Biomes

Biomes

• Large geographic areas with similar climax communities.

Factors that Determine Climate• Temperature• Latitude

– Zero latitude at the equator– 90° latitude at the poles– The higher the latitude the lower the suns energy

• Elevation– The distance above sea level– Atmosphere acts as insulation

• Precipitation• The amount of moisture that condenses

and falls to the earth as rain.

Terrestrial Biomes(land)• Tundra

– A treeless area between the icecap and the tree line of Artic regions, having a permantly frozen sub-soil(Permafrost) and supporting low growing vegetation. Little precipitation

Taiga( Northern Coniferous Forest)

• Sun-artic, evergreen coniferous forests of sub-artic lands, covering vast areas of North America and Eurasia

• Dominated by fir and spruce trees

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Found in the northern and southern hemispheres

• Latitudes below 50°• Four distinct seasons• Temp range –0 to 30°C• 75 to 150cm of precipitation

Tropical Rainforest

• At the equator• Lush green plants• 200 to 400cm of rain per year• Constant temp of 25°C• Hot and humid

Grassland

• Temperate and tropical regions• 25-75 cm of rain a year• Good farming area• Dry season

Desert• Arid region• Less than 25cm of rain per year• Sparse or no vegetation• Covered in sand or gravel

Aquatic Biomes(water)

• Two types of water biomes– Freshwater – Marine

Freshwater Biome• The aquatic biome consisting of water containing fewer

salts than the waters in the marine biome; divided into two zones: running waters (rivers, streams) and standing waters (lakes, ponds).

Marine Biome

• The aquatic biome consisting of waters containing 3.5% salt on average; includes the oceans and covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface.