Biomes Introduction A group of land ecosystems with

Biomes

Introduction • A group of land ecosystems with similar climates and organisms is called a biome. • It is mostly climate conditions in an area that determine its biome. • We are going to talk about 7 land biomes and 3 aquatic biomes.

Climograph • shows a biome’s monthly temperature and precipitation data in a single year

Abiotic Factors Rocks, Sand, Cliffs Wind Physical or NONLIVING component of an ecosystem Snow, Rain, Hail Sun, Heat, Cold

Biotic Factors • Living Parts of an ecosystem – Plants – Animals – Bacteria

Rain Forest Biomes • Known for their abundance of – Rain – Plant life – Animal life • The climate (warm with plenty of rain) provides a great environment for plants. • The more plants there are the more animals that can be supported.

Temperate Rain Forest • Found along the northwestern coast of the United States and New Zealand. • Twilight was set in a Temperate Rain Forest. • Has more moderate temperatures that change throughout the year. • Between 200 -350 cm of precipitation. • Further from the equator than tropical rain forests.

Tropical Rain Forest • Typically found near the equator between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn • The temperature range is between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. ( 68 - 77 degrees Fahrenheit) • Receive an average of 200 - 1, 000 cm of precipitation each year

Tropical Rain Forest • The abundant plant life provides habitats for many species of animals. – Millions of species of animals live here – Insects are a major food source – Probably contain more species of plants and animals than all the other biomes combined.

Tropical Rain Forest • The tall tress in a tropical rainforest form a leafy roof called the canopy. • Under the canopy is a second layer of shorter trees and vines that form an understory. • The forest floor is nearly dark so only a few plants live there.

Campa Pita, Belize Precipitation

Campa Pita, Belize Temperature

Desert • Typically found between 25 o and 40 o latitude • Deserts are characterized by very dry climates. • They have a wide yearly temperature range. From -4 – 38 degrees Celsius. (24 -100 F) • Receive less than 25 cm of rain each year. – The amount of evaporation is greater than the amount of precipitation

Desert • Organisms must adapt to the lack of rain and extreme temperatures. – Stem of the saguaro cactus stores water – Gila monsters can spend weeks at a time in their cool underground burrows – Many other animals are most active at night

El-Oasr el-Akhdar, Egypt Precip

El-Oasr el-Akhdar, Egypt Temp

Grasslands also known as prairie, pampas, steppes, and veldt, areas that receive more rain than the desert but not enough to support trees. – Found on the interiors of continents between 30 and 50 degrees north and south latitude – Average temperatures are between -20 and 30 degrees Celsius (-4 and 86 F) – Receive 50 -90 cm of rain each year – They have very rich soil – Home to many of the largest animals on Earth.

Grasslands

Savanna • Grasslands that are closer to the equator • Warm temperatures with wet and dry seasons • Temperatures range between -16 and 34 degrees Celsius (3 -94 degrees F) • Average precipitation is between 50 -130 cm • Since there is more precipitation some trees can be found here

Savanna

Ingeniera White, Argentina Temp

Ingeniera White, Argentina Precip

Temperate Deciduous Forest • Where We Live! • Named for Deciduous trees that are found there – Trees that shed their leaves and grow new ones each year • Located between 30 and 50 degrees N and S Lat • Temperatures range from -30 – 30 degrees Celsius (-22 – 86 degrees F) • Average precipitation is between 75 -150 cm

Staunton, Virginia Temperature

Staunton, Virginia Precipitation

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Boreal/Taiga or Coniferous Forest • Known for its Coniferous trees – Fir, Spruce, and Hemlock • Further north than Deciduous Biome • Between 50 and 60 degrees latitude • Very cold winters—average temp between -40 and 20 degrees Celsius (-40 and 68 F) • Average precipitation between 30 -90 cm

Boreal Forest / Taiga

Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada

Tundra • Extremely cold and dry biome • Located between 55 -70 degrees lat • Average temperature range between -40 and 18 degrees Celsius (-40 and 64 F) • Average precipitation less than 25 cm • Very few plants – Mosses – Dwarf trees • Layer of permanently frozen soil—Permafrost

Tundra

Yakutsk, Russia Precipitation

Yakutsk, Russia Temperature

Mountain and Ice • Not a true biome • As you move from the bottom to the top, you would pass through a series of biomes. • Animals with adaptations to ice – Penguins, polar bears, and seals

