BiomesA drought makes vegetationscarce

What is a biome?

Group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

What are the 6 major biomes?

Rain forestDesertGrasslandDeciduous forestBoreal forestTundra

How do we categorize biomes?

Climate-temperature and precipitation

Types of organisms

Rainforest Biomes

Lots of rainThick vegetation-lots of plantsLeaves block much of the sunlight

from reaching the forest floor2 types of rainforest biomes-

temperate and tropical

Temperate RainforestNorthwest U.S.Huge trees like cedars, redwoods,

and Douglas firsModerate temperatureOver 300 centimeters of rain each

yearMule deer, pileated woodpecker,

golden buprestid beetle

Tropical Rainforest Found close to Equator Warm and humid year round A lot of rain- over 350cm per year in Costa

Rican rainforest Canopy-leafy roof formed by tall trees Understory-shorter layer of trees and vines Abundant life- over 300 kinds of trees in

100-square meters Probably contain more species than all

other land biomes combined Orangutans, spider monkeys, tigers, sloth

Desert

Less than 25cm of water per yearEvaporation rate greater than

precipitation rateVery hot during the day and very

cold at nightSaguaro cactus, Gila monsters,

vipers, jack rabbits

Grassland BiomesTall grasses25-75 cm of rain each year, but

savannahs can receive as much as 120 cm of rain

Fires and draughts commonPrairies and savannahsElephants, bison, antelope, zebras,

rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos

Deciduous Forest

Deciduous trees-maple, oakSeasons-warm in summer, snow in

winterTrees lose leaves in fallSalamanders, black bears, white-tailed

deer, squirrel, fox

Boreal Forest

Evergreen trees-spruce, pineConiferous trees- have seeds in conesWinters cold, lots of snowSummers warm and rainyRed squirrels, finches, snowshoe hares,

moose, owls, lynx, wolves

TundraCold and dryPermafrost-ground continuously frozenMany ponds, marshy In the Arctic circle, the sun does not set

in summerMosses, grasses, shrubs, very small

trees Insect-eating birds, caribou, foxes,

wolves, Arctic hares

Mountains and Ice

Mountain ranges, land that is covered with thick ice

Mountains have a range of biomes as you ascend

Antarctica and Greenland are covered in ice

Penguins, polar bears, and leopard seals

Freshwater Ecosystems

Streams and Rivers-insects, trout, frogs, algae

Ponds and Lakes- dragonflies, catfish, sunfish, turtles, snails, algae, bacteria

Marine Ecosystems Estuary- freshwater meets salt water, crabs,

worms, clams, fish Intertidal Zone- Between high and low tide lines,

varying water and temperatures, barnacles, sea stars, clams, crabs

Neritic Zone- Shallower ocean near continents, sardines, algae, coral

Open Ocean- light only reaches a few hundred meters, tuna, swordfish, whales

Deep Zone- Almost totally dark, scavengers, giant squid, angler fish