World Biomes Biomes Regions of the world with

World Biomes

Biomes • Regions of the world with similar physical environments • Named for most conspicuous types of vegetation • Climate factors Ø Rainfall (precipitation) Ø Temperature Ø Altitude Ø Latitude • Boundaries are indistinct

Six Major Biomes • Tropical Rain Forests • Grassland – Tropical/Subtropical Grassland – Temperate Grassland • Desert • Temperate – Temperate Deciduous Forest – Temperate Rain Forest • Taiga • Tundra

Tropical Rain Forests • Equatorial lowlands • Constant temperature and abundant rainfall year long • Many arboreal animals • Few terrestrial animals

Tropical and Subtropical Grassland • Warm temperatures throughout the year • Well defined dry season and rainy season • Large herbivores • High grasses • Scattered trees and shrubs

Temperate Grassland • Hot, humid summer and cold winter • Precipitation as winter snow and heavy spring and summer rain • Short and tall grasses; trees found only near streams • Wide variety of animal life – Large herbivores – Smaller animals build burrows

Deserts • Identified by lack of precipitation • Deserts can be cold or hot – Antarctica is a cold desert • Nocturnal animal life in hot deserts • Plants are well adapted to short water supply

Temperate Deciduous Forests • Deciduous forests of mid‑latitude regions • Cold winters and hot summers • Abundant rain and snowfall • Wide variety of animal life

Temperate Rain Forests • Cold winters and hot summers • Abundant rain and snowfall • Conifers (redwood, firs, pines, spruce) retain their needles. – Needles conserve water in dry summer and shed snow in cold winter • Wide variety of animal life

Taiga (Boreal Forest) • Coniferous (Evergreen) Forests • Found at high elevations and/or far northern latitudes • Snow accounts for most of the precipitation • Animals are adapted to long, cold winters

Tundra • Areas with continuously frozen ground (permafrost) • Near polar regions • Small plants limited by frozen soil and prolonged dark season • Animals adapted to extreme cold; birds often migrate