1. Tuesday May 15, 2011
Objective: You will know what a biome is and that Earth is made up of different biomes.

2. What is a Biome?
Biome- a geographic area on Earth that contains ecosystems with similar biotic and abiotic features. Ecosystem- All the biotic and abiotic factors that interact in an area Biotic Factors- The living parts of an ecosystem (animals, birds, plants, etc.) Abiotic Factors- The nonliving parts of an ecosystem (soil, rocks, sunlight, water, air, etc.)

3. Land Biomes Desert Grassland Tropical Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forest
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Taiga
Tundra

4. What is Part of a Biome?
When describing biomes, scientists observe and describe the location, climate (temperature and water), soil, and life. Today, you will be taking notes on the location, climate, and soil of Earth’s many land biomes.

5. Desert Found in areas that receive very little precipitation
Temperatures vary, extremely dry
Porous soil (does not hold water well)

6. Grassland Found in areas where grasses are the dominant plants
Grasslands can vary in temperature and have a wet and dry season
Grasslands have deep, fertile soil

7. Tropical Rain Forest Found near the equator
Climate is warm and wet year-round
Soil is shallow and easily washed away

8. Temperate Rain Forest Found between the tropics and the polar circles
Winters are mild and rainy, summers are cool and foggy
Soil is rich and moist

9. Temperate Deciduous Forest
Found where summer and winter climates have more variation
Winter temperatures are below freezing with snow, summers are hot and humid
Soil is rich in nutrients

10. Taiga Exist only in the northern hemisphere
Winters are long, cold, and snowy, summers are short, warm, and moist
Soil is thin and acidic

11. Tundra Found south of the North Pole and in high altitude places
Winters are long, dark, and freezing, summers are short and cool
Soil is locked in a frozen layer called permafrost

12. Aquatic Ecosystems Streams and Rivers Ponds and Lakes
Wetlands- ecosystems that have a thin layer of water covering soil that is wet most of the time
Estuaries- regions along the coast where streams or rivers flow into the ocean
Ocean