1. Biomes – group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities

2. Examples: Arizona desert organisms can tolerate
Tolerance –
Ability to survive and reproduce under conditions that differ from their optimal conditions
Examples: Arizona desert organisms can tolerate
temperatures from blistering hot to below freezing

3. Biomes and Climate
Microclimate –
Climate diagram (or climatogram) (pg. 98;Fig.4-10) –diagram that shows average temperature and precipitation at a given location during each month of the year
Chihuahuan Desert Climatogram

4. B. The Major Biomes
Each biome is defined by a unique set of abiotic
factors – particularly climate - and a characteristic
assemblage of plants and animals
Tropical Rain Forest
Desert
Temperate Grassland
Temperate (Deciduous) Forest
Boreal Forest (or Taiga)
Tundra
Tropical Savanna

8. Tropical Rainforests - biome in which the temperatures stay warm and rain falls year round
Found: equatorial regions (0o)
Abiotic factors:
warm temperatures year round
rainfall year round
( cm/yr)
**thin, nutrient-poor soil
(organic matter decomposes
rapidly)
Home to MORE species than all
other land biomes combined!

9. Dominant plants:
Broad-leaf evergreens, ferns, large, woody vines, orchids, bromeliads

12. Desert – biome that receives less than 25 cm of rainfall per year
Found:
30o N & S of equator and
leeward side of mountains
Abiotic factors:
LOW precipitation
extreme temperature
variations from day to
night

13. Desert life MUST adapt to very low precipitation

14. Armadillo Lizard
Kit Fox
Kangaroo rat

15. Grasslands – biome consisting of vast area covered with grasses and small leafy plants
Found: interior portions of continents
Abiotic factors:
cold winters, warm summers
moderate rainfall
(25-75 cm/yr)
****Deep, rich soils

16. Dominant plants: perennial grasses, herbs and flowers

17. Animals: prairie dogs, rabbits, coyotes, ferrets, antelope,
birds

19. Temperate Deciduous Forest – biome characterized by changing seasons and leaf fall
Found: E. U.S., SE Canada, most of Europe, parts of
Japan, China and Australia
Abiotic factors:
hot summers, cold winters
year-round precipitation
( cm/yr)
fertile soils

20. Dominant plants: broad leaf deciduous trees (maples, oaks), flowering ground plants, ferns and moss

21. Dominant Animals: deer, black bears, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, songbirds

23. Taiga (or Boreal Forest) – biome dominated by great coniferous (cone-bearing, needles) forests
Found: across northern N. America, N. Europe, N. Asia
Abiotic factors:
long, cold winters
and
mild summers
moderate precipitation
( cm/yr)
soil - acidic, poor

24. Dominant plants: coniferous forests (pines, spruces, firs)

25. Animals

27. Tundra – northernmost land biome covered by mosses, lichens and grasses and characterized by permafrost
Abiotic factors:
Permafrost – layer of permanently frozen subsoil
“Frozen desert”
10-15 cm/yr precipitation
Short, soggy summers/long cold dark winters
Poorly developed soils

28. Dominant plants: lichens, mosses, perennial grasses, stunted shrubs
Arctic moss
Arctic willow
Tundra
Reindeer lichen

29. Animals Lemming Snowy Owl Tundra swans Mosquito larva Polar bear
Caribou (reindeer)
Arctic fox

30. 3rd T.L.
2nd T.L.
1st T.L.

31. Savanna - characterized by perennial grasses, spotted with isolated trees and/or small groves of trees
Abiotic factors:
warm temperatures year round
seasonal rainfall (wet and dry)

32. Animals - Herds of grazing animals (zebras, giraffes, antelopes, elephants), large carnivores (lions, cheetahs, hyenas)
Dominant plants:
Tall, perennial grasses spotted with isolated trees

35. Savanna
Food Web

36. Other biomes include:
Tropical Dry Forest – occurs where rainfall is highly seasonal and temperatures warm year round; during dry season trees drop leaves to conserve water
Found: parts of Africa, S. and Central America, Mexico, India, Australia and tropical islands

37. Temperate Woodland and Shrubland –characterized by a semi arid climate and a mix of shrub communities (chaparrel) and open woodlands
Found: West coasts of North and South America, around the Mediterranean, S. Africa and Australia

38. Northwestern Coniferous Forest (Temperate Rainforest)
Mild, moist air from Pacific provides abundant rainfall and mild temperatures
Found: Pacific coast of NW U.S.
and Canada, from Northern
California to Alaska

39. C. Other Land Areas
1. Mountain Ranges – abiotic and biotic factors vary
with elevation
As you move up in elevation, temperature becomes colder and precipitation increases

40. Polar Ice Caps – Border tundra and are cold year round
Arctic Ocean – covered with sea ice
Polar bears, seals, insects and mites
Antarctica – Covered by layer of ice nearly 5 km thick in some places
Penguins and Marine mammals