BiomesBiomes are regions are regions in the world with in the world with

similar:similar:• Climate (weather, temperature)

• Flora (vegetation, or plants)

• Fauna (animals & insects)

Sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

90°N North Pole

66.5°N

23.5°N

0°

23.5°S

66.5°S

90°S South Pole

Arctic circle

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Arctic circle

Most direct sunlight

How is sunlight different at different latitudes?

Tropical rain forest

Tropical dry forest

Tropical savanna Temperate woodlandand shrubland

Desert

Temperate grassland

Boreal forest(Taiga)

Northwesternconiferous forest

Temperate forest

Mountains andice caps

Tundra

Section 4-3Figure 4-11 The World’s Major Land Biomes

TERRESTRIALTERRESTRIAL or LAND or LAND BIOMES INCLUDE:BIOMES INCLUDE:

• Tundra • Northwest Coniferous Forest• Temperate Forest• Temperate Grassland• Temperate Woodlands• Boreal Forest • Tropical Rainforest• Tropical Savannah• Tropical Dry• Desert

Coniferous forest

Tundra Deciduous Forest

Desert Rainforest

Savannah

TUNDRATUNDRA• Has a permanently frozen subsoil called

permafrost

• too cold for many animals or plants to survive (Avg. temp. -10° c)

• Average precipitation is less than 50 cm/year

• Plants: includes mosses, lichens, grass & small

shrubs.

• Animals: Polar bears, Arctic foxes, caribou

TUNDRATUNDRA

TTUUNNDDRRAA

•

Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

• Cold, wet climate• Has long cold winters (average temp. 0° c)• Average annual precipitation 100 cm.• Animals: Deer, lynx, fox, hare and grizzly bears. Many animals hibernate or migrate to escape the long, cold winter months. - Plants: Coniferous trees

(pine tree, fir, evergreens)

Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

Coniferous

Forest

TEMPERATE FORESTTEMPERATE FOREST Deciduous ForestDeciduous Forest

• Deciduous trees lose their leaves once each

year when weather turns cold.

• Houston, Texas is in a temperate forest

• Weather is moderate (Avg. temp. 10° c)

• Rainfall tends to be heavy (70-105 cm).

• Animals include deer, black bear, squirrels

• Oak and hickory trees, grasses and flowering

plants grow here.

TEMPERATE TEMPERATE FORESTFOREST

(Deciduous Forest)(Deciduous Forest)

HOUSTON

Temperate Forest

TROPICAL TROPICAL RAINFORESTRAINFOREST

• Most diverse biome – over 2 million species.

• Humid, temperature is consistent, (avg. temp. 25° c).

• lots of rain - year round (avg. 200-400 cm/year)• Plants: diverse flowers, hard wood trees, medicinal

plants and canopy trees.• Animals: monkeys, cat like mammals (jaguar), reptiles,

sloth and insects.

RAINFOREST

RAINFOREST

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Washington StateWashington State Costa Rica Costa Rica

The Amazon River

Tropical SavannahTropical Savannah• Also called prairies or savannahs

• Good soil, most crops are grown here.

• Average temperature 15° c.

• semi-dry biome. Rain Avg. (25-75 cm/year)

• Plants: Grasses are the main plant life.

• Animals: antelope, buffalo, giraffes

and other large herbivores. Also, lions and

cheetahs.

SavannahSavannah

SAVANNAH

DESERTDESERT• Very hot, dry biomes

• there is little rainfall (less than 25 cm/year)

• few types of plants. Vegetation includes

cactus and the Joshua tree.

• Desert animals include snakes and lizards.

• Animals are nocturnal or live underground

or under rocks when the sun is out.

Desert

Desert

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest

Biome that experiences an annual hard, dry seasonPrecipitation VARIESMild Temperature, RICH SOILMany found in Mexico and Central AmericaPlants and trees can survive long periods of little to no

precipitation-a leafless period exists and plants/trees have DEEP roots.

Vegetation includes: Acacias, Giant Barrel CactusTREES/GRASSES medium Moderate diversityAnimals include: Howler Monkeys, scorpions*Estivation- The summer equivalency of hibernation.

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest

Tropical Dry ForestTropical Dry Forest

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland

• Contain some of the world’s most fertile soil.• Drought and fire play large roles in keeping trees

from taking over the grasslands.  • Avg. rain 20-35 in/yr (moderate)• Temp is HOT• Vegetation includes: buffalo grass, Johnson grass

(GRASSES dense!) Trees ABSENT• Animals include: bison, pronghorns, deer, mice,

rabbits, grouse, badgers, skunks, owls, garter snakes, rattle-snakes, red-tailed hawks and prairie dogs.

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland

Temperate WoodlandsTemperate Woodlands

• Also known as the Mediterranean Biome• Summers are hot and dry in interior locations and cooler

near the coasts. Their winters are rainy but mild.• Poor soil, low diversity• Vegetation: Trees and grasses are medium• Animals include: Coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions,

badgers, foxes, small rodents• Avg. Rainfall- 27 in/yr

growing season about 140 to 200 days

•

Temperate WoodlandsTemperate Woodlands

Boreal Forest/ Taiga Boreal Forest/ Taiga

• Climate in the taiga is cold, with average annual temperatures from about +5  to -5 degrees C

• Precipitation varies

Boreal Forest/TaigaBoreal Forest/Taiga

Aquatic EnvironmentsAquatic Environments

Fresh Water Ecosystems: lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and Wetlands.

Marine Ecosystems: intertidal and estuaries

• photic zone – area of the marine biome where sunlight can penetrate. It is the most productive region. Why?

• Aphotic zone – the area of the marine biome where sunlight does not penetrate. Animals in this biome are heterotrophic. Why?

Ten Major Biomes

Biome Precipitation

Temperature Soil Diversity Trees Grasses

Tropical Rain Forest

high hot poor high dense sparse

Tropical Dry Forest

variable mild rich moderate medium medium

Tropical Savanna

variable mild clay moderate sparse dense

Desert low variable poor moderate sparse sparseTemperate Grassland

moderate summer hot rich moderate absent dense

Temperate woodland and Shrubland

summer low, winter moderate

summer hot poor low medium medium

Temperate Forest

moderate summer moderate, winter cold

rich high dense sparse

Northwestern Coniferous Forest

high summer mild, winter cold

rocky, acidic

low dense sparse

Boreal Forest moderate summer mild, winter cool

poor, acidic

moderate dense sparse

Tundra low summer mild, winter cold

poor low absent medium