7-2 How Does Climate Affect the Nature
and Locations of Biomes?
 Concept 7-2 Differences in average annual
precipitation and temperature lead to the
formation of tropical, temperate, and cold
deserts, grasslands, and forests, and largely
determine their locations.
Climate Affects Where Organisms
Can Live
 Biomes characterized by having similar:
• Climate
• Precipitation
• Temperature
• Soil
• Plants
• Animal
 Latitude and elevation
 Biomes are mosaics of patches
 Do not have distinct boundaries (ecotone)
The Earth’s Major Biomes
Generalized Effects of Elevation and
Latitude on Climate and Biomes
Natural Capital: Average Precipitation and
Average Temperature as Limiting Factors
Biome: Deciduous Forest
 Climate
• Temperature:
Temperate & Tropical
• Precipitation: 75 – 250
cm per year
 Dominant Vegetation &
Adaptations:
• Hardwood (Deciduous)
Trees
• Loose leaves in winter
to conserve energy
Biome: Deciduous Forest
 Major Locations
• North America, Europe, Australia, and Eastern
Asia
 Characteristic Fauna
• Black bear, white-tail deer, squirrels, raccoons,
opossums
Biome: Deciduous Forest
 Soil Characteristics
• Very rich soil with high organic content
 Other Important Facts
• Slow decomposition rates in the forest lead to
high soil quality
Temperate Rain Forest in Washington
State, U.S.
Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate,
and Cold Forests
Biome: Tropical Rainforest
 Climate
• Temperature: Tropical
• Precipitation: 200 – 400 cm per year
 Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
• Broadleaf Evergreen trees
• Large leaves to catch rare sunlight
• Vines, epiphytes
• Get moisture from the air, roots not in ground
• All plants adapted to LOW light
Biome: Tropical Rainforest
 Major Locations
• South America, West Africa, Southeast Asia
 Characteristic Fauna
• Monkeys, insects, amphibians, tropical birds
Biome: Tropical Rainforest
 Soil Characteristics
• POOR soil due to rapid rate
of decomposition
 Other Important Facts
• Stratification provides
niches for specialized
species – leads to high
biodiversity
Stratification of Specialized Plant and
Animal Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest
Biome: Grasslands
 Climate
• Temperature: Tropical & Temperate
• Precipitation: 10 – 60 cm per year
 Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
• Sod-forming grasses which are adapted to fire
• Grasses store most of their biomass in the roots,
this ensures their recovery after a fire, and after
grazers have eaten their tops
Biome: Grasslands
 Major Locations
• North American plains (prairies), Russia
(steppes), South Africa (velds), Argentina
(pampas), Africa (savanna)
 Characteristic Fauna
• Grazers & Browsers
Biome: Grasslands
 Soil Characteristics
• Rich Soil
• Has made the
grasslands prime for
human interference
by agriculture
 Other Important Facts
• Fire adapted
• Large animals
Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate,
and Cold Grasslands
Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically
Diverse Temperate Grassland
Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
 Climate
• Temperature: Cold
• Precipitation: 20- 60 cm (mostly in summer)
 Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
• Coniferous evergreens
• Small needle-shaped leaves with waxy coating to
help conserve energy loss. Stay green all year
because of relatively low solar intensity year-round
Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
 Major Locations
• Northern North America (Canada), Northern
Eurasia
 Characteristic Fauna
• Bears, wolves, moose, lynx, and burrowing
rodents
Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)
 Soil Characteristics
• Soil is thin and nutrient poor
because of the acidic tannins
in pine needles
 Other Important Facts
• California’s Giant Redwoods
(Sequoias)
Biome: Tundra
 Climate
• Temperature: Cold (grassland)
• Precipitation: Less than 25 cm
 Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
• Herbaceous plants
• Low-growing plants,
dwarf shrubs,
lichens
Biome: Tundra
 Major Locations
• Northern latitudes of North America, Europe and
northern Eurasia
 Characteristic Fauna
• Caribou (reindeer), migratory waterfowl, arctic
wolf, arctic fox, musk oxen, snowy owl
Biome: Tundra
 Soil Characteristics
• Permafrost!!
• Very thin, fragile soil
 Other Important Facts
• Most annual growth occurs in the 7-8 week long
summer
• Melting permafrost releases CH4 and CO2: both
greenhouse gasses!!
Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)
 Climate
• Temperature: Temperate
• Precipitation: 50 – 75 cm (mostly in winter)
 Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:
• Small trees with large hard leaves, spiny shrubs,
adapted to fire
• Burn easily
• Seeds germinate
when exposed to
hot fire
Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)
 Major Locations
• Western North America, the Mediterranean
 Characteristic Fauna
• Mule deer, chipmunks, jackrabbits, lizards, variety
of birds
Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)
 Soil Characteristics
• Shallow and infertile soil
 Other Important Facts
• Prone to fire in dry season
• Desirable climate w/ risks!
Chaparral Vegetation in Utah, U.S.
Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)
 Climate
• Temperature: Tropical,
Temperate, Cold
• Precipitation: Less
than 25 cm
 Dominant Vegetation &
Adaptations:
• Cactus and other lowwater adapted plants
(Succulents)
Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)
 Major Locations
• 30 North and South of the Equator
 Characteristic Fauna
• Camels, reptiles, rodents (kangaroo rat – never
drinks water)
Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)
 Soil Characteristics
• Coarse texture (sandy)
• not good at holding moisture or nutrients
 Other Important Facts
• Fragile ecosystem due to
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•
•
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Slow plant growth
Low species diversity
Slow nutrient recycling
Lack of water
Climate Graphs of Three Types of
Deserts
La Mesa, CA
Philadelphia
Biome review!
 What are some of the traits that are similar between
biomes of the same type?
 What is an ecotone?
 Which type of grassland is found in Africa?
 Which type of desert is found in Mongolia?
 Why is Antarctica not considered a part of a biome?
 Which biome do we live in?
 What is stratification? Where do we see it?
 If I hiked up a mountain, tell me what changes in
vegetation I would experience.
 Why do pine trees have needle shaped leaves?
 Why do rainforest trees have broad-leaves?
 Why do deciduous trees lose their leaves?
 Explain how grasses are adapted to their environment.