Section 1: What is a biome?
Section 2: Forest Biomes
Section 3: Grassland, Desert,
and Tundra Biomes
Chapter 6, Section 1
What is a Biome?
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.
Key Terms:
 Biome
 Climate
 Latitude
 Altitude
What is a Biome?
A biome is a large geographic region
characterized by a specific type of climate
and certain types of plant and animal
communities.
Each biome is made up of many individual
ecosystems.
Biome vs. Ecosystem
The biosphere is divided into
biomes which are divided into
smaller ecosystems.
Biomes and Vegetation
 Ecosystems of the world are grouped into
regions called biomes. Biomes are named
for the vegetation that grows there.
 Biomes are described by their vegetation
because plants that grow in an area
determine the other organisms that can live
there.
Biomes of the World
Biomes and Climate
Climate refers to the weather conditions
such as temperature, precipitation,
humidity, and winds in an area over a
long period of time.
Biomes and Climate
 The climate of a biome is determined by
average temperature and precipitation.
 Most organisms are adapted to live within a
particular range of temperatures.
 Precipitation limits the organisms that are
found in a biome.
Biomes and Climate
Biomes and Climate
Biomes, climate, and vegetation vary with
latitude and altitude.
 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.
Biomes and Climate
Latitude vs. Altitude
Biomes and Climate
Latitude vs. Altitude
Latitude and Altitude affect climate
 Gets colder the higher up you go
(altitude)
 Gets colder the farther north/south of
the equator you go (latitude)
 Most food on Earth is grown between
30-60 degrees north and south of the
equator
Climatograms
 Show average monthly values for
temperature and precipitation.
 Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius
and is plotted as a smooth curve.
 Precipitation values are given in centimeters
and are plotted as a histogram.
Climatogram
Types of Terrestrial Biomes
 Mountains
 Tundra
 Desert
 Chaparral
 Temperate Grassland
 Tropical savanna
 Taiga
 Temperate forest
 Tropical rainforest
 Polar ice
Is the temperature of each biome hot,
moderate, or cold?
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Mountains Tundra Desert Chaparral Temperate Grassland Tropical savanna Taiga Temperate forest Tropical rainforest Polar ice -
Is the temperature of each biome hot,
moderate, or cold?
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Mountains - Moderate
Tundra - Cold
Desert - Hot
Chaparral - Moderate
Temperate Grassland - Moderate
Tropical savanna - Hot
Taiga - Cold
Temperate forest - Moderate
Tropical rainforest - Hot
Polar ice - Cold