1. World Biomes
Objective: Students will be able to analyze abiotic and biotic factors in order to identify the earth’s 7 terrestrial biomes.

2. Warm Up
1. How is the weather in Maryland different from the weather in Florida?
2. How are the animals that live in Maryland different from animals that live in Alaska?

3. Back ground information for Teacher:
The Earth's biomes A biome is a habitat with similar climate and vegetation. The Earth is separated into terrestrial and aquatic biomes. The terrestrial biomes include the tundra, taiga, deciduous forest, grassland, desert and tropical rainforest. Tundra: The tundra has extremely cold temperatures. Because of this, there is a very short growing season. There are very few trees. Vegetation such as mosses and grasses grow here. Animals such as reindeer, caribou and wolves are found here. Taiga: The taiga is also cold, but not as cold as the tundra so the growing season is longer. Pines, firs, and spruce grow here. Moose, wolves, bears, deer, birds, and insects live here. Temperate Deciduous Forest: Here the summers are hot and the winters are cold. Some trees that grow here include oak, chestnut and birch. Animals that live in this biome include deer, squirrel, chipmunks, and birds. Grasslands : The grasses are the dominant form of vegetation in this biome because of the small quantity of rainfall. In North America, the animals that live here include coyotes and rattlesnakes. In Africa, animals such as zebras and giraffes live here. Deserts : This biome is so dry that grasses are unable to grow. Plants and animals in the desert have special adaptations that allow them to live in especially dry areas. Some animals that live in this area include snakes, lizards and spiders. Tropical Rainforests: The temperature in this biome is constant and so is the rainfall. There are a wide variety of plants and animal species that live in this area. The aquatic biomes are separated into two types: Marine and Freshwater. Marine Biome (i.e., Saltwater Biome): This biome covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface. There are a great variety of plant and animal life living in the oceans. Freshwater Biomes: Freshwater biomes are divided into two categories: running water (streams) and standing water (lakes, ponds, swamps, bogs). A variety of organisms live in this biome including algae, snails, and crayfish. Raccooms, birds, and other organisms live along the banks.

4. “Biomes” Notes Tropical Rainforest Deciduous Forest Taiga Savanna
CLIMATE/ABIOTIC FACTORS
BIOTIC FACTORS/PLANTS & ANIMALS
THREATS
Tropical Rainforest
Deciduous Forest
Taiga
Savanna
Grasslands
Desert
Tundra

5. Earth's most complex land biome
Tropical Rainforest
Location: Found near equator…little variation in temperatures. No distinct seasonal changes.
Earth's most complex land biome

6. Tropical Rainforest Abiotic factors high biodiversity and biomass
both hot and moist;
ideal for bacteria and other microorganisms; they quickly decompose matter on the forest floor allowing nutrients to be recycled.
<1 cm of topsoil
About 100 in/yr of rainfall

7. Tropical Rainforest Plant adaptations Bougainvillea
Sunlight is a major limiting factor
Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most light)
Shallow, wide roots since soil is so thin and poor in nutrients
Little sun reaches the floor
Bangul Bamboo

8. Tropical Rainforest Animal Adaptations Silvery Gibbon
Many animals are specialists and require special habitat components to survive
Camouflage is common
Wagler’s pit viper
Many symbiotic relationships
Live in different levels of canopy
Slender Loris

9. Threats to the Tropical Rainforest
Humans strip the rainforests for uses including logging and cattle ranching.
In addition to the plants and animals that are displaced by this destruction, entire civilizations of people are also without a home.
You can help by promoting sustainable use of the rainforests’ products

10. found in temperate zone (about 480 North lat)
Deciduous Forests
Location:
found in temperate zone
(about 480 North lat)
Much of the human population lives in this biome

11. Characterized by 4 seasons
Deciduous Forests
Abiotic Factors
Characterized by an abundance of deciduous (leaf bearing) trees
Characterized by 4 seasons
Soils: Deep soil layers, rich in nutrients
Precipitation: 30–100 in/yr in all forms (snow, rain, hail, fog, etc.)

12. Deciduous Forest Plant adaptations
Lady Fern
Deciduous Forest Plant adaptations
More diversity in the deciduous forest vs. the coniferous forest due to increased sunlight. Trees adapt to varied climate by becoming dormant in winter
White Birch
Birchhttp://
Deciduous forests grow in layers
More sunlight reaches the ground compared to a rainforest so you will find more ground dwelling plants.
Geulder Rose

13. Deciduous Forest Animal Adaptations
Bald Eagle
Deciduous Forest Animal Adaptations
Lose Winter Coat
Adapt to many seasons
Eat from different layers of the forest
Least Weasel
Fat Dormouse

14. Threats to Deciduous Forests
Many forests are cleared to provide housing for humans.
Careful use of the resource can provide a renewable system if we don’t take too much habitat away.

