Geographical Distribution of Biomes in the World
Tundra
Cold, barren, sparse vegetation, low precipitation (15-25cm)
Tundra
Lichen is one of the few constant types of vegetation and food sources for animals.
Tundra
Plants growing here are low-growing grasses, sedges, wild flowers.
Plants are limited in size as roots only reach to permafrost (soil
permanently frozen a few inches below the surface). The average
temperature here is 3 to 12 o C in Summer and -34 to 3 o C in winter.
Tundra
Spring melts only the top few inches of soil and water.
Tundra
Summer is beautiful but brief. Plants flower quickly and release seeds before winter.
Wild Flowers Grow along with Liverworts.
Tundra
Notice how low all the growth is.
Tundra
Winter is the brutally cold. The tundra is almost totally barren of vegetation.
Lemmings are a dominant species of mammals in the tundra
This musk ox is capable of living in bitterly cold
environments.
Tundra
Arctic seals
live on
coastal lands
and ice flows.
Tundra
Snowy owls
are at the
top of the
food chain.
Tundra
Polar bears live on
the ice flows and
are 3rd order
consumers, eating
seals that eat fish
that eat plankton in
the ocean.
Taiga or Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest
Taiga or Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest
The dominant plants are conifers (cone-bearing trees) such as Balsam firs, Black
Spruces, Douglas Fir, Red Cedar as well as Lichens/Mosses. The average temperature
is -7 to 20 o C in summer and -54 to 1 o C in winter. The annual precipitation is from
30-84cm.
Taiga
or ConiferousForest
Forest or or
Boreal
Forest Forest
Taiga
or
Coniferous
Boreal
These plants grow year-round (evergreen) and have needles that shed snow.
Big herbivores
like elk are
found here.
And moose
Lots of small, furry critters live
here like squirrels , chipmunks
Snowshoe Hare
Small predators like martens and weasels are abundant
And larger
predators like
this lynx.
And grizzly bears (and Black Bears)
And Grey wolves
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Easter USA, Canada, New Zealand, Europe,
China, Japan, and Chile
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall. Leaves change color as chlorophyll fades.
Temps range from -30 to 38 o C (-22 to 100 o F).
Temperate Deciduous Forest
The trees broad leave trees (oak, maple, beeches). Shrubs.
Also lots of Mosses and perennial herbs (vines like kudzu and forest grasses)
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
In the winter, the
trees are bare as
the broad leaves
would hold too
much weight if
snow and ice
stuck to them.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
A canopy of hardwoods as autumn arrives in the deciduous forest.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Amphibians are abundant in a climate that is more moderate and has sufficient
rainfall (75-150cm). They will find a place in the mud or the hollow of a log to pass
the winter.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Salamanders are another amphibian that thrives in the moisture and temperate
environment. Notice the difference in the skin of amphibians, compared to reptiles.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Many birds find inviting habitats in the dense canopy of trees. This is a cardinal.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Another bird that lives here is the blue jay.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
The deciduous forest is a diverse environment, home to many small herbivores, like
this mouse.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Rabbits are another herbivore that lives in great abundance in the deciduous forest.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Carnivores such as this red fox thrive with the plentiful supply of small herbivores.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
White-tailed deer are smaller than the deer-types of the taiga. This is a fawn (spots).
Temperate Deciduous Forest
At the top of the food chain are such large
mammals as this black bear.
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
Another
predator at the
top of the food
chain --- the
mountain lion.
Some of the
adaptations you
will see are
migrating and
hibernation
behaviors as
well as food
storage.
ssss
Savanna or Prairie
Savanna or Prairie
Less annual rainfall can only support smaller species of plants --- grasses and bushes.
But spring is a beautiful time in the plains. Average rainfall 50.8-127cm (20-50”).
Summer temps of 25-30 o C (78-86 o F) and Winner temps of 20-25 o C (68-78 o F)
Plants include: Rhodes Grass, Red Oat Grass, Lemon Grass, some deciduous trees
and shrubs
Savanna or Prairie
During the summer the grasslands can get pretty dry. Notice the limited size of the
plant growth.
Savanna or Prairie
The grasslands during the winter look pretty barren. The low amount of annual
rainfall is more evident at this time.
Adaptations include quick uptake of water and getting nutrients from thin layer of
humus on surface instead of through roots.
Savanna or Prairie
Grazing animals like these gazelles on the African savanna are abundant in the
grasslands.
Animals can include: zebras, elephants, black mambas (snake), emu, lions, koala
bears, and Nile Crocodiles.
Some Adaptations may include camouflage, speed, and migrating behaviors
Savanna or Prairie
Trees are not very abundant in the grassland due to lack of annual rainfall.
Locations include central Africa, Central Australia, parts of South America, and India.
Savanna or
Prairie
Small burrowing
rodents like this
white-tailed prairie
dog are also
numerous.
Temperate
Grasslands
I always think
about herds of
thousands of these
huge beasts
thundering through
the grasslands of
the American west.
