1. Chapter 6 & 7 Terrestrial & Aquatic Biomes

2. What is a Biome? Biomes are large regions characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities. Biomes are described by their vegetation because plants that grow in an area determine the other organisms that can live there.

3. What is a Biome? Plants in a particular biome have characteristics, specialized structures, or adaptations that allow the plants to survive in that biome. These adaptations include size, shape, and color. For example, plants in the tundra tend to be short because they cannot obtain enough water to grow larger.

4. What is a Biome? Climate is the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time. Climate is the main factor is determining which plants can grow in a certain area, which in turn defines the biome. Temperature and precipitation are the two most important factors that determine a region’s climate

6. World Biomes

7. Types of Biomes Terrestrial Biomes include: Temperate Deciduous Forest Tropical Rainforest Tundra Taiga Savanna or Grassland Chaparral Desert Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater Ecosystems Lakes and Ponds Freshwater Wetlands Rivers Marine Ecosystems Coastal Wetlands Coral Reefs Oceans

8. Temperate Deciduous Forest (VA) distribution: mid-latitude – below taiga, northern hemisphere precipitation: 75 – 150 cm - adequate with summer rains & winter snow temperature: 10 o C - moderate warm summer/cool winter characteristics: many mammals, insects, birds, etc. deciduous trees – oaks, maples, etc. – trees lose leaves in autumn fertile soils

9. Tropical Rainforest distribution: equatorial (found near the earth’s equator) precipitation: very wet – 200 – 450 cm / yr temperature: always warm – average temp = 30 o C characteristics: very diverse species of plants & animals thin poor soil 4 layers understory – shrubs, leaf litter lower canopy upper canopy – where most organisms are found emergent layer – very tops of trees or above tree line may be temperate or tropical

10. Arctic Tundra distribution: arctic, high-latitude, northern hemisphere – north of the Arctic Circle precipitation: dry – 30 – 50 cm / year temperature: -10 – 50 o C - cold year round – short summers, characteristics: Permafrost – frozen layer of soil lichens & mosses migrating animals & resident herbivores such as reindeer

11. Coniferous Forest (Taiga) distribution: high-latitude, northern hemisphere – below Arctic Circle precipitation: 3- - 85 cm / year - adequate to dry (temperate rain forest on coast) temperature: -20 – 55 o C - cool year round – long winters characteristics: conifers – pines diverse mammals, birds, insects, etc. – most adapt to seasons by changing colors

12. Savanna (Grasslands) distribution: equatorial / mid-latitudes precipitation: 25 – 75 cm / year - seasonal, dry season/wet season temperature: 20 o C avg Temp - temperature varies according to season and location characteristics: grasses – little trees fire-adapted, drought tolerant plants herbivores – zebras, giraffes (Africa), buffalo, bison (US) fertile soil

13. Chaparral distribution: coastal, high elevation at all latitudes – California, Mediterranean precipitation: moderate temperature: Mediterranean – warm, dry summers and mild winters characteristics: broadleaf shrubs - sagebrush, olive trees, hares, pumas, foxes

14. Desert distribution: 30°N & S latitude band precipitation: very dry – less than 25 cm temperature: 10 – 30 o C - variable daily & seasonally, hot & cold characteristics: sparse vegetation & animals, cacti, succulents, reptiles, insects, rodents, birds drought tolerant burrowing / nocturnal animals avoid sun in daytime