15. Taiga aka Northern Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest
Location: Found only in Northern Hemisphere

16. Taiga Abiotic factors Winters are long and cold
Averages 100 in/yr precipitation—mostly snow
Soil poor in nutrients and very acidic
Growing season is very short
ecosystems_biomes/biomes_northern_forest.html

17. Taiga Plant adaptations
Balsam Fir
Fireweed
Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees are abundant
Roots long to anchor trees
Needles long, thin and waxy
Low sunlight and poor soil keeps plants from growing on forest floor

18. Animal Adaptations of the Taiga
Moose
Animal Adaptations of the Taiga
Adapt for cold winters
Burrow, hibernate, warm coat, insulation, etc.
Great Grey Owl

19. Threats to the Taiga
Mining operations can irreparably damage this fragile ecosystem.
Pollution left behind can also put animals and plants at risk.

20. Savannas (Tropical Grasslands)
Contain the greatest number of grazing animals on Earth.
Location: Found in the tropics…near equator
Amount of precipitation supports tall grasses but only occasional trees.
The word savanna stems from an Amerind term for plains

21. Savanna Abiotic Factors
Rainy and dry season
in/yr precipitation
Fire plays a large role in this ecosystem

22. Threats to the Savanna Invasive species Changes in fire management
Elephant
Because of their low elevation, some savannas are threatened by minor rises in sea level associated with global climate change
Koala

23. Characteristic high Winds
Grasslands
50-75 cm/yr
Characteristic high Winds

24. Grasslands http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm

25. Sod-forming grasses that won’t dry out or blow away in wind.
Grassland Plant Adaptations
Sod-forming grasses that won’t dry out or blow away in wind.
Fleabane
Buffalo Grass

26. Many adaptations to survive extremes
Grassland Animal Adaptations
Many adaptations to survive extremes
Bobcat
Geoffrey’s cat
Prairie dog

27. Desert Biome
Location: Depending on type of desert, you will find them in various locations.

28. Desert Abiotic factors
<10 in/yr of rain
Little to no topsoil due to high winds.
Minerals not deep in soil.
Too dry for decay
While there are many types of deserts, they all share one characteristic: They are the driest places on Earth!

29. Joshua Tree http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm
Barrel Cactus
Desert Plant Adaptations:
Spines
Succulents
Thick, waxy cuticle
Shallow, broad roots
Joshua Tree
Ocotollio

30. Desert Animal Adaptations:
Bob Cat
Desert Animal Adaptations:
Get water from food
Thick outer coat
Burrow during day
Large ears
Smaller animals =
less surface area
Armadillo Lizard
Javelina

31. Threats to the Desert Residential development
Threats to the Desert
Residential development
Off road recreational activities destroy habitat for plants and animals.
Some plants are removed by collectors, endangering the population.
Dry Desert
Sonoran Desert

32. Tundra Location: Found north of the Arctic Circle

33. Tundra Abiotic Factors
<25 in/year
Temp rarely higher than 100C
Permafrost layer
Short growing season

34. Tundra Plant Adaptations
Reindeer lichen
Tundra Plant Adaptations
Growing close to the ground
Having shallow roots to absorb the limited water resources.
Trees grow less than 1 m high!
cottongrass

35. Perennials Woody shrubs Heaths Examples of Tundra Plants

36. Tundra Animal Adaptations
snowy owl
Arctic fox
Small ears Insulation, thick coat
Tundra Animal Adaptations
Many visitors, migration Few predators Little Competition
Grizzly Bear

37. Threats to the Tundra One of the most fragile biomes on the planet
Tufted Saxifrage
Polar Bear
Oil drilling is proposed in Alaska and other areas!
The tundra is slow to recover from damage.

38. Evaluation:
There is very little temperature change. Plants grow in a canopy to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Not very much sun makes it through to the floor. The biome is near the equator.
Lots of broad leaf trees live here. The trees lose their leaves in the fall and are dormant.
Animals that live here have thick blubber to keep them warm during the cold winter months. This is where you will find “perma frost.”
Elephants and koalas live here. This area contains the greatest number of grazing animals on earth. Near the equator.
This biome is only found in northern parts of the hemisphere. Coniferous (pine) trees grow here. Plants do not grow on the forest floor because of poor sunlight and soil.
There are few trees living in this biome. The plants are very low to the ground so they won’t blow away with wind or dry out.
This biome is very hot and dry. Plants that grow here have to be able to retain water like cacti.

39. word document available at Terrestrials Biomes Quiz- Modified
ACCOMODATION word document available at Terrestrials Biomes Quiz- Modified