Utah’s Biomes
Wetlands
Forests
Deserts
Elevation
How does elevation affect:
Temperature
Precipitation
Plants
Animals
May not always appear wet because of tall plants or
low level water.
A healthy wetland has a good balance of
precipitation and dry weather
Wetlands
Located between dry land and open water .
a low area where the land is soaked with water
Wet most of the year because the soil soaks up
most of the water and holds it.
Wetlands are home for many well-adapted plants and
animals.
Water enters a wetland by inflow from tributaries or
by precipitation.
Water can leave a wetland by evaporation (which is
the part of the water cycle that includes the
movement of water to the air from soil, plants, and
water surfaces), by the leaking of water into the soil,
or by overflow of water around the edges.
Wetlands
Wetlands can come in many forms including ponds,
swamps, bogs, marshes, lake or river edges, playas, or
mudflats.
a low area where the land is soaked with water
Wetlands are ecosystems in which the soil is saturated
with water for at least part of the year (during the
growing season).
Three things all wetlands have in
common
1. Water
2. Wet soil
3. Water loving plants
Wetlands a Valuable Resource
Help control flooding
Clean the water
Are rich in natural resources
Are the home for more living things than any other habitat
Wetlands can benefit us:
Wetlands serve as nesting and nursery areas for many kinds of animals.
Wetland plants and animals can act like a filter to break down pollution or to
trap sediment.
Wetlands plants can help to moderate temperatures and also to store carbon.
Wetlands can serve as flood control by absorbing water and slowing moving
water.
Life in the Wetlands
Large numbers of fish, insects, birds, and other animals live in
the wetlands. They depend upon the wetland habitat to
supply them with food, shelter and water. Many animals rely
on the protection and security of the large number of plants
for raising their young. The wetlands are also used by
thousands of migrating birds as nesting and resting places.
Coniferous forests
Coniferous: evergreen plants that stay green all year and
never lose their leaves
Forests
Deciduous: plants which lose their leaves in
the fall and regrow new leaves in the spring
an area of land that is covered in trees
Deciduous forests
The climate in this area has four distinct
seasons. The winter in deciduous forests is
cold, the summer is hot, and the fall and
spring are mild. The average yearly rainfall
measures between 75 and 150 cm (30 to 60
in).
Deciduous Forests
In Utah, the deciduous forests are found on
the lower slopes mountains
Coniferous Forests
Coniferous forest; a forest which is
comprised of trees or shrubs that have
cones.
The winter in this forest is very long and
cold. Snowfall is very heavy during the
winter season. In the spring the ground
often becomes soggy and swampy from the
snow melt. Summers are cool and pleasant.
Forests a Valuable Resource
Forests help reduce gases that are put into the air from
cars and factories
The trees give out large amounts of oxygen that we
breathe
Forest help keep our water clean and prevent soil
erosion
Desert
Most of Utah’s natural state is desert
land that receives less than 10 inches of
rainfall a year
Utah is the second driest state in the
United States
What Plants and Animals do you
think live in Utah’s Biomes?
Wetlands
Deserts
Forests