Land Biomes Land Biomes Biome- geographic areas that have similar climates and ecosystems Land Biomes The 6 most common biomes are: • • • • • • Tundra Taiga Temperate Deciduous Forest Tropical Rain Forest Grassland Desert Land Biomes Tundra Found in parts of Canada, Alaska, and Siberia Tundra – “The Cold Desert” • Found at latitudes around the North Pole • Less than 25 cm precipitation yearly • Very cold year round (-40ºC in winter) • Cold, dry, treeless region Tundra – “The Land of the Midnight Sun” • Winter lasts 6 to 9 months with no daylight • Summer is short and cold with 24 hours of sunlight a day Tundra• Soil is poor • Permafrost – Layer of permanently frozen soil Plants of the Tundra Tundra plants are resistant to drought and cold Examples: • Reindeer moss (a lichen!) • Lichens • True mosses • Grasses • Small shrubs and flowers Plants of the Tundra Tundra plants are resistant to drought and cold Tundra plants are small (usually less than 12 inches tall) and low-growing due to lack of nutrients, because being close to the ground helps keep the plants from freezing, and because the roots cannot penetrate the permafrost. Plants are dark in color—some are even red—this helps them absorb solar heat. Some plants are covered with hair which helps keep them warm. Some plants grow in clumps to protect one another from the wind and cold. Some plants have dish-like flowers that follow the sun, focusing more solar heat on the center of the flower, helping the plant stay warm. Plants of the Tundra • Reindeer moss – It’s a lichen! Plants of the Tundra • Lichens Plants of the Tundra • Lichen Plants of the Tundra • True Mosses Plants of the Tundra • Small shrubs and flowers Plants of the Tundra • Small shrubs and flowers Plants of the Tundra • Small shrubs and flowers Plants of the Tundra • Grasses Animals of the Tundra Many animals of the tundra migrate there during the short summer Examples: • Biting insects • Snowy owls • Arctic hares •Caribou •Musk oxen •Lemmings Animals of the Tundra • Biting insects Mosquito Blackfly Animals of the Tundra • Snowy owl Animals of the Tundra • Arctic hare Animals of the Tundra • Caribou – “Reindeer” Animals of the Tundra • Musk oxen Animals of the Tundra • Lemmings Animals of the Tundra • Lemmings Taiga or Coniferous Forest Found in parts of Canada, Alaska, and Russia Taiga or Coniferous Forest • World’s largest land biome • Latitudes between 50ºN and 60ºN Taiga• Warmer and wetter than the Tundra • Winters are long and cold • 35 to 40 cm of precipitation yearly (mostly snow) Plants of the Taiga There is no permafrost, so trees can grow. Mosses and lichens grow on the forest floor. Examples: • Cone-bearing Evergreen trees – Firs – Spruces – Pines –Hemlocks –Cedars Plants of the Taiga There is no permafrost, so trees can grow. Mosses and lichens grow on the forest floor. many trees are evergreen so that plants can photosynthesize right away when temperatures rise many trees have needle-like leaves which shape loses less water and sheds snow more easily than broad leaves waxy coating on needles prevent evaporation needles are dark in color allowing more solar heat to be absorbed many trees have branches that droop downward to help shed excess snow to keep the branches from breaking http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/ Plants of the Taiga • Fir tree Plants of the Taiga • Spruce tree Plants of the Taiga • Hemlock tree Plants of the Taiga • Liverwort (a moss) Plants of the Taiga • Mosses Animals of the Taiga Many animals live in the Taiga. Examples: • Moose • Black Bear • Lynx • Wolves •Badgers •Wolverines •Ermines •Deer Animals of the Taiga • Moose Animals of the Taiga • Black bear Animals of the Taiga • Lynx Animals of the Taiga • Wolf Animals of the Taiga • Badger Animals of the Taiga • Wolverine Temperate Deciduous Forest Found in Europe, the eastern part of the U.S.A., and China Temperate Deciduous Forest • Found below 50ºN latitude • 75 to 150 cm precipitation yearly Temperate Deciduous Forest • Wide range of temperatures with 4 seasons • Below freezing in winter to 30ºC in summer Temperate Deciduous Forest • Soil is rich in nutrients from layers of decomposing leaves Temperate Deciduous Forest • Layers of vegetation – Canopy – Understory – Forest floor Layers of Vegetation Canopy- tree tops that shade the ground below Understory- shrub layer Forest floor- dark and moist layer of dead leaves, twigs, and seeds Layers of Vegetation Canopy Layers of Vegetation Understory Layers of Vegetation Forest floor Life in the Temperate Deciduous Forest The mild climate and rich soil of the temperate deciduous forest supports a wide variety of plant and animal life. Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest Plant life is abundant. Examples: •Oak trees •Shrubs •Hickory trees •Wildflowers •Maple trees •Ferns Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest wildflowers grow on forest floor early in the spring before trees leaf-out and shade the forest floor many trees are deciduous (they drop their leaves in the autumn, and grow new ones in spring). Most deciduous trees have thin, broad, light-weight leaves that can capture a lot of sunlight to make a lot of food for the tree in warm weather; when the weather gets cooler, the broad leaves cause too much water loss and can be weighed down by too much snow, so the tree drops its leaves. New ones will grow in the spring. trees have thick bark to protect against cold winters Broad leaves can capture a lot of sunlight for a tree. Many trees have thick bark to protect against the cold winters in the temperate deciduous forest. Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Oak tree Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Hickory tree Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Maple tree Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Shrubs (Azalea) Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Shrubs (Holly) Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Wildflowers Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Wildflowers Plants of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Ferns Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest Animal life is diverse. Examples: •Deer •Birds •Foxes •Raccoons •Snakes •Amphibians •Bears •Small mammals Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Deer Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Fox Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Snakes (Eastern Garter Snake) Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Snakes (Copperhead) Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Black bear Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Birds (Bald Eagle) Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Birds (Barn Owl) Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Birds Woodpecker Cardinal Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Raccoon Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Amphibians Wood frog Leopard Frog Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Amphibians Spotted Salamander Jefferson Salamander Animals of the Temperate Deciduous Forest •Small Mammals Field Mouse Squirrel Tropical Rain Forest Found near the equator in Africa, South America, Australia, and the Pacific Islands Tropical Rain Forest • Found near the equator • 250 to 400 cm precipitation yearly Tropical Rain Forest • Hot and humid all year • Temperatures are fairly constant around 25ºC; however range between 20ºC (68ºF) -34ºC (93ºF) • One constant season Tropical Rain Forest • Soil is nutrient poor and acidic • Most plants have shallow roots • Broad, waxy leaves Tropical Rain Forest Layers of Vegetation Life in the Tropical Rain Forest The tropical rain forest is a lush, productive ecosystem containing more than half of all the species that live on Earth. Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest A rain forest may contain more than 700 species of trees and over 1000 species of flowering plants. Examples: •Mahogany trees •Bromeliads and orchids •Giant ferns •Many flowering plants Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest A rain forest may contain more than 700 species of trees and over 1000 species of flowering plants. Tropical Rainforest Plant Adaptations - drip tips and waxy surfaces allow water to run off, to discourage growth of bacteria and fungi - long or large (broad leaves) to capture sunlight in lower layers - buttresses and prop and stilt roots help hold up plants in the shallow soil - some plants climb on others to reach the sunlight - some plants grow on other plants to reach the sunlight - smooth bark and smooth or waxy flowers speed the run off of water - plants have shallow roots to help capture nutrients from the top level of soil. -many bromeliads are epiphytes (plants that live on other plants); instead of collecting water with roots they collect rainwater into a central reservoir from which they absorb the water through hairs on their leaves - epiphytic orchids have aerial roots that cling to the host plant, absorb minerals, and absorb water from the atmosphere http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/ Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest •Mahogany tree Notice how the roots rise above the ground to help support this giant tree! Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest •Bromeliads Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest •Orchids Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest •Giant ferns Plants of the Tropical Rain Forest •Flowering plants Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest The rain forest is home to a huge number of animals. Examples: •Monkeys •Bats •Exotic birds •Insects •Snakes •Large cats •Sloths •Exotic mammals Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Rainforest Animal Adaptation Facts - Many animals of the rainforest are camouflaged which aids them in avoiding predators - Other animals use camouflage to hide in wait for prey - One adaptation quite the opposite of camouflage is that of the brightly colored poison arrow frogs and poison dart frogs. The bright colors of these species serve as a warning to predators not to eat them. - Some animals have adaptations that enable them to eat food that other animals can't. For example parrots have strong beaks that crack the shells of very hard nuts. - Some have specialized adaptations for living in very little sunlight on the forest floor. http://www.tropical-rainforest-facts.com/Tropical-Rainforest-Animal-Facts/Tropical-Rainforest-AnimalFacts.shtml Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Monkeys Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Exotic birds Toucan Parrots Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Exotic birds Cockatoo Hummingbird Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Snakes (Anaconda) Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Snakes Albino Ball Python Green Mamba Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Sloths Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Bat (Fruit bat) Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Insects Butterfly Beetle Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Large Cats (Jaguar) Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Large Cats (Sumatran Tiger) Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Large Cat (Ocelot) Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Exotic mammals Paca Peccary Animals of the Tropical Rain Forest •Exotic mammals Agouti Nutria Grassland “The Bread Basket of the World” Found on every continent. Grassland Grasslands are known by many names. U.S.A. – Prairie or Plains •Asia – Steppe •South America – Pampas •Africa –Veldt or