Productivity is a key attribute of biomes. Productive biomes
recycle nutrients well and can support high density of living
organisms.
$ Gross productivity is sunlight converted to chemical energy per
unit time. Net productivity is gross productivity - respiration
energy.
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Productive biomes, in order, are:
Rainforests, tropical ocean reefs, marshlands, temperate forests,
estuaries, grasslands, crops, taiga, upwelling zones, lakes/rivers,
ocean, tundra and deserts.
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Think About It!
Which biomes have the most severe environmental pressure?
Which biomes have the highest human population growth?
What is the effect of replacing forests with farmland?
These questions are central to our environmental issues.
Biome Basics: Check your Biome Treasure Hunt answers!
Chaparral (our biome): mid latitude (30-60o), low altitude,
seasonal temps 50-90 oF, medium seasonal rainfall, coastal. Found
in California & Mediterranean - best climate EVER! Moderately
productive.
Savannah (tropical grassland): tropics (30oN - 30oS), low altitude,
constant warm temps (70-100oF), seasonal heavy rainfall, inland.
Moderate productivity.
Temperate grassland: mid latitude (30-60o) , low altitude, seasonal
temps 50-90 oF, medium seasonal rainfall (+ snow), inland.
Moderate productivity.
Desert: latitude (30oN or
30o S) , altitude varies,
seasonal temps 30-110 oF,
very low seasonal rainfall,
inland. Low productivity.
Deciduous Forest: mid
latitude (30-60o) , low-medium
altitude, seasonal temps 20-90
o
F, medium seasonal rainfall (+
snow), coastal or inland.
Moderate productivity.
Tropical Forest: tropics
(30oN - 30oS), low-medium altitude, constant warm temps (70100oF), constant heavy rainfall, coastal or inland. High
productivity.
Conifer Forest: mid to upper latitude (30-80o) , medium - high
altitude, seasonal temps 0-90 oF, low seasonal rainfall (plus snow),
coastal or inland. Moderate productivity.
Tundra: upper latitude (>70o) any
altitude, other latitudes at very high
altitude, seasonal temps -10-80 oF,
low seasonal rainfall (plus snow),
coastal or inland. Low
productivity.
Aquatic Biomes are also key
to the earth’s productivity and
are the original source of our
fresh water supplies (due to
evaporation).
Coral reefs are shown in
orange, marshlands in green.
The photic zone of the ocean (top 5-10 meters) is also highly
productive. Deep oceans are not productive.