BIOMES

VOCABULARY BIOME – a large region characterized by a specific climate and certain types of plants and animals. BIOME – a large region characterized by a specific climate and certain types of plants and animals. ECOSYSTEM – a community of organisms and their nonliving environment ECOSYSTEM – a community of organisms and their nonliving environment

TYPES OF BIOMES LAND BIOMES LAND BIOMES MARINE BIOMES MARINE BIOMES

LAND BIOMES Deciduous Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forests Coniferous Forests Rainforest Rainforest Grasslands/Savannas Grasslands/Savannas Deserts Deserts Tundra Tundra

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU SEE IN A FOREST IN CT?

FORESTS Temperate Deciduous – trees shedding their leaves. Temperate Deciduous – trees shedding their leaves. Variety of animals like bears, snakes, and woodpeckers. Variety of animals like bears, snakes, and woodpeckers. Climate: hot Summers, cold Winters, Rainfall throughout the year Climate: hot Summers, cold Winters, Rainfall throughout the year Connecticut is part of this biome. Connecticut is part of this biome.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL SEE IN A FOREST WITH MANLY PINE TREES?

FORESTS Coniferous Forests – trees keep their leaves year round aka evergreen trees. Coniferous Forests – trees keep their leaves year round aka evergreen trees. Most trees are conifers – produce cone (pine cones) Most trees are conifers – produce cone (pine cones) Animals living in these forests are squirrels, deer, moose, and porcupines. Animals living in these forests are squirrels, deer, moose, and porcupines. Climate: long cold Winters, short Summers, frequent Rain Climate: long cold Winters, short Summers, frequent Rain

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL SEE IN A RAIN FOREST??

FORESTS Tropical Rain Forest – great biological diversity. Tropical Rain Forest – great biological diversity. Can have 100 types of trees. Can have 100 types of trees. Some animals live on the ground, but most live in the canopy. Some animals live on the ground, but most live in the canopy. Canopy – treetops. Canopy – treetops. Climate – hot, humid, rains daily Climate – hot, humid, rains daily

–Plants: Jungle (think Tarzan), very tall trees, thick vegetation on the ground, dense canopy –Animals: parrots, Apes, Toucans, Monkeys, Leopards, other predatory Cats, Snakes

FORESTS Temperate Rain Forest - Temperate Rain Forest -

WHAT IS A GRASSLAND? WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU SEE THERE?

GRASSLANDS Temperate grasslands – North America Temperate grasslands – North America –Our farmlands –Snowy winters, warm to hot summers Savannas – Africa, India, South America Savannas – Africa, India, South America Climate: long dry periods with occasional fires Climate: long dry periods with occasional fires Plants: several species of Grasses, scattered Trees, and Wildflowers Plants: several species of Grasses, scattered Trees, and Wildflowers Animals: burrowing Animals – Rabbits, Moles, & Rodents, grazing Animals – Buffalo, Zebras, and Giraffes, Lions, and Hyenas Animals: burrowing Animals – Rabbits, Moles, & Rodents, grazing Animals – Buffalo, Zebras, and Giraffes, Lions, and Hyenas

DESERT Little to no plant life. Little to no plant life. Long periods without rain. Long periods without rain. Extreme temperatures, hot days, very cold/freezing nights Extreme temperatures, hot days, very cold/freezing nights – can snow at night!!! Jack rabbits, kangaroo rats, lizards, venomous snakes. Jack rabbits, kangaroo rats, lizards, venomous snakes. Cacti, tumbleweeds Cacti, tumbleweeds

TUNDRA Treeless plain found in the Arctic or on top of mountains. Treeless plain found in the Arctic or on top of mountains. Low winter temperatures, short cool summers. Low winter temperatures, short cool summers. Animals include musk oxen, bears, wolves, and caribou Animals include musk oxen, bears, wolves, and caribou Climate: Cold, ground stays covered in snow, permafrost – permanent frozen layer of ground, scarce rainfall, very short summers Climate: Cold, ground stays covered in snow, permafrost – permanent frozen layer of ground, scarce rainfall, very short summers

MARINE BIOMES

Marine Ecosystems Shaped by: temperature, water depth, and amount of sunlight that passes into the water. Shaped by: temperature, water depth, and amount of sunlight that passes into the water. Largest animals are blue whales. Largest animals are blue whales. Smallest animals are plankton – microscopic organisms floating near the surface of the water. Smallest animals are plankton – microscopic organisms floating near the surface of the water.

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS Intertidal Zone Intertidal Zone Salt Marshes Salt Marshes Estuaries Estuaries Coral Reefs Coral Reefs Sargasso Sea Sargasso Sea Polar Ice Polar Ice

Intertidal Zone Where the ocean meets the land. Where the ocean meets the land. It’s exposed to air part of the day. It’s exposed to air part of the day. Animals living in this zone have adapted to being exposed to air and to keep from being washed away by the waves. Animals living in this zone have adapted to being exposed to air and to keep from being washed away by the waves.

Intertidal Zone (continued) Land types in this area are: mudflats, sandy beaches and rocky shores. Land types in this area are: mudflats, sandy beaches and rocky shores. Mudflats have worms and crabs. Mudflats have worms and crabs. Sandy beaches have worms, clams, crabs, and plankton. Sandy beaches have worms, clams, crabs, and plankton. Rocky shores have starfish, barnacles, sea squirts. Rocky shores have starfish, barnacles, sea squirts.

Salt Marshes

Estuaries Where freshwater from streams and rivers spills into the ocean. Where freshwater from streams and rivers spills into the ocean. Amount of salt in the water is always changing. Amount of salt in the water is always changing. Plants and animals must be able to survive in this changing environment. Plants and animals must be able to survive in this changing environment.