Terrestrial Biomes (3.2)
State Standard
SB4A. Investigate the relationships among
organisms, populations, communities,
ecosystems, and biomes.
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
EFFECTS OF LATITUDE/CLIMATE 1
 Weather is the condition of the atmosphere
at a specific place and time.
 One of the keys to understanding these
communities is to be aware of latitude and
climatic conditions.
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
EFFECTS OF LATITUDE/CLIMATE 2 - Latitude
 The distance of any
point on the surface
of Earth north or
south from the
equator is latitude.
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
EFFECTS OF LATITUDE/CLIMATE 3 - Climate
 The average weather
conditions in an area,
including temperature
and precipitation,
describe the area’s
climate.
 The graph shows how
temperature and
precipitation influence the communities.
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 1
Biomes are classified
by 3 factors:
 plant life
 temperature
 precipitation
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 2 - Tundra
Tundra
 Temp: Very low
 Precipitation: Very low
 Plant Life: Treeless, short grasses, shallow-rooted
shrubs
 Animal Life: Caribou, polar bears, birds, insects, wolves,
trout, salmon
 Location: South of the polar ice caps in the Northern
hemisphere
 Abiotic factors: soggy summers; permafrost; cold and
dark much of the year
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 3 – Boreal Forest
Boreal Forest
 Temp: Low
 Precipitation: Low
 Plant Life: Spruce & Fir (Christmas) trees, decidous
trees, small shrubs
 Animal Life: birds, moose, beavers, deer, wolverines,
mountain lions
 Location: Northern part of North America, Europe, Asia
 Abiotic factors: short/moist summers
long/cold/dry winters
 *** AKA Taiga or Northern Coniferous Forest ***
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 4 – Temperate Forest
Temperate Forest
 Temp: Moderate
 Precipitation: Moderate
 Plant Life: Deciduous trees (oak/maple/beech), shrubs
 Animal Life: squirrels, rabbits, skunks, birds, deer, foxes,
black bear
 Location: South of boreal forest in eastern N. America,
eastern Asia, Australia, & Europe
 Abiotic factors: well-defined seasons; hot summers,
cold winters
 ***AKA Temperate Decidous Forest***
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 5 – Temperate Woodland/Shrubland
Temperate Woodland/Shrubland
 Temp: Moderate
 Precipitation: Low
 Plant Life: Evergreens, shrubs, corn oak
 Animal Life: foxes, jackrabbits, birds, bobcats, coyotes,
lizards, snakes, butterflies
 Location: surrounds Mediterranean Sea, western coasts
of North & South America, South Africa,
& Australia
 Abiotic factors: Hot,
dry summers; cool,
wet winters
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 6 – Temperate Grassland
Temperate Grassland
 Temp: moderate
 Precipitation: moderate to low
 Plant Life: grasses & herbs
 Animal Life: gazelles, bison, horses, lions, deer, mice
coyotes, foxes, wolves, birds, snakes,
grasshoppers, spiders
 Location: North & South America, Asia, Africa, Australia
 Abiotic factors: hot
summers, cold
winters, fires
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 7 - Desert
Desert
 Temp: Very High to low
 Precipitation: Very low
 Plant Life: cacti, Joshua trees, succulents
 Animal Life: lizards, bobcats, birds, tortoises, rats,
antelope, desert toads
 Location: every continent except Europe
 Abiotic factors: dry;
widely variable
temperature from
day to night
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 8 – Tropical Savanna
Tropical Savanna
 Temp: Very high
 Precipitation: Moderately Low
 Plant Life: grasses & scattered trees
 Animal Life: lions, hyenas, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes,
zebras, birds, insects
 Location: Africa, South America, & Australia
 Abiotic factors: hot/rainy summers; cool/dry winters
 ***Think “Lion King”***
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 9 – Tropical Seasonal Forest
Tropical Seasonal Forest
 Temp: Very High
 Precipitation: Moderate
 Plant Life: deciduous & evergreen trees, orchids, mosses
 Animal Life: elephants, tigers, monkeys, koalas, rabbits,
frogs, spiders
 Location: Africa, Asia, Australia, South & Central
America
 Abiotic factors:
seasonal rainfall
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
MAJOR LAND BIOMES 10 – Tropical Rain Forest
Tropical Rain Forest
***Biome with the most biodiversity***
 Temp: Very High
 Precipitation: Very High
 Plant Life: broadleaf evergreens, bamboo, sugar cane
 Animal Life: chimps, Bengal tigers, elephants, toucans,
bats, orangutans, sloths, snakes, insects
 Location: Central & South America, southern Asia,
western Africa, &
northeastern Australia
 Abiotic factors:
humid all year;
hot/wet
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
OTHER TERRESTRIAL AREAS 1
Mountains
 If you go up a mountain, temperature and
precipitation will change with increasing elevation.
 An increase in altitude has the same effect as an
increase in latitude.
 The highest points on a mountain will resemble the
tundra.
***Be able to
explain this
diagram***
Chapter 3
Communities, Biomes, and Ecosystems
3.2 Terrestrial Biomes
OTHER TERRESTRIAL AREAS 2
Polar Regions
 Border the tundra
at high latitudes
 Polar regions are
cold all year.
Penguins in Antarctica