Biomes of the World

Plant and Animal Adaptations

Biomes and Adaptations

• Biome- A large geographic area with similar

climate and a distinctive community of

organisms.

• Adaptation- an anatomical, physiological, or

behavioral change that improves a population’s

ability to survive in its environment.

• Most important factor in determining where

ecosystems occur are Temperature and

Precipitation.

Desert – Climate

• Very dry and very hot

• 2- 26cm of rain per year

• High temperature range

20oC-49oC

• Low Temperature Range

-18oC-10oC

• A lot of direct sunlight and

strong winds

Desert Plants

• Flowers open at night

• Succulents – store water

in stems and leaves

• Most plants have no

leaves or reduced

leaves(spines)

• Long root stems

Desert Animals

• Migration

– Breed during cool spring then

leave for the summer

• Many are only active at

dawn & dusk or are

completely nocturnal when

it is cooler.

• Burrow into the soil/sand

• Hibernation during summer

and winter

Grasslands

• Savanna (Africa),

• Temperate Grasslands

– Chapparal (Mediterranean

and Australia),

– Prairie (N. America)

– Steppes (Eurasia)

– Pampas (S. America)

Grassland – Climate

• Hot, dry summers and

cold winters

• 50-89cm of rain per

year

• Temperature Range

38oC – 40oC

• Wildfires are common

during the dry season

• Rich soil

Grassland Plants

• Deep & extensive root

systems

– Roots survive wildfires and

grazing

• Narrow leaves reduce

water loss

• Wind pollinators (strong

winds)

Grassland Animals

• Migration – to find water

• Teeth and digestive

systems adapt to a grass

diet

• Burrowers and nocturnal

to avoid predators

• Skin colors blend with

plants (camouflage)

Tropical Rainforest – Climate

• Temperature Range

24oC-27oC

• 200-1000cm of rain per

year

• Poor soil conditions

• Intense sunlight at

canopy level

• Little or no sunlight below

the canopy

Tropical Rainforest Plants

• Leaves have drip tips

and waxy surfaces to

discourage fungal and

bacterial growth.

• Some plants grown on

or climb others to reach

the sunlight.

• Plants (even trees)

have shallow roots to

get the nutrients in the

top layer of soil

Kapok tree

Strangler fig ↓

Bougainvillea ↑ Coconut

tree

Bamboo ↓ Durian ↓

Tropical Rainforest Animals

• Most animals eat only

one type of food that few

other animals can eat

– Toucans have beaks

designed to eat nuts

• INSECTS GALORE!!!

Bengal Tiger ↓

Chimpanzee ↓

Dawn Bat ↑

Toco Toucan ↑

Temperate Forest – Climate

• Temperature Range

-30oC-30oC

• Four distinct seasons

– 5-6 month growing

season

• 75-150cm of rain per

year

Temperate Forest Plants

• Deciduous trees which

drop their leaves in the fall

– Prevents water loss and

breakage in winter

• Deciduous trees have

broad, thin leaves to

capture as much sunlight

as possible

• Thick bark protects against

cold winter weather

White Birch ↑

Pecan ↓

White Oak

Temperate Forest Animals

• Animals must deal

with the cold and

lack of food during

winter

– Migrate

– Hibernate

– Cache – Store Food

Taiga – Climate

• Aka – Boreal Forest

• Temperature Range

-54oC – 21oC

• 30 – 84 cm of rain

per year

• Acidic and mineral

poor soil

Taiga Plants • Dark-colored needles

absorb more sunlight

• Evergreens keep their

leaves all year

– Plants can

photosynthesize

immediately when it

warms up

• Needles prevent water

loss

• Conifers and Evergreens

White Spruce

Eastern Red Cedar ↓

White

Fir

Taiga Animals

• Migration

• Hibernation

• Fur/feather coats

Tundra – Climate

• Temperature Range

-34oC – 12oC

– Cold year round

• 15-25 cm of rain per year

• Permafrost – permanently

frozen sub-layer of soil

• 24-hour days/nights

Tundra – Plants

• Small, usually less than 12 inches

tall

– Keeps plants from freezing

• Dark colors help absorb solar heat

• Plants grow in clumps

– Shields the wind and cold

Tufted Saxifrage

Arctic Moss ↓

Arctic Willow ↓

Bearberry

Tundra – Animals

• Migration

• Hibernation

• Thick fur/feathers

Polar Bear ↑

Ermine ↓

Caribou ↓

Arctic Fox ↓

Grizzly

Bear ↓

Musk Ox ↓ Snowy Owl ↓

Water (Aquatic) Biomes

• Freshwater

– Rivers and

Streams

– Lakes and Ponds

– Wetlands

• Marine

– Estuaries

– Open Ocean

– Coastal Ocean

– Coral Reefs

Aquatic – Plants

• Flexible stems and

leaves

• Leaves absorb water

and nutrients, not the

roots

• Floating leaves

• Floating seeds

Aquatic – Animals

• Migrate to find food and

to breed

• Prevent water loss in

salty or fresh water

• Breathing using gills

• Gas bladders to adjust

depth

North American Biomes Coloring

The map

must be

colored

specific

colors.

The boreal

forest is the

same as the

coniferous

forest.

• Copy and answer the question.

– Which category consists of only one species?

A. Ecosystem

B. Biome

C. Community

D. Population

• Copy and answer the question.

– Which of these is a common adaptation that helps

desert plants conserve water?

a) Waxy coverings on leaves and stems

b) Large broad leaves

c) Flowering at night

d) Very deep root systems

• Copy and answer the question.

– Which effect does deforestation have on the carbon

cycle?

A. Decreased CO2 in the atmosphere

B. Increased CO2 in the atmosphere

C. Increased ozone in the atmosphere

D. Decreased decomposition of carbon

• EQ – How do humans impact the environment?

(both good and bad)