Mountain • 8 = 47 3. 5 = 39 -1. 5 = 29 -6 = 21

Mountain Biome

Freshwater Ecosystem • Types of freshwater ecosystems – Streams – Rivers – Ponds – Lakes • Bodies of water with high oxygen levels and less than 1% salt • Streams and Rivers have running water • Ponds and Lakes have standing water

Freshwater Ecosystem • Plants include – Algae – Cattails – Swamp frond – Lilly pads – Grasses

Freshwater Ecosystem • Animal Life – – Flagellates Diatoms Leeches River rats, Muskrats, Otters and Minks – – Sunfish and Bass Salmon and Perch Catfish species Turtle speices

Marine Ecosystem • This includes the oceans, seas, and estuaries • Ecosystems that exist in salt water. • Oceans are divided into 4 different zones

Marine Ecosystems • Intertidal zone—between the highest and lowest tide • Neritic zone—below the low-tide line and out over the continental shelf • Surface zone—on the surface of the open ocean • Deep zone—below the surface of the open ocean

Intertidal Zone • Difficult to live here – pounding waves – sudden changes in temperature – covered with water and then exposed to air

Neritic Zone • Rich with life • Many large schools of fish feed there • Coral reefs may form here • Where did Nemo live?

Deep Zone • Throughout much of the deep zone it is completely dark • Some animals in the deep zone glow in the dark – Some use for camouflage or identification and attraction – Anglerfish: uses its glow as a lure

Food Webs in the Ocean • Algae form the basis of almost all openocean food webs • Phytoplankton are also producers

Estuary • A type of Marine ecosystem • Where fresh river water and salty ocean water meet • Algae and plants such as marsh grasses provide food and shelter for numerous animals. – Crabs, worms, clams, and fish • Many animals use the calm waters of estuaries for breeding grounds

Temp Precipita Plant Life tion Animal Life Tropic near the al equator Rainfor Between the est 20 -25° C 68 -77° F 200 - 1, 000 cm Bamboo Coconut trees Strangler fig Tualang tree Kapok tree Tiger, Bats Chimps, Sloth, Eagles, Monkeys, Toucan, many insects Rainfor Northwestern est US moderate temps Change throughout the year 200350 cm Moss Ferns Redwoods Cedar Trees Wolves Bear, Raccoon Insects Birds, Deer Less than 25 cm a year Cactus Brittle Bush Creosote Bush Joshua Tree Soaptree Yucca Gila Monster Cactus Wren Coyote Kangaroo Rat Desert Tortoise Location Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn New Zealand Desert Between 25 -4 – 38°C and 40° N and S latitude 24 -100° F Rain shadow of mountains

Location Temp Precipitat Plant Life ion Animal Life Grassland interiors of -20 - 30° 50 -90 continents C cm 30 and 45° north and south -4 - 86°F latitude Grasses Milkweed Purple Coneflower Stinging Nettle Bald Eagle Badger Bobcat Bumble Bee Coyote Prairie Dog Swift Fox Savannah Closer to equator -16 – 34 50 -130 C cm Grasses and trees Lions, elephant, baboon, antelope zebra -30 – 30°C Deciduous trees—oak, beech, birch, maple, walnut, ferns, moss Raccoons, Deer, squirrels, opossum, black bear Temperate Where we Deciduous live! Forest Between 30 and 45° north -22 -86° and south F latitude 75 -150 cm

Location Taiga / Boreal Forest Temp Between 45 and -40 - 20° 30 -90 60° North C cm latitude -40 - 68°F Tundra Precipitat Plant Life ion 55° to 70° North latitude -40 – 18°C Permafrost -40 – 64° F Coniferous trees • Fir • Spruce • Hemlock • Pine • Spruce Animal Life Bobcat Canadian Lynx Gray Wolf Grizzly Bear Owl Red Fox River Otter Snowshoe Rabbit Wolverine Less No trees, Arctic Fox than 25 small bushes, Caribou cm moss Grizzly Bear Musk Ox Polar Bear Snowy Owl

Types/Location Characteristics Plant Life Animal Life Lakes Ponds have standing water Bodies of water with high oxygen levels and less than 1% salt Algae Cattails Swamp frond Lilly pads Grasses Leeches River rats, Muskrats, Otters and Mink Fish turtles Marine oceans, seas, Ecosystems that exist in salt water Sea grasses algae Phytoplankto n Plankton Fish sharks Estuary Deltas Where fresh Algae river water and Marsh salty ocean grass water meet Fresh water Rivers Streams have running water and estuaries Along coastlines Crabs, worms, clams, and fish