Biomes Location Arctic Tundra Arctic Tundra Location About

Biomes

Location

Arctic Tundra

Arctic Tundra Location ¡ About 55 o to 70 o North latitude

Arctic Tundra What “Controls” This Biome? Long winters & short summers ¡ Growing season for plants is often 8 weeks or less therefore this limits growth Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ Permafrost exists there (ground is permanently frozen below the ground surface) ¡ Trees can’t grow in tundra due to permafrost ¡

Arctic Tundra Typical Species ¡ ¡ ¡ In the summer, area above permafrost melts & ground becomes spongy Lots of wetlands here that breed thousands of insects & attract lots of migratory birds Caribou & herd animals, arctic fox, snowy owl, lemmings, grizzly bears (fig. 6 -26)

Arctic Tundra Threats to this Biome ¡ ¡ Oil & Gas exploration & drilling Climate Change

Coniferous Evergreen Forest Other Names: Boreal Forest or Taiga Location ¡ Just south of the Arctic tundra in the northern hemisphere

Coniferous Forest What “Controls” This Biome? Cold & long winters (sun shines 68 hrs/day) ¡ Short cool summers (sun shines 19 hrs/day) ¡ Low precipitation ¡ Growing season for plants is short ¡

Coniferous Forest Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ Needles of trees have waxy coating to help keep moisture in the plant ¡ Needles decompose slowly and cause the soil to be acidic & nutrient poor ¡ Low plant diversity (few species can survive w/ frozen soil moisture)

Coniferous Forest Typical Species ¡ Primarily Coniferous Evergreen Trees l ¡ Black Spruce, White Spruce, Balsam Fir, also may have Paper Birch, and Quaking Aspen Bears, Wolves, Moose, Beaver, Owls

Coniferous Forest Threats to this Biome ¡ ¡ Deforestation Climate Change

Temperate Deciduous Forest Location ¡ Eastern US, China & much of Europe

Temperate Deciduous Forest What “Controls” This Biome? Moderate average temperatures that change significantly with the season ¡ Abundant precipitation throughout the year ¡ Long & warm summers & cold but not severe winters ¡ Thick layer of leaf litter (nutrients!) ¡

Temperate Deciduous Forest Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ Fairly low rate of decomposition & lots of nutrients w/ fallen leaves ¡ Penetration of more sunlight and high precipitation support variety of groundlevel plant life

Temperate Deciduous Forest Typical Species ¡ ¡ Broadleaf Deciduous Trees White-tailed deer Lots of birds Mice, frogs, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, raccoons

Temperate Deciduous Forest Threats to this Biome ¡ ¡ Deforestation, habitat loss & fragmentation Replacement of old-growth forest with tree plantations

Tropical Rainforest Location ¡ Northern South America, Southern Central America, SE Asia, Equatorial Africa

Tropical Rainforest What “Controls” This Biome? Warm annual temperature with heavy rainfall almost daily ¡ Most nutrients are in the plants/animals – not in the soil ¡ Soil nutrients limit growth as temperature & water are not limiting ¡ Rapid decomposition ¡

Tropical Rainforest Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Lots of biodiversity Highly stratified Lianas – hanging vines have developed a twisting adaptation to survive the pulling between trees with the wind Green tree snakes – camouflage Epiphytes – “air plants” (some are bromeliads) Buttresses – large base of trunk of a tree Shallow roots so buttress helps support tree Also captures nutrients when it rains

Tropical Rainforest Typical Species ¡ ¡ Broadleaf Evergreen High diversity of trees here Threats to this Biome ¡Deforestation

Temperate Rainforest Other Names: Coastal Coniferous Forest Location ¡ Coastal area of Alaska

Temperate Rainforest What “Controls” This Biome? Coastal areas with ample rainfall or moisture from dense fogs ¡ Winters are mild & summers are cool ¡

Temperate Rainforest Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ Nearness to oceans moderates the temperatures ¡ Trees depend of frequent rains & moisture from summer fog

Temperate Rainforest Typical Species ¡ Large Conifers l l l Sitka Spruce Douglas Fir Redwoods Threats to this Biome ¡Deforestation

Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Other Names: Prairies Tall Grass Short Grass Pampas Savanna – Tropical Grassland

Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Location ¡ Varies widely but in the interiors of continents

Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands What “Controls” This Biome? Cold winters ¡ Hot & dry summers ¡ Uneven precipitation through the year 10 -40 inches or so ¡

Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ Fires in summer & fall are often l l Fires keep trees out Tropical Grasslands may have occasional deciduous tree ¡ ¡ l ¡ ¡ Flat top acacias (Lion King) Eucalyptus in Australia Prairie plants regenerate after fire due to their deep roots Organic matter accumulates to produce a deep fertile soil Soil held in place by thick network of roots

Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Typical Species ¡ Grasses Beetles Insects Prairie Dogs ¡ Tropical Grassland ¡ ¡ ¡ l Large herds of grazing & hoofed animals ¡ Gazelles ¡ Zebras

Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Threats to this Biome ¡ ¡ ¡ Plowing Agriculture Overgrazing by domesticated animals

Chaparral Other Names: Temperate Shrubland Location ¡ Varies widely

Chaparral What “Controls” This Biome? ¡ Mediterranean climate l l l Winters are mild Moderate rain in winter Summers are long, hot & dry

Chaparral Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ ¡ Fires are needed by this biome Dense undergrowth of drought resistant shrubs that have large root systems Dry brittle vegetation that is dormant in hot & dry season Shrubs have a waxy coating on “leaves” to keep moisture in

Chaparral Typical Species ¡ ¡ Scrub Oak Spiny Evergreen shrubs Threats to this Biome ¡People Like to Live Here & put out fires

Desert Location ¡ At about 30 o of latitude where air has lost its moisture from the tropics

Desert What “Controls” This Biome? An area where evaporation exceeds precipitation ¡ Precipitation typically less than 10 inches per year & scattered unevenly throughout the year ¡ Lack of water “controls” this biome ¡

Desert Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ ¡ Succulent plants – thorns & waxy coating to protect and keep moisture in Animals – nocturnal & live in burrows Rarely urinate & it may be crystals Plants have l l ¡ ¡ Shallow & wide roots No leaves Vegetation is sparse Cover 30% of the earth’s land

Desert Typical Species ¡ ¡ Succulents Rattlesnakes Roadrunner Red-tailed Hawk

Desert Threats to this Biome ¡ Deserts take a long time to recover l ¡ ¡ Tracks left by tanks practicing during WWII are still visible Off-roading Irrigated crops

Rain Shadow Effect • The up wind side of mountain ranges are very wet & dry downwind • Downwind sides are often deserts

Mountain Biome Location ¡ Scattered all over the world

Mountain Biome What “Controls” This Biome? ¡ Wide variety of various biomes as you go up in elevation l 100 m gain in elevation = 100 km change in latitude (not always)

Mountain Biome Unique Information or Adaptations ¡ Wide variety of biomes on a single mountain

Mountain Biome Threats to this Biome ¡ ¡ ¡ Rapidly increasing population Increased extraction of timber & minerals Dams Skiing & tourism Increase warfare in mountainous areas (guerilla warfare) Climate Change