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World Biomes
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Climatograms/Climatographs
Graphs that summarize temperature and rainfall that can give you an idea of the climate of an area.
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Arctic Tundra Location: Found north of the Arctic Circle.
Northern most region of Northern Hemisphere Russia, Canada, Scandinavia and Alaska Location: Found north of the Arctic Circle.
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Tundra Abiotic Factors
<25 in/year Temp rarely higher than 100C Permafrost layer Short growing season Dead plants and animals decompose slowly due to cold temperatures
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Tundra Plant Adaptations
Reindeer lichen Tundra Plant Adaptations Small woody shrubs, mosses, heaths and lichens Growing close to the ground Having shallow roots to absorb the limited water resources. Trees grow less than 1 m high! cottongrass
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Perennials Woody shrubs Heaths Examples of Tundra Plants
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Tundra Animal Adaptations
snowy owl Arctic fox Small ears Insulation, thick coat Tundra Animal Adaptations Many visitors, migration Few predators Little Competition Grizzly Bear
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Alpine Tundra Alpine biomes are found in the mountain regions all around the world. Altitude of about 10,000 feet or more. Summer average temperatures 10 to 15° C . Winter temperatures below freezing Alpine biome can also change from warm to freezing in one day.
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Alpine Tundra Himalayan Mts Andes Mts. Rocky Mt.
Plants and animals have developed adaptations to Alpine conditions High altitudes very little CO2, photosynthesis is low. Small groundcover plants which grow and reproduce slowly Poor soil conditions, sandy, dry and rocky
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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.
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Boreal Forest/Taiga aka Northern Coniferous Forest
Location: Found only in Northern Hemisphere (found between 50° and 60° N in Europe, Russia and North America)
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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
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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
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Animal Adaptations of the Taiga
Moose Animal Adaptations of the Taiga Adapt for cold winters Burrow, hibernate, warm coat, insulation, etc. Great Grey Owl
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Threats to the Taiga Mining operations can irreparably damage this fragile ecosystem. Pollution left behind can also put animals and plants at risk.
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Temperate Rainforest
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Temperate Rainforest Moderate temperatures and high precipitation
Coastal biome, mild summers and winters with a 12 month growing season West Coast of North America from Northern California to Alaska, in Southern Chile, on the west coast of New Zealand and on the island of Tasmania Ocean currents help moderate temperature
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Temperate Rainforest Mild temperatures and high precipitation supports very large trees. Firs, spruce, coastal redwoods Impacts to temperate Rainforest Much of this biome has been logged and converted into single-tree species Coniferous trees produce needles that are slow to decompose Nutrients are rapidly taken up by trees or leached down through the soil by abundant rainfall, this leaves the soil low in nutrients Ferns and mosses live under the trees.
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Temperate Rainforest Animals
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Temperate Seasonal/Deciduous Forests
Temperate Seasonal/Deciduous Forests Location: found in temperate zone (about 480 North lat) Much of the human population lives in this biome Eastern United States, Japan, China, Europe, Chile, and Eastern Australia
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Temperate Deciduous Forests Characterized by 4 seasons
Abiotic Factors Characterized by an abundance of deciduous (leaf bearing) trees Away from moderating influence of the ocean, so warm summers and cold winters Characterized by 4 seasons Soils: Deep soil layers, rich in nutrients Precipitation: 30–100 in/yr in all forms (snow, rain, hail, fog, etc.)
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Temperate Deciduous Forests
Abiotic Factors Warm summer temps favor rapid decomposition Leaves that fall rapidly decompose as a result, soils have high fertility Higher productivity than boreal forests Because of this productivity it was one of the first biomes to be converted to agriculture
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Temperate Deciduous forest Plant adaptations
Lady Fern Temperate 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
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Temperate Deciduous Forest Animal Adaptations
Bald Eagle Temperate Deciduous Forest Animal Adaptations Lose Winter Coat Adapt to many seasons Eat from different layers of the forest Least Weasel Fat Dormouse
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Threats to Temperate 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.
