Earths Terrestrial Biomes Temperate Deciduous Forest Average Yearly

Earth’s Terrestrial Biomes

Temperate Deciduous Forest § Average Yearly Rainfall 75 to 125 cm § Average Temp. (Summer: 28ºC Winter: 6ºC) § mammals, birds, & reptiles thrive on leaves, seeds, nuts, & insects

Taiga Forest • Average Yearly Rainfall 35 to 75 cm • Average Temp. (Summer: 14ºC Winter: − 10ºC) § Squirrels, insects § Birds: finches, chickadees, & jays § Herbivores: porcupines, elk, & moose § ground covered by a layer of needles § very little light reaches the ground § few plants can grow beneath trees due to lack of light

Tropical Rain Forest • Average Yearly Rainfall up to 400 cm • Average Temp. (Daytime: 34ºC Nighttime: 20ºC) § greater variety of organisms than any other biome § most nutrients are found in the plants § soil is very thin & poor in nutrients § trees grow roots above ground for extra support

Temperate Grassland • Average Yearly Rainfall 25 to 75 cm • Average Temp. (Summer: 30ºC Winter: 0ºC) § few trees § fires, drought, & grazing prevent growth of trees & shrubs § support small seed-eating animals: prairie dogs & mice § large mammals graze on grasses

Savanna (Grassland) • Average Yearly Rainfall 150 cm • Average Temp. (Dry season: 34ºC Wet season: 16ºC) § Africa, India, & South America § dry season: grasses dry out & turn yellow § deep roots survive for many months without water § African savanna large herbivores: elephants, giraffes, zebras, & wildebeests

Hot Desert • Average Yearly Rainfall less than 25 cm • Average Temp (Summer: 38ºC Winter: 7ºC) § plants grow far apart so they won’t compete for water § plants have shallow, widespread roots that grow just under the surface to take up water during a storm § cactuses have fleshy stems & leaves to store water § leaves have a waxy coating to prevent water loss many animals are active at night when temperatures are cooler, some borough in the ground, & are dormant during the dry season (estivation). tortoises eat flowers or leaves and store the water under their shells

Tundra • Average Yearly Rainfall 30 to 50 cm • Average Temp (Summer: 12ºC Winter: − 26ºC) § soil beneath the surface stays frozen: permafrost § surface soil only thaws in summer § soil is too shallow for deep-rooted plants so only shallowrooted plants: grasses & small shrubs § mosses & lichens grow beneath the plants § insects lay eggs in the mud, birds feed on the insects § other animals include: musk oxen, wolves, & caribou Arctic Tundra Alpine Tundra § Alpine tundra has permafrost § found at the top of tall mountains § trees cannot grow on mountain § plenty of sunlight & precipitation

Marine Biomes: Ocean Abiotic factors: water temperature, water depth, & the amount of sunlight that passes through the water As the depth of the water increases the temperature decreases.

Ocean cont…Abiotic factors: water temperature, water depth, & the amount of sunlight that passes through the water Intertidal zone: adaptations to survive air exposure & keep from being washed away by the waves water is warm & receives lots of sunlight Plants and animals: corals, sea turtles, fishes, & dolphins Neritic zone: deep water of open ocean Plankton found near the surface Animals: fishes, whales, & sharks Some animals live in very deep water & get food from material that sinks down from the surface Benthic zone: no sunlight, very cold Animals: fishes, worms, & crabs which get food by eating material that sinks from above Chemosynthesis: organisms get energy from chemicals that escape from thermal vents

Marine Biomes cont. Intertidal Areas § found near the shore. § Include: mudflats, sandy beaches, & rocky shores § organisms must be able to live both underwater & out of water § mudflats include: worms and crabs, shorebirds feed on these animals § sandy beaches: worms, clams, crabs, & plankton § rocky shores organisms have adaptations to keep from being swept away by crashing waves: use root-like structures called holdfasts to attach to rocks, others attach themselves by releasing a special glue-like substance.

Marine Biomes cont. Coral Reefs § found in warm, shallow areas of the neritic zone § made up of small animals called corals that live in large groups § when corals die, they leave hard skeletons & new corals grow on their remains § skeletons build up and form a reef which is home to many marine animals & plants § organisms include: algae, brightly colored fishes, sponges, sea stars, & sea urchins.

Marine Biomes cont… Estuaries where fresh water from streams & rivers spill into the ocean § the fresh water from rivers & salt water from the ocean are always mixing so amount of salt in the water changes § Plants and animals must be able to survive in changing salt content § fresh water is rich in nutrients which support large numbers of plankton § Plankton provide food for many animals.

Marine Biomes cont… The Sargasso Sea § the Sargasso Sea in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean § contains floating algae called sargassums § animals that live in the Sargasso Sea are the same color as the sargassums, helping them hide from predators .

Desert Ice: Antarctica Mean Temps: Winter: (-40 to -70°C) Summer: (-15 to -35°C) § icy waters surrounding Antarctica are rich in nutrients that support large numbers of plankton § fishes, birds, and mammals rely on the plankton for food. § Animals include: penguins, seals, whales, & birds

Streams & Rivers Important abiotic factor: how quickly water moves § Plants line the edges of streams and rivers § Fish live in the open waters § Clams & snails live in the mud at the bottom of a stream or river § Organisms in fast-moving water have adaptations to keep from being washed away: algae and moss are attached to rocks, tadpoles use suction disks to hold rocks, insects live under rocks.

Ponds and lakes Life near Shore littoral zone: closest to the edge of a lake or pond Sunlight reaches the bottom and makes it possible for algae and plants to grow Plants include: cattails and rushes The plants are home to small animals: snails and insects Clams and worms bury in the mud Frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, and snakes live in this zone. Life Away from Shore open-water zone: extends from the littoral zone across the top of the water goes as deep as sunlight can reach home to bass, lake trout, & other fishes, photosynthetic plankton deep-water zone: beneath the open-water zone, no sunlight Catfish, carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi, & bacteria live here & often feed on dead organisms that sink from above.

Wetland Ecosystems § area of land underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture § supports many different plants and animals § play an important role in flood control : during heavy rains or spring snow melt, wetlands soak up large amounts of water § water in wetlands moves deeper into the ground to help replenish underground water supplies

Wetland Ecosystems cont… Marshes § treeless wetland ecosystem found in shallow areas along the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, & streams § plants vary depending on the depth of the water & the location of the marsh § grasses, reeds, bulrushes, & wild rice are common § muskrats, turtles, frogs, and birds live in marshes

Wetland Ecosystems cont… Swamps § ecosystem of trees and vines found in low-lying areas & beside slow-moving rivers § most swamps are flooded part of the year § willows, bald cypresses, and oaks are common trees § vines grow up tree trunks § plants, like orchids, may hang from tree branches § water lilies grow in standing water § fish, snakes, & birds live in swamps