Biomes

Biome A large region characterized by: Specific type of climate Certain types of plants Certain types of animals

Characteristics of Biomes Climate (weather conditions) Type of plants (vegetation) Type of animals Adaptations that plants and animals have Location on earth

What effect does temperature and precipitation have on biomes?

Effects of Temperature and Precipitation As the temperature decreases the biome becomes drier and less plants grow Precipitation: As the amount of precipitation decreases the biome becomes drier and less plants grow

* The further away a biome is from the equator the cooler it gets. Latitude vs. Altitude Latitude Distance North or South of the Equator Altitude Height of an object above sea level * The further away a biome is from the equator the cooler it gets.

Tropical Rain Forest Climate: Have a constant humid and warm climate year round Get A LOT of rain (200 to 450 cm per year)

Plants in the Rainforest Grow in Layers Emergent Layer Canopy Types of Plants: Plants in the Rainforest Grow in Layers Emergent Layer Canopy Understory Largest Layer To Smallest Layer

Layers in Tropical Rain Forest

Emergent Layer Characteristics : Top Layer Tallest trees Grow into direct sunlight

Canopy Characteristics: Comprised of a: Upper Canopy Receives more sunlight than the lower canopy Comprised of Shorter trees 2) Lower Canopy Receives less sunlight than the upper canopy Plants from this region are called epiphytes

A plant that uses another plant for support but NOT for nourishment Epiphytes A plant that uses another plant for support but NOT for nourishment Examples: Flowering plants (orchids) Bromeliads

Red and Yellow Bromeliad Orange Orchid Purple Orchid Veined Bromeliad

Understory Characteristics: Lowest layer Trees, shrubs, herbs adapted to shade grow here (they will have broad leaves to help them catch sunlight)

Common Plant Adaptations Waxy leaves so rain rolls off and fungus won’t grow Some plants grow on trees to reach sunlight Bright colored flowers found in understory to attract pollinators Stilt roots help hold up plants in shallow soil

Soil in Tropical Rain Forests The soil DOES NOT have a lot of nutrients in it Why: Supports a lot of plant growth so all the nutrients are taken out of the soil Where plants get their nutrients: Dead organic material left behind by decomposers

Type of Animals MOST live in the canopy and are tree dwelling Examples: Red-Eyed Tree Frog Jaguar Leaf Cutter Ants Spider Monkey Parrot Python Toucan Orangutan Gorilla

Red-Eyed Tree Frog

Leaf Cutter Ants

Parrot

Toucan

Gorilla

Jaguar

Spider Monkey

Python

Baby Orangutan

Common Animal Adaptations Camouflage Brightly colored to warn predators to stay away Live in different layers of the rainforest

Location on Earth Close to the Equator

Threats to the Tropical Rain Forest Deforestation Is the clearing of trees for logging operations, agriculture or oil exploration Causes Habitat destruction *About 35 species become extinct everyday due to Deforestation Illegal Trading Exotic Pet Trading

Planet Earth Tropical Rain Forest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgXe7cTxGas