The Worlds Biomes Tundra The tundra is located

The World’s Biomes

Tundra The tundra is located north of the Arctic Circle.

Tundra: Climate ► Short summers that have bogs and swamps ► Long winters with icy winds ► EXTREME conditions ► Most Fragile Biome § Simple food chains § Land easily damaged § Oil is a major threat

Tundra: Vegetation ► Grasses, herbs, and lichens common ► Tough shrubs and mosses ► Vegetation can grow without soil § Wide, shallow roots § Plants are short

Tundra: Soil ► Thin soil - Only top few centimeters thaw in summer ► Permafrost ► Vast areas of rock

Tundra: Interesting Information ► Bogs and swamps provide great breeding grounds for insects ► Also provides breeding grounds for many birds, caribou and their predators ► Most rodents burrow ► Many animals have great camouflage and good insulation

Taiga(Boreal Forest) ► The taiga is also known as the Boreal Forest ► It is found just below the Arctic circle in the Northern Hemisphere ► Largest terrestrial biome

Taiga: Climate ► Long winters (6 -10 months) ► Average temperatures are below freezing in the winter ► Receives little precipitation

Taiga: Vegetation ► Forest floor has little vegetation ► Straight “Pole Trees” ► Mostly conifers (pines, spruces, firs) ► Short growing season (50 days)

Taiga: Soil ► Acidic ► Forms slowly

Taiga: Interesting Information ► Many lakes and swamps provide habitat for many species in the summer ► Many species migrate ► Others burrow underground or change color according to season

Temperate Deciduous Forest ► Located between 30° and 50°N latitude in North America, Europe, and Asia

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Climate ► Temperatures may be extreme § Hot summers § Cold winters ► Temperatures vary according to season ► Moist; abundant precipitation § 75 -125 cm rainfall/year

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Vegetation ► Short growing season ► Adapted to survive seasons § Shed leaves § Seeds, bulbs, and underground stems remain dormant during winter ► 4 -6 month growing season

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Soil ► Rich, deep soil

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Interesting Information ► Animals adapted to use forest plants for food and shelter ► Many animals migrate or reduce activity in winter

Temperate Rainforest ► Located in some coastal areas of North America; Australia, New Zealand

Temperate Rainforest: Climate ► A lot of precipitation ► High humidity ► Moderate temperatures year round § Cool and moist ► Rarely freezes

Temperate Rainforest: Vegetation ► Evergreen trees with mosses and lichens ► Lush ferns

Temperate Rainforest: Soil ► Slow decay ► Fertile ► Supports many mosses, lichens, and ferns that cover the forest floor

Temperate Rainforest: Interesting Information ► Trees can be more than 90 m tall § Many are old-growth forests § Provide habitat to endangered species § World’s tallest trees

Tropical Rainforest ► Located along the belt near the equator ► About 7% of the Earth’s surface

Tropical Rainforest: Climate ► Always humid and warm ► Lots of rainfall § Receives about 200 -450 cm of rain/year ► Strong sunlight all year ► Relatively constant temperatures

Tropical Rainforest: Vegetation ► More species of plants than any other biome ► Trees have above ground roots ► Grow in layers

Tropical Rainforest: Soil ► Thin soil ► Few nutrients because of rapid decay

Tropical Rainforest: Interesting Information ► Helps regulate the climate ► Plays a vital role in the nitrogen, and carbon cycles ► Greatest species diversity § More animals live in the canopy ► Mass deforestation § Approximately 100 acres/minute are destroyed by clearing

Temperate Grasslands ► Located in the interiors of continents § North American prairies § Russian steppes § South American pampas

Temperate Grasslands: Climate ► Hot summers ► Cold winters ► Moderate rainfall § 50 -88 cm/year § Often “victims” of the rainshadow effect § Heavy precipitation rare ► Fires are common in summer ► Constant winds

Temperate Grasslands: Vegetation ► Mostly grass ► Very few trees ► Roots form dense layers ► Rainfall determines the type of plants in an area

Temperate Grasslands: Soil ► Most fertile soil of any biome ► Erosion is a common problem

Temperate Grasslands: Interesting Information ► May have been replaced by agricultural crops, farming, and grazing areas ► Few natural grasslands remain § Some say less than 1% ► Animals have large, flat teeth for grazing ► Other live underground

Savanna ► Found in parts of Africa, Western India, Northern Australia, and parts of South America ► Located between the tropical rainforest and the desert

Savanna: Climate ► Little precipitation throughout the year ► Have a wet and dry season

Savanna: Vegetation ► Mostly grasses with shrubs and scattered trees ► Horizontal root systems ► Vertical leaves ► Thorns or sharp leaves ► Shed leaves

Savanna: Soil ► Grass fires occur during the dry season and help restore the nutrients to the soil

Savanna: Interesting Information ► Large variety of grazing animals and their predators § Many active only during wet season § Migratory ►Follow rains § Feed according to height

Chaparral ► Located in the middle latitudes § 30° N and S of the equator ► Found along coastal areas with Mediterranean climates

Chaparral: Climate ► Warm, dry summers ► Mild, wet winters

Chaparral: Vegetation ► Broad-leaved evergreens § Shrubs ► Low-lying ► Grow in dense patches ► Adapted to fire

Chaparral: Soil ► Dry, sandy mix

Chaparral: Interesting Information ► Animals are camouflaged by color, shape, or movement ► Human development (residential and commercial) are threatening this area

Desert ► Both hot and cold deserts exist ► Hot deserts are found closer to the equator ► Often near large mountain ranges

Desert: Climate ► Driest places on Earth § Less than 25 cm of rain/year ► Extreme temperatures ► Often created by the rainshadow effect

Desert: Vegetation ► Little or no vegetation ► Vegetation that does live there has thick, fleshy stems and leaves that store water § § Have waxy coating Sharp spines Roots spread out near surface Dormant seeds ► New plants grow and bloom quickly

Desert: Soil ► DRY

Desert: Interesting Information ► Animals have thick, scaly skin ► Most animals are nocturnal

Marine ► Largest biome § 97% of Earth’s water ► Includes: § Coral reefs § Open ocean § Frozen seas § Abyss § Coastal areas § Estuaries

Marine: Climate ► Salt water ► Temperature varies according to depth

Marine: Vegetation ► Ocean is filled with phytoplankton, algae, and kelp forests

Marine: Interesting Information ► Coastal areas protect inland from flooding § Filter pollution and sediments ► Some areas are productive fisheries ► Many species not yet discovered ► Chemosynthetic organisms ► Organisms with bioluminescence ► Great biodiversity