Biomes

What is a Biome? Biome- A geographical area that is characterized by the climate, plants, and animals of that area

Deciduous Forest Deciduous means ‘to fall off’ Trees conserve water in winter by losing leaves Georgia is a deciduous forest biome. Have warmer winters, longer summers and more rainfall than taiga Avg. rainfall 29.5-49 inches Avg. temp. Summer 82F and Winter 43 F

Deciduous Forest

Taiga Also known as coniferous forest Composed of conifers, or trees that produce seeds in cones Cool summers and long cold winters with snow South of the Tundra Avg. rainfall 14-29.5 inches Avg. temp. Summer 57F and Winter 14F

Taiga

Tropical Rain Forest Most diverse biome Warm, rainy climate year round Found near the equator Avg. rainfall 157.5 inches! Avg. temp. Daytime 93F and Nighttime 68F

Tropical Rainforest

Savanna Tropical grassland with scattered clumps of trees and shrubs Includes animals such as elephants, giraffes, zebra, lions Warm temperatures with wet seasons and dry seasons Avg. rainfall 59 inches Avg. temp. Summer 93F and Winter 61F

Savanna

Tundra Also known as the “cold desert” Treeless and dry Has permafrost Avg. rainfall 12-20 inches Avg. temp. Summer 53.6F and Winter -14F

Tundra

Desert Hot, dry region with less than 25 cm of rain per year Some may have cold winters and many have cold nights Supports a variety of plants and animals that have adapted to the desert Avg. rainfall less than 10 inches Avg. temp. Summer 100F and Winter 45F

Desert

Grassland Grasses mixed with a few flowering plants Support small seed eating mammals and large herbivores Avg. rainfall 10-29.5 inches Avg. temp. Summer 86F and Winter 32F

Grasslands

Aquatic Communities

Marine Ecosystems Intertidal Zone- The region between the highest tide line and the lowest tide line. Neritic Zone- The region following the intertidal zone just above the continental shelf. This is the most productive zone in the ocean with lots of animal life

Marine Ecosystems Oceanic Zone is the open ocean. It is the largest marine zone and makes up most of the world’s oceans. Benthic Zone is the sea floor which extends horizontally from the neritic zone through the open ocean.

Intertidal Zone

Neritic Zone

Oceanic Zone

Benthic Zone

Freshwater Ecosystems

Freshwater Ecosystems Freshwater ecosystems can be found in the Earth’s ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers.

Freshwater Ecosystem Wetland- An ecosystem in which water either covers the soil or is near the soil’s surface for all or part of the year. Wetlands include marshes and swamps. Marsh-a treeless wetland Swamp- a wetland with trees and vines

Freshwater Ecosystems Wetlands often form at estuaries An estuary is the place at the mouth of a river where fresh water and salt water mix

How is a biome different from an ecosystem? 1.Biomes are made of many related ecosystems.

2. South America and Africa

3. Plenty of rain and moderate temperatures.

4. Shrubs and Deciduous trees

5. In cones

6. The evergreen conifers shade the forest floor, but the deciduous trees of the temperate forest allow light to reach the ground.

7. Coniferous forests get less rainfall than some other biomes.

8. Most of the animals are found in the trees.

9. The plants grow above the ground to get sunlight which is lacking on the forest floor.

10 Camouflage, hiding burrows

11 The savanna gets about twice as much rain

12 Escaping the heat and hiding from predators

13 10 in

14 Growing close to the ground helps protect the plants from the cold and wind

15 They are both large herbivores

Section 1 Review 1. Tundras, like deserts, receive little rainfall. Tundra is not hot like most deserts, so it is a “frozen desert”

Temperate Grassland Abiotic factors- warm summers cold winters Type of producers- grass with scattered trees Type of consumers- Herbivores- prairie dogs, bisons, Predators- coyotes

Savanna Abiotic factors- constant warmth with seasonal rains Types of producers- scattered trees Types of consumers- herbivores: elephants, giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest Predators:lions

3 Some plants have special roots to gather rainfall before it evaporates. Many desert plants can store water in their stems or roots

4 Alpine tundra- found at the tops of tall mountains Polar tundra is found at or near the poles