Biomes Large geographical areas characterized by a certain type of climax community

Terrestrial biomes Temperature and rainfall are the major limiting factors that determine the type of climax community found in a given area – a limiting factor will influence what type of organisms can survive in an environment

tundra Very cold winters and brief growing seasons Permafrost – permanently frozen subsoil Flora  lichens, mosses grasses Fauna  insects, migratory birds, large migratory animals

Taiga Long, cold winters but longer growing seasons Flora  coniferous forests –Pine trees, spruce trees, fir trees Fauna  large variety of small mammals, moose and black bear

Temperate deciduous forest Mild winters and long growing seasons Flora  angiosperms –Trees lose leaves in the fall –Oak, maple, elm trees Fauna  large diversity of small mammals –Grey squirrel, fox, deer

Tropical rain forest Warm all year –Receives inches of rain per year Flora  many varieties of broad- leaved plants, bamboo, ferns Fauna  many animal species, monkeys, snakes, leopard

Grassland Less than 20 inches of rain per year Flora  annual plants and grasses Fauna  deer, antelope, small mammals, prairie dogs

Desert Less than 10 inches of rain per year Flora  succulents, cactus and aloe Fauna  birds, reptiles, insects

Marine biomes Based on three physical criteria

The marine biome covers 70% of the earth’s surface Oceans absorb solar heat energy Oceans have a stabilizing effect on average temperature of land areas

MOST PHOTOSYNTHESIS TAKES PLACE IN THE OCEAN!

There is a great variety of life forms in the ocean Organisms that live on the ocean floor are called BENTHOS

Photosynthetic organisms are called PHYTOPLANKTON These are the producers in the marine biome

Small organisms that float near the surface are PLANKTON –these are protists and algae, larvae of various animals, small jellyfish, worms

Distance from shore Intertidal zone – where land meets water Nertic zone – shallow regions over the continental shelf Oceanic zone – the sea floor

Water depth Pelagic zone – open water of any depth Benthic zone – the sea floor

Freshwater biome These can be divided into two types 1)Standing water  lakes, ponds, swamps and bogs 2)Running water  streams

Lakes are usually larger than ponds Lakes are so deep that light does not reach the bottom in all parts Ponds are shallow enough for light to reach the bottom

Cattails and other plants grow around the surface of the lake and in the pond

Streams are fast moving water The bottom is made of rocks and gravel Organisms can be found in calmer, shallow areas near stream banks

Swamps are low, wetland areas Fresh and saltwater swamps are often called wetlands Wetlands are important nesting sites for water birds