BIOMES OF THE WORLD. BIOME -large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups which...
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Transcript of BIOMES OF THE WORLD. BIOME -large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups which...
BIOMES OF THE WORLD
BIOME - large geographical area of
distinctive plant and animal
groups which are adapted to
that particular environment. LIMITING- climate and precipitation
FACTOR ECOTONE- area where two biomes come
together- contains characteristics of
both biomes ECOTYPE-organisms (flora or fauna)
found in the ecotone
Information Necessary in Understanding Biomes
What the climate of the region is like Where each biome is found What the geography is like Special adaptations of the vegetation Types of animals Physical and behavioral adaptations of the
animals to their environment
MAJOR BIOMES
TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC
Tundra Freshwater Taiga Saltwater Grasslands Forests Deserts
TUNDRA
Extremely cold climate Low biotic diversity Simple vegetation structure Short growing season Short reproductive season Energy and nutrients are in the form of dead
organic material Two major nutrients: Nitrogen (nitrogen fixation)
and phosphorus (precipitation) Two types: Artic tundra and Alpine tundra
ARTIC TUNDRA Located in the Northern Hemisphere Encircles the North pole and extends as far south as the coniferous forests of the
TIAGA Contains a layer of PERMAFROST Plants- adapted to winds and disturbances to soil
short and grouped together lichens liverworts low shrubs reindeer moss Animals-adapted to long winters and short reproductive
seasoninsulationmigratory
caribou lemmingspolar bears salmonmigratory animals troutinsects squrriels
ALPINE TUNDRA
Located on mountains of the world where trees can not grow
Growing season – 180 days Night time is usually below zero Plants- tussock grass
dwarf trees, small leafed shrubs
Animals- marmots, elkmountain goat,
grouse like birdsinsects
FORESTS
Represents the largest and ecologically complex ecosystems
Occupies 1/3 of the Earth’s land mass
Accounts for over 2/3 of the leaf area of land plants
Contains about 70% of the carbon present in living things
Classified by seasonality
Major types: TROPICAL
TEMPERATE
BOREAL
CHAPARRAL
TROPICAL RAINFORESTContains the greatest amount of species diversity of all terrestrial
habitats70% of the plants are trees
No one species dominates:In a quarter of a mile it is possible to see all the differentspecies with no two of the same speciesScientists have counted 100-300 species in 2 ½ acres
Average precipitation – 50-260 inchesCharacterized by high temperatures that decomposes organic material
very rapidly (34C)Characterized by sparse vegetation at ground levelProduces 40% of the World’s oxygenProduces ¼ of the medicines currently used
Tropical Rainforest Flora Characteristics
Most trees are broadleavedTrees have shallow roots; have buttresses (swollen bases) to hold tree upContains continuous canopy which produces dark habitatTrees contain four main layers:
Emergent- trees spaced wide apart;100-240 feet tall; leaves are small and pointed
Upper Canopy - Trees are 60-130 feet tall; gets most of the sunlightUnderstory- Made up of trunks of trees (<60foot), shrubs, plants and
small treesLittle air movement
Forest Floor- No light (less than 1% of the light reaches the floor)Soil is thin and poor quality
plants here are specialized for constant shadeAll stories support extensive epiphytic communitiesContains vines as thick as a man’s thigh; will overgrow the trunks of trees and
eventually kill it
TIAGA Largest biome Located below the Tundra Also known as the BOREAL FOREST Stretches over Canada, Europe, and Asia Cold winters (long nights) Winter temperature - -65F – 30F Short warm summers (long days) Summer temperature - 20F – 70F Total yearly precipitation 12-33 inches Prone to wildfires Average temperature- below freezing (6 months) Plants - lichens, conifers Animals- wolverine, lynx, bobcats, insects, migratory birds
TEMPERATE FORESTLocated below the boreal forest – Europe, Asia, Eastern USDominated by broadleaved hardwoodsTrees are deciduous (lose leaves in the fall) Precipitation – 30 -60” annually; varies with longitudeGood deep soil for agriculture; growing season (140-200 days)
Among the first biome to be used by pioneers for farmingWell defined seasons with a distinct winterTemperature varies 30 to -30 CContains 5 different zones
Tree Stratum Zone- Tree Height is 60-100 feet Oak, Beech, Maple, Hickory, Elm, etc
Small Tree/Sapling Zone- contains young and short trees Shrub Zone- Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel Herb Zone- contains short plants such as herbs Ground Zone- contains lichens, club moss, true moss
CHAPARRALS
Also known as a shrub forest
They are dry areas usually found along coastline regions usually on the west coast of continents
Landscape is predominated by dense evergreen shrubs and grasses
Possesses a Mediterranean climate
Temperature - 30-100F (hot in the summers; cold in the winter)
Precipitation-10-40” annually (usually in the form of rain and in the winter)
Soil quality is poor
Plant leaves are hard, needle-like and hairy
GRASSLANDS
Found in every continent except ANTARTICA Located on either side of the desert belts Divided into two categories
closest to the equator ---tropical grasslandsfurther from equator --- temperate grasslands
Covers ¼ of Earth’s land mass Characterized by grasses instead of trees Known by different names
US prairies (tall and short)SA pampasEurope steppesAfrica savannas
