1. Earth’s Biomes

2. Earth’s biomes
Biome - a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat.
Biomes and communities help us understand how the world functions
Species interactions affect communities

3. Biomes continued
Dividing the world’s communities into major categories/types, or biomes, is informative in understanding how communities function.
Climate influences the location of biomes.
In order for scientists to determine the type of biome, they often use climate diagrams or climatograghs.

4. Climates & biomes
Climatograph - a climate diagram showing an area’s monthly temperature and precipitation

5. Climate & biomes
Global climate patterns cause Biomes to be in large patches in different parts of the world.

6. What characteristics do you see?

7. Temperate deciduous forest
Deciduous- are types of trees that lose their leaves each fall
They remain without leaves during winter
These forests can be found in Europe, eastern China, eastern North America
Even, year-round precipitation
Trees are often oak, beech, maple
Animals: hawks, deer, red fox

8. What characteristics do you see?

9. Temperate grassland Less precipitation Also called prairie
Extreme temperature difference between winter and summer compared to temperate deciduous forest
Less precipitation
Also called prairie
Once widespread, but has been converted to agricultural land
Animals: Bison, prairie dogs, ground-nesting birds, pronghorn

10. What characteristics do you see?

11. Temperate rainforest Coastal Pacific Northwest
Great deal of precipitation
Coniferous trees- trees or shrubs bearing cones
- cedar, spruce, hemlock, fir
Moisture-loving animals: Banana slug, black bears, elk
Logged for lumber and paper

12. What characteristics do you see?

13. Tropical rainforest
Southeast Asia, west Africa, Central and South America
Year-round rain and warm temperatures
Forest floor is dark and damp
Lush and diverse species of vegetation
Animals: Boa constrictor, iguana, jaguar

14. What characteristics do you see?

15. Tropical dry forest or Tropical deciduous forest
India, Africa, South America, north Australia
Wet and dry seasons
- Plants drop leaves during the dry season
Warm, but seasonal rainfall and less overall than rainforest
Converted to agriculture
Animals: Puma, jaguar, elephant

16. What characteristics do you see?

17. Savanna Grassland scattered with trees
Africa, South America, Australia, India
Precipitation is only during the rainy season
Animals gather near water holes
Animals: Zebras, gazelles, giraffes, lions, hyenas

18. What characteristics do you see?

19. Desert Minimal precipitation Some are bare, with sand dunes (Sahara)
Some are vegetated (Sonoran)
They are not always hot
Temperatures vary widely during the day
Animals: are often nocturnal, antelope, armadillo
Plants may have thick skins, spines to protect their water

20. What characteristics do you see?

21. Tundra Russia, Canada, Scandinavia Minimal precipitation
Extremely cold winters
Extreme variation in day length
Permafrost = permanently frozen soil
Melting due to climate change
Few animals: polar bears, musk oxen, caribou, migratory birds
Low vegetation, few trees

22. What characteristics do you see?

23. Boreal forest or Taiga Canada, Alaska, Russia, Scandinavia
Extends for large continuous areas
A few evergreen tree species
Cool and dry climate
Long, cold winters
Short, cool summers
Animals: Moose, wolves, bears, lynx, migratory birds

24. What characteristics do you see?

25. Chaparral Occurs in small patches around the globe
Mediterranean Sea, coastal Chile, California, southern Australia
Highly seasonal biome
Mild, wet winters
Warm, dry summers
Densely growing bushes or trees, evergreen shrubs
Animals: kangaroo, condor, elephants

26. Terrestrial biomes The world terrestrial biomes are:
1- Temperate Deciduous forest
2- Temperate grasslands
3- Temperate rainforest
4- Tropical rainforest
5- Tropical dry forest or Tropical deciduous forest
6- Savanna
7- Desert
8- Tundra
9- Boreal forest or Taiga
10- Chaparral