Understanding
Biomes
Bryn Zipp
Honors Biology
Mrs. Gottshall
What is a Biome?
 An
ecosystem of specific plants and
animals.
 The
plants and animals exist there due to
the favorable climate/conditions.
 Classified
biomes.
in broad terms and listed as five
Five Biomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Aquatic biome
Desert biome
Forest biome
Grassland biome
Tundra biome
Aquatic Biome
Water
makes up 75 percent of
the earth.
Two
1.
2.
regions :
Freshwater and
Marine biomes
Freshwater Regions
Ponds
and
lakes
Streams and
rivers
Wetlands
Differences in types of
Freshwater Regions
Water
temperature
Water in motion
Depth of water
And salt concentration
Freshwater Species
Plants
 Algae
 Aquatic
plants
 Hydrophytes
 Pond lilies
 Cattails
 Cypress
Animals
 Floating
snails
 Clams
 Amphibians
 Insects
 Fish
 Snakes
 Ducks
Marine Regions
Oceans
Coral
reefs
Estuaries
Differences in types of Marine
Regions
Water
temperature
Water depths
Salt concentrations
Marine Species
Plants
Seaweed
Algae
Marsh grasses
Animals
 Snails
and crabs
 Many Fish species
 Sponges and
starfish
 Oysters and
worms
 Mammals –
whales and
dolphin
Desert Biome
1.
2.
3.
4.
Types
Hot and dry
Semiarid
Coastal
Cold
Hot and Dry Desert
Climate
 Average
temperature is
120 degrees
 Can be rainless
for up to a year
Plants and Animals
 Ground
shrubs,
short trees, like
cacti, yuccas,
and prickly pears
 Burrowers,
reptiles, birds,
and insects
Semiarid Desert
Climate
 Temperatures
range from 100
degrees during the
day and 50
degrees at night
 Receives 2 inches
of rainfall a year
Plants and Animals
 Plants such as cat
claw, brittle
bushes, and jujube
 Jack rabbits,
skunks,
grasshoppers,
lizards, and
burrowing owls
Coastal Desert
Climate
 Temperatures can
range from 66 F in
the Summer and 41
F or below in the
Winter
 Average rainfall
around 4 inches a
year
Plants and Animals
Plants such as salt
bush, rice grass,
and sage
 Toads, coyotes,
badgers, great
horned owls, and
eagles

Cold Deserts
Climate
 Average
Summer
temperatures 73
degrees F and
Winter is 32
degrees F
 Heavy rain in the
Spring months
Plants and Animals
 Plants
are
everywhere and
cover 10 to 85 % of
the ground
 Kangaroo,
antelope, kit fox,
and coyotes
Forest Biome
1.
2.
3.
Tropical
Temperate
Boreal
Tropical Forest
Climate
 Average
temperature is 77
degrees through all
seasons
 Annual rainfall
exceeds 78 inches
Plants and Animals
 Mostly
all
evergreen trees,
orchids, vines,
ferns, mosses, and
palm trees
 Small mammals,
bats, and insects
Temperate Forest
Climate
 Temperature
ranges from
negative 22 to 86
degrees
 A distinct winter
and half the year
experiences frost
Plants and Animals
 Oak,
Hickory,
Maple, Elm, and
Willow trees
 Squirrels, rabbits,
deer, mountain
lions, bobcats, and
even black bear
Boreal Forest
Climate
 Seasons
are a short
warm summer and
cold long winter
 Most precipitation
is mostly snowfall,
up to 40 inches a
year
Plants and Animals
 Pine,
Fur, and
Spruce trees
 Woodpeckers,
hawks, moose,
bear, weasels, and
chipmunks
Grassland Biomes
1.
Savanna-
2.
Temperate-
Savanna Grassland
Climate
 It is always hot and
the rainfall is
approximately 50
inches a year
 Rain only occurs 6
to 8 months a year,
other months are
very dry
Plants and Animals
 Most
vegetation is
big leafed plants
and variety of
shrubs
 Giraffe, buffalo,
kangaroo, moles,
and snakes
Temperate Grassland
Climate
 Summer
temperatures
around 100
degrees F to -40
degrees F
 Rainfall is less than
20 inches a year
Plants and Animals
 Covered
with
grasses, sunflowers,
and clovers
 Gazelles, zebras,
horses, lions, prairie
dogs, and
rhinoceroses
Tundra Biome
1.
Arctic-
2.
Alpine-
Arctic Tundra
Climate
 Precipitation
including melting
snow is around 10
inches a year
 Found near the
North Pole, making
it very cold
Plants and Animals
 Short seasons of
growth for plants
 Animals have
adapted such as:
polar bears, arctic
foxes, arctic hares,
and many types of
fish
Alpine Tundra
Climate
 Temperatures
stay below
freezing
 Approximately
180 days of the
growing season
Plants and
Animals
 Tussock grasses,
and small trees
 Marmots,
mountain goats,
sheep, elk, and
grouse like birds
More About Biomes
 Biomes
can move as the environment
changes.
 If the species cannot adapt they become
extinct and new forms grow and flourish.
 The biomes are continuously harmed by
oil spills, chemical waste pollution, forest
fires, removal of trees for lumber, and
damaging the ozone layer.