Other animals
include wild horses,
gazelle, wolves,
quails, and lots of
insects, and snakes.
Climate of the Temperate Grasslands
Summer…..38 o C (100 o F)
and Winter ……-40 to 7 o C (-40 to 45 o F)
50.8 TO 88.9cm of Precipitation
***10-17 inches
Plants of the Temperate Grasslands
•
•
•
•
•
Purple Needlegrass
Blue Grama
Blazing Stars
Sunflowers
Cottonwood
Adaptations
Animals
• Digestive system allows to
consume grasses
Plants
• Root systems to survive fires
and agriculture
• Legs to burrow
• Wind pollination
• Very strong eyesight
• Soft stems to bend in wind
• Extensive root systems to
survive grazing animals
Grasslands Locations
•
•
•
•
•
Central Plains of USA
South Africa
Hungry
Argentina /Uruguay
Southern Russia
The Desert Biome
The Desert
Because of the lack of annual rainfall (less than 10 inches) the plant
growth here is to plants that are adapted to water and heat stress.
The Desert
Locations include USA SW, Southern Asia, Australia, Greenland,
Antarctica, Chile, Russia.
•
•
•
•
Hot (20-49 o C )
Semiarid (21-27 o C )
Coastal (13-24 o C )
Cold (-2-4 o C )
The Desert
Desert environments can also be very cold as well, as the lack of water,
means that the habitat cannot absorb or emit heat.
The Desert
Typical vegetation in the desert. Cactuses have major modifications to
adapt them to desert life: spines are modified leaves to reduce water
loss; the stems carry out photosynthesis and store water; cactuses have
rich root networks to all for quick absorption of water when available.
The Desert
Plants in the desert flower and
release seeds very quickly when
water is available.
Types of plants
Yuccas
Turpentine Bush
Cactus
Lichen
Black Sage
Rice Grass
Tough
arthropods
like this
scorpion fill
the lower
parts of the
food chain.
The Desert
Reptiles are much better adapted than amphibians to the dry desert conditions.
The Desert
This reptile has adapted to the hot sand by only having small portions of
its body in contact with the sand at any single moment.
The Desert
Rabbits can survive in the
desert but have exceptionally
long ears to help them radiate
all the extra heat away.
The Desert
The desert fox, a
carnivore, also shows
the same lengthy ears
as an adaption to shed
heat. His burrow
below ground also
helps him survive the
intense daytime heat
The Tropical Rainforest
Its called the rainforest for a reason. These areas of our beautiful planet receive
between 125-660cm (50-260 inches). It is also quite warm in these areas since all
rainforest are within 45 degrees of the equator, so the temperatures are steady
throughout the year. Most rainforest are between 20-34 degrees Celsius (68-93
degrees Fahrenheit.
The Tropical Rainforest
The rainforest is packed with dense vegetation thriving in the moisture.
The Tropical Rainforest
The rainforest contains the richest diversity of plant species of all the biomes.
Bengal Bamboo, Coconut Tree, Durian, Jambo, Curarevie
Shade Tolerant
climb trees to reach sunshine
long roots for water competition
The Tropical Rainforest
The rainforest contains the richest diversity of insect species as well.
The Tropical Rainforest
The rainforest contains the richest diversity of amphibians.
…and reptiles.
The Tropical Rainforest
… and birds.
The Tropical Rainforest
Obviously, the rainforest is the richest and most abundant biome in terms of species.
For the first student of each class, the first to come tell me they saw this will receive
five points on unit test. Do so vey quietly so others are not distracted by your efforts.
The Tropical Rainforest
Large predators like this jaguar are found at the top of the food chain.
Because there are so many animals, many animals have adapted by eating food that
no other animal will eat to avoid competition. Also, as you can imagine, camouflage is
important.
The Tropical Rainforest Locations
Latin America (BRAZIL), SE Asia, Pacific Island, West Coast of Africa.
Chaparral
Chaparral biome environments can be found in Central and Southern
California as well as the Mediterranean Sea areas. The Chilean coast and
the Southwestern coast of Australia also have chaparral characteristics.
The southern tip of South Africa also has chaparral biome areas.
Climate of the Chaparral
Summers are warm with mild winters. Summer temps range from 30-40
degrees Celsius (86-104 F) and winters are between 10-12 degrees
Celsius (50 F). Rainfall averages about 25-43cm (or 10-17 inches).
Animals of the Chaparral Biome
Smaller mammals inhabit the chaparral. Animals include jack rabbits,
mule deer, coyotes lots of birds, and lions in South Africa. Most animals
have adapted to live with very dry summers and very wet winters.
Plants of the Chaparral
Plants here deal with lots of wild fires, so they have adapted to reproduce quickly to
help rebuild after the fires. They also have thick, waxy layers to prevent water loss,
especially in summer. These plants include Shrubs and trees, like the Blue Oak, Coyote
Brush, Sagebrush, Olive Trees, and Torrey Pines.
The Chaparral