The World’s Biomes

Tundra The tundra is located north of the Arctic Circle.

Tundra: Climate Short summers that have bogs and swamps Long winters with icy winds EXTREME conditions Most Fragile Biome Simple food chains Land easily damaged Oil is a major threat

Tundra: Vegetation Grasses, herbs, and lichens common Tough shrubs and mosses Vegetation can grow without soil Wide, shallow roots Plants are short

Tundra: Soil Thin soil - Only top few centimeters thaw in summer Permafrost Vast areas of rock

Tundra: Interesting Information Bogs and swamps provide great breeding grounds for insects Also provides breeding grounds for many birds, caribou and their predators Most rodents burrow Many animals have great camouflage and good insulation

Taiga(Boreal Forest) The taiga is also known as the Boreal Forest It is found just below the Arctic circle in the Northern Hemisphere Largest terrestrial biome

Taiga: Climate Long winters (6-10 months) Average temperatures are below freezing in the winter Receives little precipitation

Taiga: Vegetation Forest floor has little vegetation Straight “Pole Trees” Mostly conifers (pines, spruces, firs) Short growing season (50 days)

Taiga: Soil Acidic Forms slowly

Taiga: Interesting Information Many lakes and swamps provide habitat for many species in the summer Many species migrate Others burrow underground or change color according to season

Temperate Deciduous Forest Located between 30° and 50°N latitude in North America, Europe, and Asia

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Climate Temperatures may be extreme Hot summers Cold winters Temperatures vary according to season Moist; abundant precipitation 75-125 cm rainfall/year

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Vegetation Short growing season Adapted to survive seasons Shed leaves Seeds, bulbs, and underground stems remain dormant during winter 4-6 month growing season

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Soil Rich, deep soil

Temperate Deciduous Forest: Interesting Information Animals adapted to use forest plants for food and shelter Many animals migrate or reduce activity in winter

Temperate Rainforest Located in some coastal areas of North America; Australia, New Zealand

Temperate Rainforest: Climate A lot of precipitation High humidity Moderate temperatures year round Cool and moist Rarely freezes

Temperate Rainforest: Vegetation Evergreen trees with mosses and lichens Lush ferns

Temperate Rainforest: Soil Slow decay Fertile Supports many mosses, lichens, and ferns that cover the forest floor

Temperate Rainforest: Interesting Information Trees can be more than 90 m tall Many are old-growth forests Provide habitat to endangered species World’s tallest trees

Tropical Rainforest Located along the belt near the equator About 7% of the Earth’s surface

Tropical Rainforest: Climate Always humid and warm Lots of rainfall Receives about 200-450 cm of rain/year Strong sunlight all year Relatively constant temperatures

Tropical Rainforest: Vegetation More species of plants than any other biome Trees have above ground roots Grow in layers

Tropical Rainforest: Soil Thin soil Few nutrients because of rapid decay

Tropical Rainforest: Interesting Information Helps regulate the climate Plays a vital role in the nitrogen, and carbon cycles Greatest species diversity More animals live in the canopy Mass deforestation Approximately 100 acres/minute are destroyed by clearing

Temperate Grasslands Located in the interiors of continents North American prairies Russian steppes South American pampas

Temperate Grasslands: Climate Hot summers Cold winters Moderate rainfall 50-88 cm/year Often “victims” of the rainshadow effect Heavy precipitation rare Fires are common in summer Constant winds

Temperate Grasslands: Vegetation Mostly grass Very few trees Roots form dense layers Rainfall determines the type of plants in an area

Temperate Grasslands: Soil Most fertile soil of any biome Erosion is a common problem

Temperate Grasslands: Interesting Information May have been replaced by agricultural crops, farming, and grazing areas Few natural grasslands remain Some say less than 1% Animals have large, flat teeth for grazing Other live underground

Savanna Found in parts of Africa, Western India, Northern Australia, and parts of South America Located between the tropical rainforest and the desert

Savanna: Climate Little precipitation throughout the year Have a wet and dry season

Savanna: Vegetation Mostly grasses with shrubs and scattered trees Horizontal root systems Vertical leaves Thorns or sharp leaves Shed leaves

Savanna: Soil Grass fires occur during the dry season and help restore the nutrients to the soil

Savanna: Interesting Information Large variety of grazing animals and their predators Many active only during wet season Migratory Follow rains Feed according to height

Chaparral Located in the middle latitudes 30° N and S of the equator Found along coastal areas with Mediterranean climates

Chaparral: Climate Warm, dry summers Mild, wet winters

Chaparral: Vegetation Broad-leaved evergreens Shrubs Low-lying Grow in dense patches Adapted to fire

Chaparral: Soil Dry, sandy mix

Chaparral: Interesting Information Animals are camouflaged by color, shape, or movement Human development (residential and commercial) are threatening this area

Desert Both hot and cold deserts exist Hot deserts are found closer to the equator Often near large mountain ranges

Desert: Climate Driest places on Earth Extreme temperatures Less than 25 cm of rain/year Extreme temperatures Often created by the rainshadow effect

Desert: Vegetation Little or no vegetation Vegetation that does live there has thick, fleshy stems and leaves that store water Have waxy coating Sharp spines Roots spread out near surface Dormant seeds New plants grow and bloom quickly

Desert: Soil DRY

Desert: Interesting Information Animals have thick, scaly skin Most animals are nocturnal

Marine Largest biome Includes: 97% of Earth’s water Coral reefs Open ocean Frozen seas Abyss Coastal areas Estuaries

Marine: Climate Salt water Temperature varies according to depth

Marine: Vegetation Ocean is filled with phytoplankton, algae, and kelp forests

Marine: Interesting Information Coastal areas protect inland from flooding Filter pollution and sediments Some areas are productive fisheries Many species not yet discovered Chemosynthetic organisms Organisms with bioluminescence Great biodiversity