Savanna •Australia - Savanna Grassland • Wet seasons followed by a season of drought • 25 to 75 cm precipitation yearly Grassland • In winter, temperatures can plummet to well below 0ºF(-17ºC)in some areas. • In summer, temperatures can reach above 90ºF (32ºC). Grassland • The soil is rich and fertile. • The grass has extensive root systems, called sod. Plants of the Grassland Grassland regions of the world are important farming areas. Cereal and grains grow here. Examples: •Wheat •Rye •Barley •Corn Plants of the Grassland •Wheat Plants of the Grassland •Rye Plants of the Grassland •Barley Plants of the Grassland •Corn Plants of the Grassland ADAPTATIONS During a fire, while above-ground portions of grasses may perish, the root portions survive to sprout again Some prairie trees have thick bark to resist fire Prairie shrubs readily resprout after fire Roots of prairie grasses extend deep into the ground to absorb as much moisture as they can Extensive root systems prevent grazing animals from pulling roots out of the ground Prairie grasses have narrow leaves which lose less water than broad leaves Grasses grow from near their base, not from tip, thus are not permanently damaged from grazing animals or fire Many grasses take advantage of exposed, windy conditions and are wind pollinated Soft stems enable prairie grasses to bend in the wind http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/ Animals of the Grassland The most noticeable animals in grassland ecosystems are usually grazing mammals. Animals of the American Grassland •Bison Animals of the American Grassland •Prairie Dog Animals of the American Grassland •Pronghorn Animals of the American Grassland •Coyote Tropical Grassland Savanna • Wet (summer) seasons followed by a (winter) season of drought • Usually slightly cooler in the dry season • 100 to 150 cm precipitation yearly Tropical Grassland Savanna • The average temperature is about 20-30 degrees Celsius (summer). The winter temperature is about 20-25 degrees Celsius and the summer is 2530 degrees Celsius. Plants of the Savanna Plants Baobab Plants of the Savanna Plants Acacia Senegal Plants of the Savanna Plants Elephant Grass Plants of the Savanna Plants Acacia Senegal Baobab Bermuda Grass Candelabra Tree Elephant Grass Gum Tree Eucalyptus Jackalberry Tree Jarrah tree Kangaroo Paw Manketti Tree River Bushwillow Umbrella Thorn Acacia Whistling Thorn Animals of the African Grassland •Gazelle Animals of the African Grassland •Wildebeest Animals of the African Grassland •Lion Animals of the African Grassland •Elephant Animals of the African Grassland •Giraffe Animals of the Australian Grassland Australian grassland animals are marsupials •Kangaroo Animals of the Australian Grassland •Long Nosed Bandicoot Animals of the Australian Grassland •Wallaby Animals of the Australian Grassland •Wombat Desert The driest biome on Earth Desert • Extreme temperaturesVery hot during the day and cool at night Desert • Very little rainfall • Less than 25 cm precipitation yearly Desert • The soil ranges from gravel to sand. • Soil is nutrient poor. Plants of the Desert Desert plants have evolved adaptations to help them survive in the extreme temperatures and dryness of this biome. Examples: •Cactus •Wildflowers •Mesquite •Creosote •Joshua trees •Cactus Plants of the Desert Saguaro Prickly Pear Plants of the Desert •Mesquite Plants of the Desert •Joshua tree Plants of the Desert •Wildflowers Plants of the Desert •Creosote Plants of the Desert Desert plants have evolved adaptations to help them survive in the extreme temperatures and dryness of this biome. FLORA ADAPTATIONS: FLORA ADAPTATIONS: - succulents, store water in their stems or leaves; - some have no leaves or small seasonal leaves that only grow after it rains - leafless plants conduct photosynthesis in their green stems - long root systems spread out wide or go deep into the ground to absorb water; - leaves with hair help shade the plant, reducing water loss - others have leaves that turn throughout the day to expose a minimum surface area to the heat - some have spines to discourage animals from eating plants for water; - waxy coating on stems and leaves help reduce water loss. http://www.mbgnet.net/bioplants/ Animals of the Desert The animals of the desert are adapted to the hot temperatures. Examples: •Lizards •Kangaroo rat •Camels •Gila Monster •Snakes •Predatory birds •Scorpions •Tarantula Animals of the Desert •Lizards Desert Iguana Frilled Lizard Animals of the Desert •Camel Animals of the Desert •Snakes Diamondback Rattlesnake Sidewinder Animals of the Desert •Scorpion Animals of the Desert •Kangaroo rat Animals of the Desert •Gila Monster Animals of the Desert •Predatory birds Great Horned Owl Kestrel Animals of the Desert •Tarantula Animals of the Desert ADAPTATIONS: The animals of the desert are adapted to the hot temperatures. The two main adaptations that desert animals must make are how to deal with lack of water and how to deal with extremes in temperature. - Many desert animals avoid the heat of the desert by simply staying out of it as much as possible. - most desert animals get their water from the food they eat: succulent plants, seeds, or the blood and body tissues of their prey. - Desert animals prevent water leaving their bodies in a number of different ways. - Some, like kangaroo rats and lizards, live in burrows which do not get too hot or too cold and have more humid (damp) air inside. These animals stay in their burrows during the hot days and emerge at night to feed. - Other animals have bodies designed to save water. Scorpions and wolf spiders have a thick outer covering which reduces moisture loss. - The kidneys of desert animals concentrate urine, so that they excrete less water. http://resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/homework/adaptations/desert.htm
