Chapter 6: Biomes

Biomes  Has anyone ever heard of biomes before? –Do you recognize any part of the word?  Biomes are related to ecosystems, which was our last unit

Biomes  Biomes – A large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plants and animal communities (ecosystems) –Each biome is made up of many ecosystems  There is a lot in that definition, but look at it and see what you already recognize

Biomes  Each biome has it’s own climate and certain types of plants and animals  You can tell a lot about the Biome just from the name  So we’re going to play a little game

Biomes Game  I’m going to put up a list of several of the different biomes  You will then have to put them in order based on different categories that I give you –Remember this is all based on what you already know about these places and words

Biomes Game  Different Types:  Polar Ice  Tropical Rain Forest  Temperate Grassland  Desert  Tropical Savanna  Tundra  Categories: 1.Alphabetical 2.Hottest to Coldest 3.Most precipitation to least rain 4.Closest to Philly to farthest from Philly

Biomes  There are 10 different types of terrestrial biomes, and we will learn about most of them: 1. Polar Ice6. Tropical Rain Forest 2. Temperate Forest7. Tropical Savanna 3. Taiga8. Temperate Grassland 4. Chaparral9. Desert 5. Tundra10. Mountains

Biomes Map

Biome Activity  You’re going to make your own BIOME map  Follow the instructions on your paper

Biomes  Biomes are often defined by their vegetation  The plants that grow in an area determine the other organisms that can live there –Why is this true? –Plants are the producers, the base of the food chain, so all consumers depend on them

Climate  But what determines what plants can grow where? –The weather!  Climate – the weather conditions in an area over a long period of time –Includes temperature, precipitation, winds, humidity, etc.

Climate of a Biome  The climate of a biome is based on two things: 1.Average Temperature 2.Average Precipitation  Remember that precipitation is not just rain  Only certain organisms can live in certain areas –You wouldn’t find a polar bear in a tropical rain forest (why?)

Climate  Precipitation is also a limiting factor in a biome  Every organism needs water, but some need more than others –We need more water than an ant, but less water than a big Oak Tree  So where there is a lot of rain, there can be a lot of big trees and plant growth –This means more organisms in general

Latitude and Altitude  What are some factors that can affect weather? –How close to the equator you are  The closer the hotter –How high up you are  The higher the colder  Latitude – distance north or south of the equator  Altitude – height above sea level

Latitude and Altitude Activity  Picture the room as the globe  The front is the North Pole  The back where the windows are is the South Pole  The middle is the equator

Latitude and Altitude  Who in the room would be the hottest and why?  Who would be the coldest?  What types of biomes, plants and animals would be living in your part of the world?

Latitude and Altitude  Now, how can we change altitude? –Everyone is sitting on the same type of chair  We’re going to have to stand on tables and sit on the floor  How would that change the climate?

Latitude and Altitude

Climatograms or Climatographs  Climatograms – a graph that shows both the average temp and precipitation for a given biome  The line shows the Temperature  The bars show the precipitation Temp Precip.

Climatograms  Which month had the most rain?  Which month had the least rain?  Which month has the highest temperature?

1. Which biome is this and where is it located? 2. Which month(s) is the hottest? Coldest? 3. Which month(s) are the driest? Most moist? 4. Are there seasons? 5. Is this near the equator, north, or south of it? Example

Temperate Forest

Tropical Savanna

Temperate Grassland

Chaparral

Desert

Tundra

Climatogram Activity  You will be given a blank data page to look at, with one set of data highlighted.  You will be given 2 markers – follow instructions to graph your climatogram  Answer the questions about your climatogram on the back of your sheet.