Earth’s Major Biomes

Earth’s Major Biomes

Type of biome controlled by temperature and precipitation

Earth’s Major Biomes

Tundra

Earth’s Major Biomes

Tundra

Characterized by:

• Very short growing season

• Little precipitation (10-25 cm / yr)

• Permafrost

• Low species diversity

Earth’s Major Biomes

Boreal Forest (Tiaga)

Earth’s Major Biomes

Boreal Forest (Tiaga)

Characterized by:

• Short growing season

• Low precipitation (~50 cm / yr)

•Dominated by conifers (spruce, fir), but also has aspen, birch

Earth’s Major Biomes

Temperate Rain Forest

Earth’s Major Biomes

Temperate Rain Forest

Characterized by:

•Cool; high precipitation (~127 cm / yr)

•Dominated by evergreens (hemlock, spruce, cedar)

•Heavily logged

Earth’s Major Biomes

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Earth’s Major Biomes

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Characterized by:

•Hot summers, cold winters

•Moderate precipitation (75-150 cm / yr)

•Dominated by oaks, hickory, maple

•Commonly converted to agriculture

Earth’s Major Biomes

Grasslands

Earth’s Major Biomes

Grasslands

Characterized by:

•Hot summers, cold winters

• Low to moderate precipitation (25-75 cm / yr)

•Dominated tallgrass or shortgrass prairies

•Heavily converted to agriculture

Earth’s Major Biomes

Chaparral

Earth’s Major Biomes

Chaparral

Characterized by:

•Dry summers, mild winters

• Frequent fires

•Dominated by short pines, evergreen shrubs, scrub oak (but varies worldwide)

Earth’s Major Biomes

Deserts

Earth’s Major Biomes

Deserts

Characterized by:

•Wide daily variations in temperature

• Very dry (<25 cm precipitation / yr)

• Sparse plant coverage

Earth’s Major Biomes

Savanna

Earth’s Major Biomes

Savanna

Characterized by:

• Precipitation 76-150 cm / yr, but very seasonal with extended dry periods

•Dominated by grasses, with occasional trees

•African most famous for herds of wildebeest, antelope, zebra

Earth’s Major Biomes

Tropical Rain Forests

Earth’s Major Biomes

Tropical Rain Forests

Characterized by:

• Very high precipitation 200-450 cm / yr

• Very nutrient-poor soil

• Extremely high primary productivity

• Extremely high species richness

Earth’s Major Biomes

Vertical Zonation: The Distribution of Vegetation on Mountains

Aquatic Ecosystems

Human Impacts on Coral Reefs

• Sedimentation / siltation

• Pollution

• Overfishing

• Direct disturbance (anchor dragging, divers damaging / collecting specimens)

Aquatic EcosystemsHuman Impacts on the Ocean

Aquatic Ecosystems

Human Impacts on the Ocean