Biomes of MN

Biome –Major type of ecosystem with distinctive organisms determined by Climate, Soil, Landforms, and Similar Communities MN has 3 Terrestrial Biomes –Prairie –Deciduous Forest –Coniferous Forest

Prairies –Flat, rolling, Grasslands. Abiotic Factors: Low Rainfall Amts. –Tall or Short Grass Prairie Fire –Kills invading species, fertilizes soil, rejuvenates by opening up soil to sun Huge Temp swings Windy

Prairies (continued) Native species: –Bison, Prairie Dogs, Badgers, Rattle Snakes –Big Blue Stem, Little Blue Stem, Switch Grass, Prairie Coneflower Bison and other large herbivores acted like fires as they moved in huge herds across the prairie Cowboy wars (fence vs open range and cows vs sheep) Best farmland in the world

Deciduous Forest Forest with trees that lose their leaves at the end of each growing season. Abiotic Factors: Lots of rain from the Gulf Warm and moderate Near lakes/rivers to protect them from fire Some species (Bur Oak) that live on the edge of prairies are fire resistant

Deciduous Forest (continued) Native Species –Trees: Oak, maple, basswood, elm, cotton wood, aspen –Forbs: columbine, trout lilies, jack in the pulpit, sorrel, trillium Dense forests can be very open in the spring time and support many forbs early in the season Fall provides numerous seeds and nuts to be stored for winter food supplies “The Big Woods” is nearly gone due to logging

Coniferous Forest Contains evergreen trees that are cone bearing Abiotic Factors: Very short growing season Cold but above average moisture including huge snowfall totals Poor and acidic soil and often very shallow with high water table (bogs)

Coniferous Forest (continued) Native Species: –White Pine, Red Pine, Tamarack, cedars, and also an assortment of deciduous trees (poplar) –Black bear, moose, flying squirrels, pine martens Many animals have adaptations for living in the deep snow Most was logged off by Paul Bunyan

Land Use Today Although our biomes are still evident most have been altered Prairie: Farms Deciduous: Logging, Farms, Mining Coniferous: Logging, Mining, and Cabins Housing, roads, cities, recreation (ball fields/parks)

MN Biome Icons

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