Biomes
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What is a biome? Aka
ecosystems- large area of
land characterized by
certain soil and climate
conditions, and particular
assemblages of plants
and animals.
Biomes located on land
are called terrestrial
Those located in oceans,
lakes, streams, or ponds
are called aquatic
Biomes
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Terrestrial biomes
Tundra,
Taiga (Boreal)
Desert
Grassland
Savannah (Temperate
woodland)
Chaparral
Temperate Deciduous Forest,
Northwestern Coniferous
Forest,
Tropical Rain Forest,
Tropical Dry Forest
Mountains and Ice Caps
Biomes
 Aquatic
Biomes
include ….
 Marine, estuary,
and freshwater.
Biomes
Biomes
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Biomes are closely
tied to the climate in
which illustrate.
 A climatogram is a
graph used to
illustrate both the
amount of rainfall and
temperature of a
specific area within a
given time period.
Tundra
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Treeless land.
 Short soggy summers;
long, cold, dark winters
 Strong winds
 Temperature never
rises above freezing for
long.
Tundra
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PermafrostPermanently frozen
subsoil
 Only topmost layer of
soil thaws during the
summer
 Poorly developed soil
 Grasses, shallowrooted plants
Tundra
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Bearberry is a
common plant that
can be found in the
Tundra.
 This is in the warm
season.
Tundra
 Mosses,
lichens,
sedges,
bearberry, and
short grasses
 Waterfowl,
musk
ox, arctic foxes,
caribou,
lemmings
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Tundra
Taiga
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Also known as Boreal
Forest.
 Bitter cold winter; but
mild summers.
 The land will thaw
during summertime.
 Nutrient poor soil
Taiga
Plant Life- Land
of mixed pine, fir,
hemlock, and
spruce trees.
 Animal LifeBears, elk, deer,
beavers, owls,
bobcats
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Taiga
Taiga
Desert
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All deserts are dry…Little
and unpredictable
rainfall..usually 25 cm of
rain or less annually.
Deserts vary greatly
depending on location.
Cold and hot deserts
exist.
Soil is rich in minerals but
poor in organic matter.
Desert
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Arid region with
sparse plant life.
 Occupy about 1/5 of
the Earth’s surface.
 Animal LifeDiamondback, Desert
Tortoise,
 Plant Life -Cactus,
mesquite, creosote
bush
Desert
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Deserts may be found throughout the
world. Organisms can tolerate extreme
temperature and lack of water.
Desert
Desert
Temperate
Grasslands
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Characterized by a rich of mix
grasses and some of the
worlds fertile soil.
Grassland are found around
the globe and have served as
grazing areas for a large
number of animals, and have
been exploited as farming
grounds or plantations by
humans.
Temperate
Grasslands
 Warm
to hot summers’ and cold winters
 Moderate seasonal precipitation
 Periodic fires and heavy grazing maintain
the characteristic plant community.
Temperate
Grasslands
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Dominant plants:
perennial grasses
and herbs and
sunflowers, oats,
rye, wheat
 Dominant wildlife:
coyotes badgers,
deer, and rabbits
Temperate
Grasslands
Temperate
Grasslands
Temperate
Grasslands
Temperate
Grasslands
Tropical Savanna
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Characterized by a cover
of grasses.
Spotted with isolated
trees, groves of trees and
shrubs.
Frequent fires and large
mammals.
Distinct seasons, dry and
wet.
Many small animals are
dormant during dry
period.
Tropical Savanna
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The dry season is
marked by months of
drought and fire which
are essential to the
maintenance of
savannas.
 Without the period of
drought and fire, some
scientists believe that
tropical savannas would
eventually change into
tropical forests.
Tropical Savanna
Savanna
 Warm
Temperature
 Seasonal Rainfall
 Compact or poor
soil
 Frequent fires due
to lightening.
Tropical Savanna
Northwestern Coniferous
Forest
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Mild Moist air from the
Pacific Ocean
provides abundant
rainfall to this biome.
 Relatively cool dry
summer.
Northwestern Coniferous
Forest
 Forest
is made of a
variety of conifers,
ranging from giant
redwoods to
spruce, fir, and
hemlock.
 Moss covered tree
trunks and forest
floor are common.
Northwestern Coniferous
Forest
 Animal
LifeBears, large
herbivores
such as elk
and deer,
beavers, and
bobcats.
Chaparral
 Scrubland,
regions
of dense shrubs
along coasts.
 Between 30 and 40
degrees latitude.
Chaparral
 Rainy
winters,
long dry
summers.
 Maintained by
periodic fires.
 Deer, birds,
rodents, snakes,
etc.
Temperate
Deciduous Forest
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Contains both
deciduous and
coniferous trees
 Rains year round
 Cold to moderate
winters with warm
summers
 Fertile soils
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
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Broad-leaved
hardwood trees that
loose their foliage
 Ex: Deer, Bears,
Oaks, Maples,
Salamanders
Temperate Deciduous Forest
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Plant Life- deciduous trees and conifers,
flowering shrubs herbs and layers of moss and
ferns
 Animal Life- Deer, black bears, bobcats,
squirrels
Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Tropical Rain
Forests
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Most biologically diverse
terrestrial biome.
Found near the equator
Warm, wet weather
dominated by lush plant
growth
Receives at least 200 cm of
precipitation annually.
Rain is usually a daily
event.
Dense, tangled vegetation
Tropical Rain
Forest
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Forest exhibit the following
levels.
Competition for light.
Soil is usually poor due to
rapid nutrient recycling.
Animals are often tree
dwellers.
Plant Life: Broad leaf
evergreen trees; ferns, large
wood vines, and bamboo.
Animal Life: Sloths, Monkeys,
Jaguars, parrots, and
anacondas.
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tropical
Rain Forest
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tropical Dry Forest
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This biome grow in
places where rainfall
is highly seasonal.
 In the dry season,
nearly all the trees
lose leaves in order to
conserve water.
 Generally warm yearround
Tropical Dry Forest
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Animal Life- Tigers,
monkey, elephants,
birds, snakes
 Plant Life- Tall,
deciduous treees that
form a canopy during
the wet season,
drought- tolerant
orchids and other
plants.
Tropical Dry Forest
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A waterhole in the dry
season (note the
absence of leaves in the
taller trees), is a magnet
to wildlife.
A late morning, or
afternoon visit may yield
views of several species
of monkeys, deer,
peccaries, as well as
numerous birds, bees
and wasps.
AQUATIC BIOMES
 75%
of Earth is covered in water.
 Divided into two categories
freshwater and marine
 Marine Biomes: The water is salt
water. Oceans, sea, and some inland
lakes contain salt water.
 Freshwater is confined to rivers,
streams, ponds and most lakes.
Marine
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Oceans contain the
largest amount of
biomass, or living
material, of any biome
on earth.
 Many living
organisms are small
they cannot even be
seen.
 Ecologist study
marine biomes by
separating them into
different zones.
Freshwater
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Ponds, lake, rivers,
etc are also full of life
but more so around
the shoreline and in
shallow areas.
 Water temperature
and sunlight
penetration are
factors that limits life
in freshwater biomes.
Freshwater
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In the shallow waters
you will find plants
such as cattails and
sedges.
 These plants serve as
food and homes for
tadpoles, aquatic
insects, worms,
crayfish, dragonflies
 Minnows, bluegill, and
carp also live here.
Estuary
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An estuary is a
coastal body of water,
partially surrounded
by land, in which
freshwater and
saltwater mix.
 It may extend many
miles inland.
Estuary
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Wide range of organisms live here.
North America