The word “biosphere” refers to the areas on and near Earth’s surface where living things exist A “Biome” is a region with similar living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) componants

A biome here in B.C. can be the same as a biome in New Zealand There are 4 factors that influence biomes: 1. temperature and precipitation 2. latitude 3. elevation 4. ocean currents

Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator Latitude influences both temperature and precipitation Example: tropical zone has very high temperatures and high precipitation

Elevation – the atmosphere is thinner at higher elevations Windward sides of mountains are wet, leeward sides are very dry Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture

Climate is the average pattern of weather conditions of a large region over a period of 30 years or more Biomes are often defined using information on “climatographs”

Summary of the 8 Terrestrial Biomes

BOREAL FOREST (Largest Biome in the World)

BOREAL FOREST

BOREAL FOREST WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Northern Hemisphere Very cold winters Rainy, humid summers (short) Rough terrain CLIMATE Precipitation = 30 to 85 cm/yr (snow) Temp = freezing ½ the year (lows -40°C) Russian Boreal Forest BOREAL FOREST

BOREAL FOREST PLANT LIFE: WHO LIVES HERE? Animals are able to adapt for warm summers and cool winters; thick fur, change from brown to winter white, reptiles are rare. Insect-eating birds (finch), chipmunk, shrew, moose, black and grizzly bears, wolverine PLANT LIFE: Coniferous trees (evergreens) Waxy needles (resist water loss, snow slides off). BOREAL FOREST

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST WHERE? Eastern Canada/US, Western Europe FEATURES: 4 distinct seasons Long growing season Rich soil (fallen leaves) CLIMATE Precipitation = even throughout year (75 -180 cm) Temp = -30 to 30°C TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST WHO LIVES HERE? A large variety due to the abundance of various habitats. Some hibernate, others migrate during winter. Rabbits, squirrels, skunks, cougars, deer, wolves, bears... PLANT LIFE: Four to five layers (mosses -> berries -> shrubs -> short trees -> deciduous trees) Deciduous trees (Maple, Oak, Birch) – lose leaves in fall. TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

Temperate Rainforest WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Coastal BC, New Zealand, Australia, coast of Chile FEATURES: Along coastlines, backed by mountains Very tall trees (up to 60m) CLIMATE Heavy rainfall (>200 cm/yr) Coastal fog Temp = 5 to 25°C Temperate Rainforest

Temperate Rainforest PLANT LIFE: WHO LIVES HERE? Many animals live on forest floor where they are protected from wind and rain. Eat seeds and insects. Small mammals (chipmunks), birds (eagle), amphibians, bears... PLANT LIFE: Tall, large evergreens (due to rain) Mosses and lichens on tree trunks to reach light. Mosses, fungi on forest floor Temperate Rainforest

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

Tropical Rainforest WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Along the equator: Northern South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America FEATURES: Poor soil (heavy rains wash nutrients away) Dark forest floor CLIMATE Heavy rainfall (>250 cm/yr) Warm temp = 20 to 25 °C Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Rainforest This biome has the greatest WHO LIVES HERE? Large diversity but not many large mammals. Most animals live in trees as little vegetation on ground. Most are specialists to decrease competition. Some secrete poison. Small animals, few large mammals, birds (toucan, parrots), insects... Poison arrow frog This biome has the greatest diversity of animals on Earth Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Rainforest PLANT LIFE: This biome also has the greatest plant diversity Leaves have narrow tips so rain runs off Tall trees form a canopy and block the light Some plants grow on the tall trees to reach the sunlight (vines and orchids) Shrubs adapted to low light can grow in the forest floor Tropical Rainforest Jambu Bengal Bamboo

GRASSLANDS

GRASSLANDS

GRASSLANDS WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Temperate (Prairies, Russia) Tropical (Africa, S America, N Australia) FEATURES: Flat, rich fertile soil Rain followed by long dry periods Grass fires can occur CLIMATE Rainfall = 25 to 100 cm/yr (Temp) 50 to 130 cm/yr (Trop) Temp = -10 to 30°C (Temp) 20 to 30°C (Trop) GRASSLANDS

GRASSLANDS PLANT LIFE: WHO LIVES HERE? Grazing and scavenging animals – lots of grass Large grazing animals (antelope, giraffes, zebras, wolves, coyotes, rabbits, snakes, lions, cheetahs...) PLANT LIFE: Grasses (adapted for drought; well developed roots – collect water, grow after fire); flexible stalks don’t break in wind). Some grasses are sharp & taste bad. Few trees GRASSLANDS

DESERT

DESERT

DESERT WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Kalahari and Sahara of Africa, Simpson of Australia...Cold deserts in North America (Great Basin Desert), Argentina (Patagonian Desert) FEATURES: Hot, dry Salty soil (minerals don’t get washed away) CLIMATE Rainfall = < 25 cm/yr Temp = hot days, cold nights DESERT

DESERT PLANT LIFE: few species WHO LIVES HERE? Thick skin and scales to prevent water loss. Large adapted excretory systems (to preserve water). Large extremities. Not active during day (heat) , busy at night (cold) -- some burrow. Reptiles, scorpions, desert spadefoot toads, lizards, foxes, coyotes, jackrabbits... PLANT LIFE: few species Cacti, sagebrush Long roots help absorb water Spines/ chemicals help protect from being eaten DESERT

THE TUNDRA

TUNDRA

TUNDRA WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Upper Northern Hemisphere (60 – 70° N) Cold and dark Short Summers (24 hrs of daylight) Layer of permanently frozen soil (permafrost) CLIMATE Precipitation = less than 25 cm/yr Summer temp = 3 to 12 °C Winter temp = -20 to - 30 °C TUNDRA

WHO LIVES HERE? For animals to prevent heat loss, they have small bodies and shorter legs and ears (less space to lose heat from the body). They grow slowly and reproduce infrequently (less energy). Some turn white for camoflauge. Lots migrate away during winter. Foxes, caribou, snowy owl, seals, walrus, polar bear, walrus, beluga whale... PLANT LIFE: No trees (short summer, permafrost) Plants grow close to ground: mosses, lichens, grasses. TUNDRA

PERMANENT ICE (POLAR)

PERMANENT ICE (POLAR)

Permanent Ice WHERE? FEATURES: CLIMATE Polar ice caps of Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica FEATURES: Strong winds, little soil Most freshwater is frozen in ice CLIMATE Precipitation = <50 cm/yr (snow) Summer temp = up to 14 °C (Arctic summer) Winter temp = down to -30 °C (As low as -89 °C in Antarctica) Permanent Ice

Permanent Ice PLANT LIFE: WHO LIVES HERE? Large terrestrial and marine mammals with lots of fat layers and tightly packed feathers to prevent heat loss. Some have fur and some lie close together (walrus/seal) Polar bears, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, penguins, leopard seals. PLANT LIFE: Lichens (fungi + algae) Moss 100 species of flowering plants in Arctic Permanent Ice