GRASSLANDS Prairies- region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land
generally humid (10” -12” precipitation)found between desert shrubs and forestsExtends from Texas - Saskatchewan
densely covered with tall treesfertile soilcovers about 1/3 of the Earthonly few spots of wild prairie remainsfamous for beautiful flowers and grassesEndangered – most have been converted to
farmlands and ranches
GRASSLANDS
Pampas- flat fertile land
found primarily in Argentina and Uruguay
humid and warm
extremely windy (winds blow most of the time)
average temperature – 18C
has dry season in summer
home of the “GAUCHO”
GRASSLANDS
Steppes- dry, cold grassland
found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica
located away from oceans and close to mountain barrier
average rainfall- 10”-30”
summer precipitation – 4-5”
warm summers
extremely cold winters
can experience periods of long draught and violent winds
mostly inhabitable by humans
GRASSLANDS
Savannas- areas of open grasslands with few trees
located primarily in Africa – covers 46%
temperatures vary according to seasons
typically arid- <30” precipitation
average temperature 23C
has extended dry and rainy seasons
Two types: tropical
semi-tropical
DESERTSLands of extremes—extreme dryness and temperaturesLocated between 30 N and 30 S (desert belt)Covers 1/5 of Earth’s land surfaceTemperature range -40 - >100 FPrecipitation- <10 inches annuallyMountain deserts are caused by the rainshadow effect
As air moves over a mountain it gets cold and loses the ability to hold moisture so it rains or snows,
when air moves down the other side it gets warmer (warm air hold plenty of moisture) so it doesn’t rain and a desert is formed
2 Types: hot desertcold desert
RAINSHADOW EFFECT
HOT DESERTS
Seasons are usually warm throughout the year and hot is summerRainfall occurs in short burst followed by long periods of drought
often times rains evaporate before reaching the surfaceSoils are course, rocky, shallow, or gravely with good drainageflora– low lying shrubs, short woody trees
leaves are small and thick cacti have “spines” to reduce water loss
Fauna- most animals are nocturnal, small, and burrowersFamous hot deserts in US: Chihuahuan
MojaveSonoran
CHIHUAHUAN
Located in a small area of southeastern New Mexico and extreme western area of Texas---extends to the south of Mexico
largest desert in US
Shrub desert
Predominant shrub: Yuccas, Agaves
Precipitation occurs in summer
Characterized by Big Bend National Park
MOJAVE
Located in southern Nevada, extreme southwestern Utah, eastern California, north of the Sonoran
Precipitation is less than 5 inches usually occurs in winter
Summers are usually hot and windy
Predominant flora: Yucca
Exception: Joshua tree
Useful for mineral extraction:
gold, tungsten, silver, iron
Characterized by Death Valley
SONORANLocated in a small region of south
central California, most of the southern Arizona,
Most fertile of all US deserts
Considered the most beautiful desert of world
Hottest US desert
Subdivision: Colorado and Yuma
Well developed monsoon seasons
Flora: annuals and woody shrubs
desert saltbrush, creosote bush
catclaw, saguaro
Fauna: rich in wildlife
Characterized by the Painted Desert and Petrified National Park
OTHER FAMOUS HOT DESERTS
Arabian Desert - covered almost entirely of sand
contains the most extensive regions of sand dunes in the world
bordered by the Nile ,Red Sea, and Gulf of Suez
sparsely populated– most live along the wells and springs (Bedouins)
Flora: acacia, saltbrush, oleander
Fauna: camel, desert locust, Oryx
Kalahari Desert- located in southwestern Africacovered by sand dunes and gravel plainslargest sand basin
in the worldpopulated by Bushmen
Flora: acacia, aloeFauna: gazelle, hyena,
springbok
Sahara Desert- largest desert of the world
Covered by mountains, gravel plains, and salt flats
Central areas are prone to no precipitation for years at a time
Flora: acacia, grasses, tamarisks
Fauna: antelope, gazelle, horned viper,
spiny- tailed lizard
Characterized by the Tuareg nomadic tribe
Thar Desert - located in India and Pakistan
covered by sand dunes and gravel plains
Flora: acacia, euphoria, grasses, shrubs
Fauna: black buck, camel, great Indian bustard
Characterized by small villages of 10-20 houses
COLD DESERTS
Located near the neartic and artic regions of the world
Characterized by cold winters (snow) and mild summers
Temperature range - -2 – 26 C
Soil- heavy, silty, and salty
Flora: widely scattered, mostly deciduous
Fauna: badgers, squirrels, jackrabbit, deer (only in winter)
Famous US desert: Great Basin
GREAT BASIN
Located in the northern part of Nevada, western and southern Utah, southern Idaho, and south eastern corner of Oregon
It is bordered on the south by the Mojave and Sonoran
Largest desert in US
Precipitation fall as rain in summer, snow in winter
Vegetation is low and homogenous
Predominant plant – Playa, sagebrush, and blackbrush
Characterized by Salt Lake
OTHER FAMOUS COLD DESERTS
Antarctica- coldest, windiest, and driest
98% continental ice sheet
2% barren rock
Flora: lichen, moss
Fauna: seals, penguins,
albatross
Gobi- Northern China, Southern Mongolia
covered by sandy soil with areas of small stones
Crossed by Genghis Khan in 13th C
Populated by government
farming
Flora: camel’s thorn, grasses
Fauna: bactrian bamel, gazelle, onager, wolf
Patagonia- located in southern Argentina and Chile
Eastern side is
warmer than western
Flora: creosote brush, grasses, cacti
Fauna: guanaco, puma,
parakeet, rhea,
hummingbirds
Characterized by the Tierra del Fuego