Chapter 6: Biomes
Biomes
 Has
anyone ever heard of biomes
before?
– Do you recognize any part of the word?
 Biomes
are related to ecosystems,
which was our last unit
Biomes
 Biomes
– A large region characterized
by a specific type of climate and
certain types of plants and animal
communities (ecosystems)
– Each biome is made up of many
ecosystems
 There
is a lot in that definition, but
look at it and see what you already
recognize
Biomes
 Each
biome has it’s own climate and
certain types of plants and animals
 You
can tell a lot about the Biome
just from the name
 So
we’re going to play a little game
Biomes Game
 I’m
going to put up a list of several
of the different biomes
 You
will then have to put them in
order based on different categories
that I give you
– Remember this is all based on what you
already know about these places and
words
Biomes Game

Different Types:
Polar Ice
 Tropical Rain Forest
 Temperate
Grassland
 Desert
 Tropical Savanna
 Tundra


Categories:
1. Alphabetical
2. Hottest to Coldest
3. Most precipitation
to least rain
4. Closest to Philly to
farthest from
Philly
Biomes

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
There are 10 different types of
terrestrial biomes, and we will learn
about most of them:
Polar Ice
Temperate Forest
Taiga
Chaparral
Tundra
6. Tropical Rain Forest
7. Tropical Savanna
8. Temperate Grassland
9. Desert
10. Mountains
Biomes Map
Biome Activity
You’re going to
make your own
BIOME map
 Follow the
instructions on
your paper

Biomes
 Biomes
are often defined by their
vegetation
 The
plants that grow in an area
determine the other organisms that
can live there
– Why is this true?
– Plants are the producers, the base of
the food chain, so all consumers depend
on them
Climate
 But
what determines what plants can
grow where?
– The weather!
 Climate
– the weather conditions in
an area over a long period of time
– Includes temperature, precipitation,
winds, humidity, etc.
Climate of a Biome

The climate of a biome is based on
two things:
1. Average Temperature
2. Average Precipitation


Remember that precipitation is not just
rain
Only certain organisms can live in
certain areas
– You wouldn’t find a polar bear in a
tropical rain forest (why?)
Climate
 Precipitation
is also a limiting factor
in a biome
 Every organism needs water, but
some need more than others
– We need more water than an ant, but
less water than a big Oak Tree
 So
where there is a lot of rain, there
can be a lot of big trees and plant
growth
– This means more organisms in general
Latitude and Altitude
 What
are some factors that can
affect weather?
– How close to the equator you are
 The
closer the hotter
– How high up you are
 The
higher the colder
 Latitude
– distance north or south of
the equator
 Altitude – height above sea level
Latitude and Altitude Activity
 Picture
 The
the room as the globe
front is the North Pole
 The back where the windows are is
the South Pole
 The middle is the equator
Latitude and Altitude
 Who
in the room would be the
hottest and why?
 Who
would be the coldest?
 What
types of biomes, plants and
animals would be living in your part
of the world?
Latitude and Altitude
 Now,
how can we change altitude?
– Everyone is sitting on the same type of
chair
 We’re
going to have to stand on
tables and sit on the floor
 How
would that change the climate?
Latitude and Altitude
Climatograms or Climatographs
Temp

Precip.
Climatograms – a
graph that shows
both the average
temp and
precipitation for a
given biome
The line shows the
Temperature
 The bars show the
precipitation

Climatograms



Which month had
the most rain?
Which month had
the least rain?
Which month has
the highest
temperature?
Example
1. Which biome is this and
where is it located?
2. Which month(s) is the
hottest? Coldest?
3. Which month(s) are the
driest? Most moist?
4. Are there seasons?
5. Is this near the equator,
north, or south of it?
Temperate Forest
Tropical Savanna
Temperate Grassland
Chaparral
Desert
Tundra
Climatogram Activity



You will be given a blank data page to
look at, with one set of data highlighted.
You will be given 2 markers – follow
instructions to graph your climatogram
Answer the questions about your
climatogram on the back of your sheet.