Section 15.3 Biomes

BIOMES are large geographical areas, controlled by climate and distinguished by distinct plants and animals.

Six Major Terrestrial Biomes Tropical Rain Forest Desert Taiga Grasslands Temperate Forest Tundra

Tropical Rain Forest Area found near the equator where it rains almost every day (200-400 cm/year). The trees are very tall (70 meters) and provide a canopy that does not allow much light to the forest floor. There are large animals on the forest floor and many animals that live in the tree tops. Insects and spiders are very abundant. eg: monkeys, bats, sloth's, snakes, colorful birds etc.

Tropical Forests

The uppermost branches of the trees in the rain forest form a covering or canopy that restricts 99% of the light from reaching the ground.

Grasslands This biome occurs where there are long dry periods and short amounts of rain. There are scattered trees, but occasional fires prevent large tree growth. Prairie dogs, buffalo, coyotes and large numbers of insects inhabit the grasslands.

Tropical Grasslands (Savanna) Savannas are found in the tropical regions of Africa, Australia, and South America. They are grasslands with scattered trees. Animals of the savanna such as zebras, wildebeest, antelope, and, kangaroos, as well as numerous insects. Savannas typically have a warm climate with alternating wet and dry seasons. The dry seasons may include long periods of drought, when no rain falls.

Savannas

Temperate Grasslands Temperate grasslands receive rain in the spring and early summer, then have long periods of draught. There are a lot of wild flowers and prairie dogs and insects.

                                                                                                                                                                  Temperate Grasslands

Deserts The lack of water defines a desert. Usually, they are very hot, but they can be cold also. Deserts have less than 25 cm of rainfall per year. The plants that live in the desert are adapted to retain water when it does rain. The animals are adapted to not lose water. The cactus, snakes, Gila monster, lizards etc are examples of organisms found in a desert.

                                                                                                                                                                  Deserts

Deciduous forests contain trees that loose their leaves in the fall In forest biomes, trees are the dominate species Deciduous forests contain trees that loose their leaves in the fall Coniferous forests contain trees that do not loose their leaves

Coniferous Forests Coniferous forests contain trees that retain their needles (leaves) all year. Moss, lichens, ferns, Bald Eagles, porcupines, raccoons, brown bears, owls and hawks are found in the area.

                                                                                                                                                                  Coniferous Forests

Temperate Deciduous Forest These forest have trees that loose their leaves. These forest experience rainy seasons and cold winters. The summers may be very warm. The trees are deciduous and there is a large variety of birds and insects. Wolves, deer and bears are the large animals on the forest floor.

Temperate Deciduous Forests                                                                                                                                                                   Temperate Deciduous Forests

Temperate Rain Forest The rain forest does not receive precipitation on a daily basis. There is usually a long rainy season followed by a relatively dry summer season. Red cedar, cattails, moss and lichens are common plants of the region. Black bears, raccoons, cougars and elk are common animals.

Taiga (boreal forest) The taiga is found where winters are very long and cold. The summers are short and mild. The trees are conifers. Moose, elk and black bears are the large animals. Most of the smaller mammals and birds migrate during the winter months

Tundra The tundra is very cold most of the year. The soil is frozen solid most of the year. There is a short summer when the top few inches warms and the snow melts. The plants are very short, mostly lichens, moss, grass and some small shrubs. The animals either migrate in the winter or hibernate. eg: caribou, reindeer, wolves.

                                                                                                                                                                  Tundra

Chaparral Minor Biome The chaparral is an area where the winter months that have a rainy season and then experience droughts in the summer time. The plants in the area are adapted for long periods without water. Skunks, mice, deer, scrub oak, birds and insects are abundant.

Chaparral

The polar zone are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles The polar zone are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles. The North Pole and South Pole are regions dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica. Polar region receive less intensive solar radiation because the sun's energy arrives at an oblique angle, spreading over a larger area, and also travels a longer distance through the Earth's atmosphere in which it may be absorbed, scattered or reflected, which is the same thing that causes winters to be colder than the rest of the year in temperate areas.