Biomes Land Biomes. Biomes A large geographic area that has a specific climate (av. rainfall and...
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Transcript of Biomes Land Biomes. Biomes A large geographic area that has a specific climate (av. rainfall and...
Biomes
Land Biomes
Biomes
• A large geographic area that has a specific climate (av. rainfall and temp.)
Tundra: LocationBelt of land across northern North America,
Europe, Asia, and top of mountains
Tundra• Less than 25cm of
precipitation each year
• Less than 1m deep, ground is frozen– Permafrost
• Boggy is summer when ground thaws
• Temperature range: -30 degrees to 50 degrees F
World map of Tundra Biomes
Tundra: Vegetation• Virtually treeless
• Dominated by herbaceous plants, mosses and lichens
• Grow close to the ground to help them survive icy winds
Tundra: Animal Life
• Large hoofed mammals
• Small rodents
• Some predators
• Migratory birds– During 2 months of
summer
TaigaMostly in northern North America and northern
Eurasia
World map of Taiga Biome
Taiga• Coniferous forest
• Limited precipitation (20 to 60 cm) mostly in summer
• Ground is covered with a thick layer of needles and dead twigs, matted together by fungus
• Temperature range: -65 degrees to 70 degrees F
Vegetation
• Evergreen trees with small compact leaves protected by a thick covering to prevent water loss
• No annual plants
Taiga: Animal Life
• Large and small mammals
• Adaptations to survive winter
• Heavy fur coats and/or hibernation are common
Temperate (Deciduous) ForestNorth America, Europe, Australia, and eastern Asia
Word map of Temperatre Deciduous Forest
Temperate Forest
• Relatively warm summers and relatively cold winters
• 75 to 250 cm precipitation per year spread throughout the year
• Rich topsoil composed of decomposing organic material
• Average temperature is 50 degrees F
Temperate Forest: Vegetation
• Large trees - canopy• Bushes / shrubs /
ferns• Annuals / Perennials
Temperate Forest: Animals
• Variety of mammals• Birds
ChaparralWestern North America and Mediterranean
World Map of Chaparra Biome
Chaparral• Mild, rainy winters
• Long, hot, dry summers
• Temperature range is 30 degrees to 100 degrees F
Chaparral: Vegetation
• Small trees and spiny shrubs with broad, thick evergreen leaves
Chaparral: Animal Life
• Large herbivores move into the chaparral in the spring and out to cooler areas in the summer
• Animals that stay are usually small and dull colored
GrasslandsNorth America (plains and prairies), Russia
(steppes), South Africa (veldt), and Argentina (pampas)
World Map of Grasslands Biome
Grasslands
• Rich agricultural lands
• Periodic droughts, hot-cold seasons
• Rolling flat terrain
• 10 to 60 cm of rain per year
• Warm and wet spring followed by scorching, dry summers
• Cold and snowy winters
• Temperature range is -40 degrees F to 70 degrees F
Grasslands: Vegetation
• Mostly sod-forming grasses mixed with legumes and various annuals
Grasslands: Animal Life
• Small, seed-eating rodents
• Large herbivores and carnivores
SavannaCentral Africa and South America
World map of Savanna Biome
Savanna
• Area of reduced annual precipitation
• Transition between tropical rain forest and desert
• 90-150 cm of rainfall each year
• Wide fluctuation in temperature
• Seasonal drought
• Fine, sandy soil
• Temperature range is 68 degrees to 86 degrees
Savanna: Vegetation• Mostly grasses with
dense root systems that can withstand extensive dry periods
• Few trees that die during
drought
Savanna: Animal Life
• Mammals
• Herbivores– Capable of extracting nutrients from the
cellulose-rich grasses– Ability to be warned of and flee from predators
• Carnivores – adaptations to allow them to catch herbivores
efficiently
Savanna: Animal Life
Tropical RainforestSouth America in and around the Amazon
Basin, in West Africa and in Southeast Asia, and equatorial regions
World Map of Tropical Rainforest Biome
Tropical Rainforest
• Richest biomes in terms of numbers of species (1/2 world’s land organisms)
• Rainfall of 200 to 450 centimeters per year
• Length of the day varies by less than one hour
• Temperature range is 68 degrees F to 93 degrees F
Rainforest: Vegetation
• Tall trees form high canopy of large, leathery leaves
• Variety of flowers
• Woody vines appear in open spaces
• Ferns, orchids, mosses – Adapted to grow at low light intensities
Rainforest: Vegetation
Rainforest: Animal Life
• Large numbers of insects and tree-living vertebrates
• Birds, primates, large and small mammals and reptiles
DesertInteriors of continents, especially Africa,
Eurasia, and Australia
Desert • Less than 25 cm of rainfall per year
• Occur between 20º to 30º north and south latitude
• Warm days but cold nights
• Average temperature is 64 degrees F
World Map of Desert Biome
Desert: Vegetation
• Mostly annuals – Seed to flower in the short period of time
when water is present
• Perennials – Adapted for water storage with no leaves or
leaves that are small and leathery
• All have extensive root systems – Trap water during periods when it is available
Desert: Vegetation
Desert: Animal Life
• Reptiles and insects have waterproof outer coverings and water-conserving excretions
• Mammals are nocturnal with the ability to extract water from plants
Desert: Animals