
Gray Wolf
Grizzly Bear
Owl
Red Fox
River Otter
Snowshoe
Rabbit
Wolverine
No trees,
Arctic Fox
small bushes, Caribou
moss
Grizzly Bear
Musk Ox
Polar Bear
Snowy Owl
Fresh
water
Types/Location
Characteristics Plant Life
Animal Life
Lakes Ponds
have standing
water
Bodies of
water with high
oxygen levels
and less than
1% salt
Algae
Cattails
Swamp
frond
Lilly pads
Grasses
Leeches
River rats,
Muskrats,
Otters and
Mink
Fish
turtles
Ecosystems
that exist in
salt water
Sea
grasses
algae
Phytoplankto
n
Plankton
Fish
sharks
Rivers Streams
have running
water
Marine oceans, seas,
and estuaries
Estuary Deltas
Along coastlines
Where fresh
Algae
river water and Marsh
salty ocean
grass
water meet
Crabs,
worms,
clams, and
fish