Eblock
Chaparral, Tropical, Savanna, Desert
Robert Anderson, Danielle Wasson, Brittany Yu, Maggie Amatucci
Chaparral
Robert Anderson
A. Temperature
It is a Mediterranean climate
 The temperature ranges between 30
and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.


http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/chapar
ral_climate.htm
B. Annual Precipitation
The average annual rainfall is 10-20
inches.
 Winter: 6.8 inches
 Spring: 2.2 inches
 Summer: 0.2 inches
 Fall: 4.4 inches


http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/med_c
hap_climate_page.htm
C. Latitude

Chaparral is found between 30 to 50
degrees north and 30 to 40 degrees
south latitudes.
Is found in central and south coast of
California, Mediterranean sea coasts,
coastal Australia, Chilean coast, and
Cape town region of Africa.
 http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/chapar
ral_climate.htm

D. My Description
Chaparral is a mediterranean biome
located along the South Coast of
California, Australia, and Chile.
 It is also located along the
Mediterranean sea. Greece is a good
example.

E. Plant Species
There are 6000+ plant species located in
Chaparral zones.
 Blue Oak- It has thick light colored bark
that is protective and reduces the amount
of fire damage.
 Manzanita- The seeds of it will not
germinate without the burning of fire to
stimulate it.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/calif_c
hap_plant_page.htm

F. Animal Species
Cactus Wren: It adapts well to a changing
climate as in Chaparral areas, and they are
able to build large nests as necessary in
the large plant species of Chaparral.
 San Joachim Kit Fox: It adapts well to hot
summers and cold winters. Because these
foxes are nocturnal, they are active during
the cooler part of nights.
 http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/calif_cha
p_animal_page.htm

G. Abiotic Factors
1. Periodic Fires are the first thing
associated with Chaparral. There are
many wildfires that are characterized with
Chaparral. Many of the plants have
flammable oils on them that cause these
fires.
 2. Hot dry summers are also characterized
with the Chaparral. Summers in the
Chaparral usually range from
 http://www1.broward.edu/~arodrigu/Envir
onmental/Berg_Visualizing/biomes_summ
ary.pdf

H. Ecological Disturbance

One disturbance often characterized with
Chaparral are wildfires. These occur
frequently, especially in California. They are
caused by the flammable oils carried by many
of the plant species, and the long dry summers.
Although these fires usually cause a lot of
damage, many plants thrive off of it. These
fires cause some seeds to germinate, spread,
and stimulate its growth.
Tropical Biome
By Danielle Wasson
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Temperature
Year-round warmth
 Normally between 93F-68F (34c-20c)
 Humidity between 77 - 88%

Annual Precipitation
More than 100 inches a year
 Usually a brief season without rain

Latitude
Almost all tropical rain forests lie near
the equator.
 Between the Tropic of Cancer (23.4378)
and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.43278)
 6% of Earth’s land surface

Description

The tropics are a hot and humid Biome.
Filled with a large variety of tall trees,
creating a thick canopy. Because the
canopy is so dense little light makes it to
the rain forest floor. More than half of
the worlds plants and animal species
live under this canopy.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Plants
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Bengal Bamboo (spineless Indian Bamboo)





Genus: Bambusa, Species: tulda
Southeast Asian rainforest
Undergrowth of rainforest floor
This grass likes temperatures up to 100 degrees, and can take large
amounts of rain that that it sucks up, and reduces soil erosion
It can grow to 80 feet in height to reach more light
Kapok Tree (Silk-cotton tree)
-
Genus: Ceiba, Species; pentandra
Originally from South America, now primarily found in West Africa, and
Southeast Asian rainforests
Grows to heights of 150 feet or more, towering over the other trees in an
umbrella shape. Many plants and animals live in the braches of this tree to
use its light and pools of water.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

Animals
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Slender Loris (Vangu)





Genus: Loris, Species: tardigradus malabaricus
Tropical rainforests of southern India and Sri Lanka
Can live in wet and dry forests, and lowland and highland forests
This Loris prefers thick, thorny vegatation where they can hide from
predators, and find insects
It is extremly small and lives in the small hollows of the trees
Kinkajou
Genus: Patos, Species: flavus
- Amazon Rainforest
- Sleeps, climbs and jumps, in the upper canopy
- Has sharp claws for to aid it in climbing trees, and a long tail to
hang from.
-
Biotic Factors

Temperature

Hot temperatures allow plants to grow year round.
 Quick growth (when plants given sunlight

Precipitation

Heavy rainfall gives large amounts of water for plants
 Gives breading grouds for many insects
Ecological Disturbance

Humans can be a huge disturbance to this biome.
People cut down up to 80,000 acres of tropical areas
each year. Thus destroying the habitat, and
endangering plant and animal species.
Citations
Michael. "Rainforest Biomes." Blue
Planet Biomes. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept.
2011.
<http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org
 Tropics - Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept.
2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tro

Savanna

By Brittany Yu
Savanna
Temperature range = 103ｰF daytime, 50
to 60ｰF at night
 Annual precipitation = 20 inches per
year
 Latitude = across equator from tropic of
Cancer (15ｰN) to tropic of Capricorn (15
ｰS). (Africa, South America, Australia)


Impression of biome = open grassland
w/ very little trees, strong, fast animals
that can escape from predators, hot,
lack of water, lack of nutrients in soil

Whistling thorn = tiny leaflets (pinnae) which
can turn to absorb sunlight, or avoid it and
reduce transpiration, drop its leaves to
conserve water, homes to stinging ants who
in return protect the tree by swarming out of
their nests and attacking an intruder at the
smallest movement.
 manketti tree = prefers hot and dry climates
with low amounts of rain, long root goes down
until it reaches water, stored in trunk, thick
bark to resist annual fires, leaves that drop off
in the winter to conserve water.

African elephants = uses trunk to pull vegetation from
the ground/ pass to mouth for chewing, large ears to
help cool off, tusks used to protect itself since there is
no protection, easy to migrate with big, strong
legs/feet, grazes/maintains grasslands
 Lions = built for hunting large, fast-running prey over
open savanna, its tawny yellow coat provides
camouflage in high dry in Africa, creep up close
before launching an explosive attack. This element of
surprise is vital because the lion powerful physique is
ideal for ambush hunting rather than the long,
potentially exhausting chases used by other
carnivores, control prey population

Rain = either have 1 long or 2 short rainy
seasons, if short then grass grow, if long then
woody vegetation grows (followed by drought
so fires can occur)
 Winter = dry season, plants shrivel up/ die,
rivers/ streams dry up. Most of animals
migrate to find food.
 Summer = plants are lush and the rivers flow
freely. The animals migrate back to graze.

Fire = trees cant establish grow tall, food for
animals (birds eat grasshoppers, stick
insects, beetles, mice, and lizards)
 Succession = secondary, Although the dry
stems and leaves of grasses are consumed
by fire, the grasses' deep roots remain
unharmed, grow again once rainy season,
roots store food reserves, scorched earth
covered with a fine layer of powdery black
ash
Ginsberg, J. "Savanna Biomes." Life
Sciences. Marshall Cavendish Digital,
2011. Web. 24 September
2011. <http://www.marshallcavendishdi
gital.com/articledisplay/8/532/5086>.
 Seymour, Adrian. "Elephant." Animal
and Plant Anatomy. Marshall Cavendish
Digital, 2011. Web. 24 September
2011. <http://www.marshallcavendishdi
gital.com/articledisplay/1/1046/10868>.


Woodward, John. "Lion." Animal and Plant
Anatomy. Marshall Cavendish Digital, 2011.
Web. 24 September
2011. <http://www.marshallcavendishdigital.c
om/articledisplay/1/1015/10468>.
 "Savanna Biomes." Blue Planet Biomes. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org
 "International experts tackle global change
through savannas - UQ News Online - The
University of Queensland." The University of
Queensland, Australia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25
Sept. 2011.

"The grassland biome." UCMP University of California Museum of
Paleontology. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept.
2011. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/
The Desert
Depending on the specific desert,
temperatures can range from 20-27˚C
during the day, and -18-10˚ C at night
 There is very little precipitation,
generally less than 50 cm a year.
 Deserts are located between 30˚N and
30˚S latitude.


Deserts are located on a variety of
continents, and can vary in temperature
range and annual rainfall. In general,
however, deserts are arid with very high
temperatures. Very few plants and
animals can survive in this environment,
and those that do have adapted to the
climate and resources available. Due to
its unique characteristics, desert
resemble no other biomes on Earth.

� The Saguaro cactus: like all cactuses, it has
adapted to its arid environment. One adaptation is
that the cactus expands as water is absorbed. This
allows it to hold as much water as possible for as
long as necessary, and to conserve the water. The
Saguaro also controls its growth depending on how
much water is available to it. This cactus lives in this
biome because its adaptations have allowed it to
survive in arid climates in which other organisms
would not survive. It needs little water to live, and is
therefore suited to the desert, while other plants
would not survive.
Old Man Cactus

This cactus is covered in a layer of fine white
hairs, which help protect it from the sun痴
rays. Like all cactuses, it can survive off of
little water and conserves what water is
available. The old man Cactus lives in this
biome because it requires the characteristics
of the desert to survive. For example, the old
man cactus needs fairly dry soil and bright
sunlight to grow, and deserts provide just that
criteria. There is no other biome in which this
cactus could survive.
Addax

The Addax is an antelope which lives in the Sahara
desert. It survives mostly on grasses and small
shrubs which grow throughout the desert. The Addax
has few natural enemies, its main predators being
human hunters. This animal can survive with very
little water, mostly extracting what water it needs from
its food. The Addax also has a special stomach lining
which stores water during periods of extreme
drought. These characteristics are the main reasons
why Addax live in this biome. They are so well suited
to having little water, that they can survive where
other animals cannot, and therefore can dominate the
community.
Gila Monster
 Lives in areas near shrubs or grasses, typically near





canyons or streams (southern California, Mexico)
eat small rodents, rabbits, birds, eggs, other lizards
eat large amounts of food at one time because food
is often hard to come by
stays in burrows underground to avoid hottest times
of the day
stores fat in tail for times when it cannot find food
Lives in this biome because it can survive in locations
where other animals would not; it has very little
competition and is well adapted to live there, so it
takes advantage

Two abiotic factors which really characterize
this biome are extreme temperatures and
lack of precipitation. Rainfall is less than 50
cm year, and depending on the deserts,
temperatures can range from extremely warm
to extremely cold. Both of these
characteristics are very extreme, and
therefore shape the appearance of the biome,
and the characteristics of the animals which
live there.
Succession

Fires are disturbances which can sometimes
occur in deserts. In terms of succession, the
organisms that would return to the area first
would be the grasses and shrubs which
require the least water and could survive best
in a climate even more arid than usual. Next
would be the cactuses whose seeds would be
blown in from other areas of the desert.
Finally, animals which depended on these
plants would slowly move back into the are,
until the community was returned basically to
normal