Essential Question: How do scientists classify ecosystems on land? Ch. 6 Terrestrial Biomes Essential Question: How do scientists classify ecosystems on land?

Key words in today’s notes Weather Climate Latitude Altitude Tropical Temperate Polar Deciduous forest Coniferous forest Permafrost Define these words – Chapter 6, starting on page 152.

Weather The day to day changes in temperature and precipitation

Climate The average weather conditions in an area Climate is affected by Latitude Landmasses Proximity to water

Climate Zones Tropical Temperate Polar

Latitude The distance north or south of the equator on the surface of Earth

Latitude Shape of Earth at different latitudes causes unequal heating of its surface

Biomes Characterized by climate Climate influences the vegetation present (some plants can not tolerate some climates) Vegetation influences the animal communities present (animals depend on plants for food)

Tropical Climate Near equator (0-30o latitude) Warm year round Lots of rain per year Include: savanna (grassland) and rainforest biomes

Temperate Climate 30o and 60o latitude Seasonal temperatures: cold winters and warm summers Average and seasonal precipitation Include: deciduous forests, northern coniferous forests, and grasslands

Coniferous Forest Deciduous Forest “Coniferous forest trees confide in their leaves”. “Deciduous trees decide to lose their leaves”

Polar Climate North of Arctic Circle (60-90o latitude) Dry and cold Permanently frozen soil (permafrost) Include: tundra and polar ice caps

Altitude Elevation (above sea level) Air is thinner at higher elevations so there’s less heat transfer and it’s generally colder and drier

Terrestrial Biomes Tropical Rainforest Tropical Savanna Temperate Rainforest Temperate Grassland Temperate Deciduous Forest Tundra Taiga Desert Chaparral

What would happen if we moved a rainforest fern to a desert or a cactus to a rainforest?

KEY TERMS Climate Biome (review term) Adaptations Others Tropical Temperate Polar Biome (review term) Rainforest Taiga Tundra Savanna or Grassland Desert Adaptations Coniferous Evergreen Deciduous Succulents Others Latitude Permafrost

The Biosphere Regions around the world receive unequal distribution of heat and precipitation, i.e. climates. Climate dictates the type of resources and inhabitants found in an ecosystem. The major terrestrial regions found in the biosphere are called biomes.

Tropical Rainforests Occur in a belt near equator Moderate temperatures & rainfall Moist, thin topsoil; low in nutrients Broad-leaved evergreen trees and shrubs & arboreal inhabitants

Temperate Deciduous Forest Between 30o and 50o latitude Seasonal temperatures with moderate precipitation Moist, moderate nutrient levels Broad-leaved trees and shrubs; deciduous plants drop leaves each fall (winter dormancy)

Temperate Rainforest Between 0o and 30o latitude Warm temperatures with heavy to moderate precipitation Moist, limited nutrient levels Broad-leaved evergreen trees and arboreal plants

Temperate Grasslands Found in interiors of continents (prairies, steppes, pampas) Seasonal temperatures with moderate precipitation Deep layer of topsoil; very rich in nutrients Dense, tall grasses in moist areas; short clumped grasses in drier areas

Boreal Forest or Taiga Northern arctic circle Subfreezing temperatures (6-10 month winters) & ice precipitation but ground thaws in summer Needle-leaved (coniferous) evergreen trees allow snow to slide off leaves & flexible stems to bend

Tundra North of Arctic Circle Very cold, very dry Nutrient poor permafrost (permanently frozen soil); slightly acidic Mosses, lichens, dwarf woody shrubs

Savanna (Tropical grasslands) Found near equator Hot with moderate, seasonal precipitation Dry, thin topsoil; porous, low in nutrients Tall grasses, scattered trees

Chaparral West coast of the U.S., west coast of S. Am., Cape Town area of South Africa, western tip of Australia and the coastal areas of the Mediterranean. Lay of the land: flat plains, rocky hills and mountain slopes. Think "Wild West“ movies. Climate: very hot and dry; winter is very mild (about 10 °C), summer is so hot and dry (40 °C) that fires and droughts are very common. Most of the plants have small, hard, waxy, sometimes succulent leaves which hold moisture; e.g. poison oak, Yucca and other shrubs, trees and cacti.

Deserts Very hot during day & cold at night Little precipitation (less than 10 inches/year) Dry, often sandy; nutrient poor Succulent plants and scattered grasses with shallow roots