Biosphere

Biosphere The Biosphere refers to all life on Earth. Weather and climate influence what kinds of plants and animals can live in particular regions.

Biomes Biomes- geographic regions with their own plant and animal life. Based on the interaction of: Climate Landforms Bodies of Water Soils

Midway Review What is the Biosphere? What two things influence where plants and animals can survive? What is a Biome?

Latitudes Zones Biomes differ across latitude zones. Some are exclusive, others found on more than one

Tropical Rain Forest Low latitudes Tropical climate, warm year round 2 seasons: wet & dry Contain the most biodiversity, many unique species Threated by deforestation Brazil, Peru, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Indonesia, Thailand

Grasslands Mid and high latitudes – hug TRF Have regional characteristics and names: Plains or prairies in North America Pampas in South America Steppes in Central Asia Savannas in Africa Dominated by tall grasses, trees absent USA, Argentina, Kenya, Tanzania, Mongolia

Chaparral Mid latitudes Smallest biome Mediterranean climate – warm, dry summers & cool, rainy winters Grass and small shrubs are abundant California (USA), Australia, France, Italy, Algeria

Desert Mid and high latitude zones Receive less than 10 in. per year Hot deserts – Mojave, Sahara, Arabian, Outback Cold deserts - Antarctica, Atacama, Gobi Desertification -

Temperate Deciduous Forest Mid latitudes Temperate climate 4 distinct seasons of equal length Deciduous – trees that lose their leaves Eastern USA, France, Germany, Japan, Koreas

Taiga (Boreal Forest) High latitudes Polar climate Long winters, short summers Dominated by evergreen coniferous (cone bearing) trees with needle-like leaves Canada, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland

Tundra High latitudes Polar climate Long, frigid winters & short summer Little vegetation due to permafrost Most threatened due to climate change Northern Canada, Greenland,