Biomes
Chapter 6
What is a biome?
 Biome- large region characterized by a
specific type of climate and certain types of
organisms.
Biomes and Vegetation
 Biomes are described by their vegetation
because plant species will determine the
animal species in an area.
– Plants in a biome have adaptations that allow
them to survive the climate conditions for that
biome.
 Ex- size, shape, color, root depth, reproductive
strategy
Biomes and Climate
 Climate- weather conditions
– Climate determines plants
– Two most important factors:
 Temperature- most organisms are adapted to live in
a range of temperatures. If the temperature get out
of the desired range the organism my die.
 Precipitation-The larger the organism the more water
is needed for growth and survival.
Biomes and Climate
Biomes and Climate
 Latitude- distance north or south from the
equator.
 Altitude- the height of an object above seas
level.
Forest Biomes
Forest Biomes
 Tropical Rain Forest
– Location- around the world near the equator
Forest Biomes
 Tropical Rainforest
– Precipitation- 200-450 cm
per year
– Temperature- very warm
– Growing season- 12 months
– Soil- Poor quality
 Leeching washes away
nutrients
 Plants adapted with buttresses
to support the tall trees with
shallow root systems.
Forest Biomes
 Tropical Rainforest
– Species diversity- greatest amount of diversity
 One hectare of land may contain 100 species of
trees (compared to only a few species in a temperate
forest.)
 Insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds
– Threats- Logging and clearing for farm land
 7% of earth’s surface (compared to 20% in the past)
 Everyday about 100 acres lost
Forest Biomes
 Temperate Rainforest
– Location- North America, Australia and New
Zealand.
– Precipitation- 200-450 cm per year
– Temperature- Moderate Temperatures
– Growing season- 9-12 months since it rarely
gets below freezing.
– Soil- Nutrient Rich
Forest Biomes
 Temperate Deciduous Forest
– Location- between 30 and 50 N
Forest Biomes
 Temperate Deciduous
Forest
– Precipitation- 75-125 cm
per year
– Temperature- Warm to hot
summers and cool to cold
winters
– Growing season- 4-6
months
– Soil- Deep rich soil due to
dropping of leaves in the
autumn.
Forest Biomes
 Temperate Deciduous Forest
– Species diversity- Good Species Diversity
 Insects, mammals, birds
 Amphibians and reptiles in warmer forest
– Threats- Logging and clearing for farm land and
urbanization
 Forest land has increased as farm land has been
abandoned in the U.S. and other countries.
 Today more forest exist in Alabama than in 1900.
Forest Biomes
 Taiga (Northern Coniferous Forest or Boreal
Forest)
– Location- around 50 N
Forest Biomes
 Taiga
– Precipitation- around 50 cm
per year
– Temperature- Warm
summers and cold harsh
winters
– Growing season- 50 days to
6 months
– Soil- poor quality- very acidic
Forest Biomes
 Taiga
– Species diversity- Low Species Diversity
 Insects, mammals, birds
 Plants dominated by conifers
– Threats- Acid rain, disease, and logging
 Low species diversity allows disease to decimate a
forest.
Grasslands
 Savanna
– Location- near equator
Grasslands
 Savannas
– Precipitation- 50 – 125 cm
per year
 Wet and dry season
– Temperature- 25- 30 C
– Growing season- during the
wet season
– Soil- Rich in moist areas
and poor in very dry regions
Grasslands
 Savanna
– Species Diversity- relatively diverse (less than
rain and deciduous forest)
 Plant adaptations- runners, vertical leaves, thorns,
drop leaves during the dry season
 Insects, mammals, birds
 Large migratory grazing herbivores are dominant on
the landscape.
Grasslands
 Temperate Grassland
– Location- around 30 N & S latitude
 American Prairie, Russian Steppes, Veldt of South
Africa, and Pampas of South America
Grasslands
 Temperate Grasslands
– Precipitation- 25-75 cm per
year
– Temperature- Hot summers
and cold winters
– Growing season- During the
warm summer months
(latitude will determine the
length of summer)
– Soil- Rich Soil
Grasslands
 Temperate Grasslands
– Species Diversity- moderately diverse
 Plants– dense sod forming grasses or bunch grasses
– Grasses survive frequent fire
 Animals– Insects, mammals, birds, reptiles
– Large migratory grazing animals
– Burrowing mammals
Grasslands
 Temperate Grassland
Grasslands
 Chaparral- Temperate woodland with
scattered tree communities.
– Location- Temperate zone near coastal areas
Grasslands
 Chaparral
– Precipitation- around 3035 cm per year
 Dry summers and wet
winters
– Temperature- warm
summers and mild
winters
– Growing season- year
around
– Soil- poor
Grasslands
 Chaparral
– Species Diversity
 Plants– low-lying, evergreen shrubs and trees
– Leathery leaves retain water
– Adapted to fire
 Animals
– camouflage
– Threats Human development
Desert
 High Desert
– Location- 30- 60 N & S latitude
 Hot Desert
– Location- 0- 30 N & S latitude
Desert
Desert
 Desert
– Precipitation- less
than 25 cm per year
– Temperature- varies
(hot days/cold nights)
– Growing seasonshortly after rain
– Soil- poor (very little
humus)
Desert
 Species Diversity- Very Low
– Plant adaptations
 Succulents- thick, fleshy stems and leaves that hold
water.
 Shallow spreading root system
 Short quick growth cycle when rain is available
– Animal adaptations
 Thick scaly skin holds water
 Estivating- burrowing during the hottest part of the
day
 Nocturnal
 Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, insects
– Threats- species loss, the amount of desert is
increasing word wide.
Tundra
 Location
– Northern polar regions (above 60 N latitude)
Tundra
 Precipitation- Less that
25 cm per year (snow)
 Temperature- long cold
harsh winters and
short mild summers
 Growing seasonsummer (4 months or
less)
 Soil- Poor (permafrost)
Tundra
 Species Diversity- very low
– Plant adaptations
 Low growing
 Shallow roots systems
 Quick reproductive cycle
– Animal adaptations
 Migrate or burrow during winter
 Mammals, birds (summer), insects (summer)
– Threats
 Habitat loss and pollution
Tundra
Tundra