1. Arizona Biomes
Biomes are major ecosystems that have distinctive temperatures, precipitation and organisms

2. Biomes are defined by… Temperature
Precipitation – time of year that it falls, how much, and in what form
Plant life
Animal life

3. Factors that “create” biomes
Elevation
Latitude – how far north or south
Mountains – create rain shadows
Wind patterns – influence weather
Soil Types
Soils determine the plants that can grow. The plants determine the animals that live in an area.

4. Arizona has all the biomes except tropical rainforests.
Tundra
(Arctic, Alpine)
Taiga (aka Coniferous Forest)
Deciduous Forests
Grasslands
Deserts
(Great Basin, Mojave, Chihuahuan, Sonoran)
Riparian

5. Tundra
Arctic – found in the northernmost reaches of the Earth
Alpine – found at highest elevations

6. Tundra Characteristics
Extremely cold, long winters
Permafrost –permanently frozen soil layer
Most precipitation as snow in winter
Short plants, short summer growing season, dormant in winter
Lichens, no trees

7. Arizona has tundra at……
Tundra Animals
Mostly small rodents
Insects and predators migrate up during warm times of the year
Survival adaptations include; dense fur, hibernate or migrate
Arizona has tundra at……

8. Mount Humphrey’s and

9. The San Francisco Peaks.

10. Taiga (Coniferous Forest) Characterized by…
Cone bearing, evergreen trees like pines, spruce, and fir
Most precipitation falls as snow
Just below the tundra
Short trees in the ecotone, withstand cold
Trees get larger (300 ft) as you go south
Tree shape facilitates snow removal

11. Taiga (Coniferous Forest) cont.
Soils – acidic from needle decomposition
Animals include; elk, porcupine, wolves, spotted owls, Stellar’s Jays
Adaptations include heavy fur, hibernation, sleeping in nesting holes
Taiga are found in Flagstaff, Pinetop, Payson, and Alpine

12. Flagstaff

13. Pinetop

14. Payson

15. and Alpine

16. Deciduous Forests characterized by…
Trees that drop their leaves in the fall
Found near Taiga
Precip as rain or snow year-round
Milder, Shorter Winters, but still below freezing
Summers are warmer (usually 80’s)
Soil is rich and fertile because of leaf decomposition and summer humidity

17. Deciduous Forests (continued)
Animals include mule and white-tailed deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and acorn woodpeckers
Adaptations include hibernation, thick fur in fall, storing food underground or in trees
Deciduous forests are found in Flagstaff, Oak Creek Canyon, Ramsey’s Canyon and Portal

18. Oak Creek Canyon

19. Grasslands- semi arid region characterized by..
Warm, humid summers and cool dry winters
Mainly grass, few trees and shrubs due to fire
Deep grass roots aid in fire & winter survival
Soils fertile & deep; usually converted to farms
Rain falls in summer with storms from rim country
Arizona Grassland towns include…

20. Patagonia

21. Camp Verde

22. Deserts characterized by low rainfall with high evaporation; large daily temp fluctuations (40 degrees) …
4 types of Deserts
Great Basin Desert
Mojave Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
Sonoran Desert

23. Great Basin Desert
Cold desert (winters), highest elevation, northernmost desert
Plants low-growing, small leafed shrubs (sage) protect from hard freezes
Winter rains, some summer storms
Animals include ground squirrels, jack rabbits, golden eagles
Adaptations include burrowing, limited water use
NE AZ; Page and Tuba City

24. Great Basin Desert

25. Mojave Desert Hottest US desert Only winter rains from California
Plants – low shrubs, schlerophylous leaves, drop in drought
Dominant Plant – Joshua Tree
Animals, Mojave rattlesnakes, kangaroo mice, scorpions,
Recycle water, extract from foods eaten
NW AZ - Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Bullhead City

26. Mojave Desert

27. Chihuahuan Desert SE AZ - Douglas
Higher elevations, winter freeze common
Plants – shrubs, small cacti, yucca; can store water during extreme seasons
Animals include; ground squirrels, chihuahuan desert whiptailed lizards and rattlesnakes –burrow during the heat
Rains during summer monsoons
SE AZ - Douglas

28. Chihuahuan Desert

29. Sonoran Desert – our home
Receives the most rain 2 rainy seasons – summer and winter
Dominant Plant – Saguaro Cactus; 2000 other species, withstand high temps, absorb and store water
Animals; Diamondback rattlesnakes, Harris Hawks, Roadrunners, gila monster
Mexican Border to Central AZ
Phoenix, Tucson

30. Sonoran Desert

31. Riparian Habitats – along streams and rivers
Many rivers underground, run after winter snowmelts
Most endangered AZ habitat
Rivers dammed, pumped, contaminated
Huge cottonwood trees, fill from flash floods
Animals; frogs, salamanders, birds migrate
Temps 10 degrees cooler here
Major AZ rivers;
San Pedro, Colorado, Salt, Gila

32. Gila River