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Woodland/Shrubland aka Chaparral
Location: Primarily in coastal areas with Mediterranean climates. About 300 N and S of the equator. Coast of Southern California, Southern South America, Australia, Southern Africa and a large region around the Mediterranean Sea
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Chaparral—Abiotic Factors
Climate: hot, dry summers, mild, wet winters. Slight variations in seasonal temperatures…NICE! California Chaparral Soils low in nutrients Agricultural uses are grazing animals and drought-tolerant deep-rooted crops such as grapes to make wine Mediterranean Chaparral
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Chaparral—Plant Adaptations
Blue Oak Mostly low-lying shrubs and small trees. Many plants have leathery leaves to resist water loss Many plant species have oils in leaves to help them resist fire…the fire will take out “weaker” plants that don’t belong. Plants adapted to fire and drought Yucca, scrub oak, and sagebush Fairy Duster
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Chaparral—Animal Adaptations
Camouflage—to avoid predation Many animals will change their diet as the season changes. Aardwolf Puma
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Threats to the Chaparral
Human development—very desirable climate for humans to live. Grey Fox Wild Goat King Protea
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Temperate Grasslands/Steppe Dry, cold deserts, grasslands
Found in Russia, Ukraine and central Asia (Steppe) Found in Great Plains of North America (Prairies) South America (Pampas)
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Prairie and Steppe: Grassland areas 50-75 cm/yr
Prairie and Steppe: Grassland areas 50-75 cm/yr Characteristic high Winds
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Grassland Abiotic Factors
<50 in/year precipitation Cold harsh winters and hot dry summers Fires are common due to dry windy conditions Mountains often play a role in climate characteristics
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Plant adaptations - Grasses and non-woody flowering plants well adapted to wildfires and frequent grazing - Deep roots store energy and enable quick regrowth, in U.S. on the eastern edge, tall grass prairies receive about 39 inches of rain. Western edge towards Rocky Mountains, is dryer and have short grass prairie - Frequent fires keep trees from growing Tumbleweed Sweet Vernal
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Temperate Cold Deserts
Temperate Grasslands Short grass prairies gives way to Cold Desert Even sparser vegetation Much colder winters than subtropical deserts Long growing season and rapid decomposition Nutrient rich soil and very productive 98% of tall grass prairies have been converted to agricultural
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Adaptations of Animals to Steppes
Many migrate, hibernate or burrow during extremes in temp and precipitation Mongolian Gerbil Saiga Antelope Gazelle herd
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Threats to the Grasslands
Overgrazing…nomadic tribes have started to spend more time in one location, Infrastructure development (roads, buildings, etc) Unmanaged hunting and poaching is destroying herds of animals Lynx Corsac fox Milk vetch
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Sod-forming grasses that won’t dry out or blow away in wind.
Prairie Plant Adaptations Sod-forming grasses that won’t dry out or blow away in wind. Fleabane Buffalo Grass
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Many adaptations to survive extremes
Prairie Animal Adaptations Many adaptations to survive extremes Bobcat Geoffrey’s cat Prairie dog
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Grasslands http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/grasslands.htm
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Tropical Rainforest Earth's most complex land biome
Location: Found near equator…little variation in temperatures. No distinct seasonal changes. Earth's most complex land biome Found between 20° N and S of Equator
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Tropical Rainforest Abiotic factors high biodiversity and biomass
More biodiversity per hectare than any other biome 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 Lush vegetation takes up nutrients quickly, leaving few nutrients to accumulate in soil
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Tropical Rainforest Plant adaptations Bougainvillea
Sunlight is a major limiting factor Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most light – large trees) Subcanopy/understory – smaller trees Shallow, wide roots since soil is so thin and poor in nutrients Epiphytes – plants that live on trucks and branches of trees Liana- woody vines Little sun reaches the floor Bangul Bamboo
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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
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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
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Savannas (Tropical Grasslands)
Contain the greatest number of grazing animals on Earth. Location: Found in the tropics…near equator (common in much of Central America, Atlantic coast of South America, southern Asia, Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa) Amount of precipitation supports tall grasses but only occasional trees. Distinct wet and dry seasons caused by the seasonal movement of ITCZ
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Tropical Savanna Abiotic Factors
Rainy and dry season in/yr precipitation Fire plays a large role in this ecosystem Warm temps promote decomposition, but low precipitation constrains plants from using the soil nutrients
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Tropical Savanna Plant Adaptations
Whistling Thorn Tropical Savanna Plant Adaptations Umbrella Thorn Acacia Grows in Tufts Resistance to Drought Many plants have thorns and sharp leaves to protect against predation. Kangaroos Paws Baobab
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Tropical Savanna Animal Adaptations
Chacma Baboon Tropical Savanna Animal Adaptations Zebras Reproduce during rainy season—ensures more young survive Adapt for short rainy season—migrate as necessary Limited food leads to vertical feeding
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Threats to the Tropical 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
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Desert Biomes Sub-tropical deserts (hot deserts) occur at 30° N and S of Equator Mojave in SW USA Sahara in Africa Arabian in Middle East Great Victoria in Australia Location: Depending on type of desert, you will find them in various locations.
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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!
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Desert Plant Adaptations:
Barrel Cactus Desert Plant Adaptations: Leaves small, modified or nonexistant, or Spines Succulents, Cactus and Euphorbs Thick, waxy cuticle with few pores for water and air exchange Shallow, broad roots Joshua Tree Ocotollio
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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
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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
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