BIOMES!
How are Biomes Determined?
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What makes a forest a forest? A desert a desert?
Create a chart to show what you know about how
biomes are characterized
Climate vs. Weather
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Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a
particular time.
Climate is the average weather condition in an
area over a long period of time.
Lots of factors influence an area’s climate…
Latitude
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The amount of direct solar energy a particular
area receives is determined by latitude.
Seasons happen because the Earth is tilted on
its axis at a 23.5° angle. This tilt affects how
much solar energy an area receives as Earth
moves around the sun.
Prevailing Winds
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Winds that blow mainly from one direction are
prevailing winds. The circulation of warm and
cold air causes prevailing winds.
Mountains
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Mountains can influence an area’s climate by
affecting both temperature and precipitation.
Water
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Large bodies of water can influence an area’s
climate. Water absorbs and releases heat
slower than land does. Because of this quality,
water helps to moderate the temperatures of
the land around it.
As surface currents move, they carry warm or
cool water to different locations. The surface
temperature of the water affects the
temperature of the air above it.
GETTING TO KNOW THE
BIOMES
Tundra

Abiotic Factors
 Characterized
by
permafrost
 Very little precipitation
(snow)
 Most snow does not
melt
 Little sunlight in winter,
little darkness in
summer
Tundra

Plant Life
 Small
due to
permafrost
 Grass
 Moss
 Lichen
Tundra

Animal Life
 Reindeer
 Polar
Bear
 Arctic Hare
Taiga (Coniferous Forest)

Abiotic Factors
 Receives
more radiant
energy than the Tundra
 Shorter summer days
but a longer summer
season
Taiga

Plant Life
 Dense,
woody life
 Little undergrowth due
to acidic soil and little
sunlight getting to
forest floor
 Pine
 Spruce
 Fir
Taiga

Animal Life
 Deer
 Moose
 SQUIRRELS
 Bears
 Wolves
Temperate Deciduous Forest

Abiotic Factors
 Enough
moisture to
support large trees
 4 distinct seasons
 Very rich soil
Temperate Deciduous Forest

Plant Life
 Trees
lose leaves in
autumn
 Much undergrowth
 Maple
 Oak
 Beech
Temperature Deciduous Forest

Animal Life
 SQUIRRELS
 Deer
 Mice
 Birds
of prey
 Bears
Tropical Rainforest

Abiotic Factors
 Only
two seasons (wet
& dry)
 Rains almost every day
Tropical Rainforest

Plant Life
 Dense
vegetation
 Little light reaches
floor
 Forest floor divided
into 4 layers
 Emergent
 Upper
 Lower
 Basement
Tropical Rainforest

Animal Life
 Many
arboreal
animals
 Monkeys
 Birds
 Chimpanzee
Grassland (Savanna)

Abiotic Factors
3
distinct seasons
 Little precipitation
 Droughts are frequent
Grassland

Plant Life
 Grass!
Grassland

Animal Life
 Giraffes
 Wildebeests
 Lions
 Elephants
Desert

Abiotic Factors
 Can
be very high
temperature deserts or
low temperature
deserts
 Very little precipitation
Desert

Plant Life
 Most
have shallow and
extensive root systems
 Has small leaves and
thick cuticles
 Cacti
Desert

Animal Life
 Many
seed eating
animals
 Lightly colored
 Jackrabbit
 Snakes
 Scorpion