1. Biomes Biome From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A biome is a climate and geographical area of ecologically similar communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, often referred to as ecosystems. Terrestrial Biomes are defined based on plant structures (such as trees, shrubs, and grasses), leaf types (such as broadleaf and needleleaf), plant spacing (forest, woodland, savanna), and climate. Aquatic biomes are defined based on salinity, location relative to the bottom of the body of water, and degree of sunlight penetration.
The biodiversity characteristic of each biome, especially the diversity of animals and the dominant algae plant forms, is a function of abiotic factors and the productivity of the dominant vegetation.
A fundamental classification of biomes is into:
1. Terrestrial (land) biomes and
2. Aquatic (water) biomes.
Biomes are often given local names. For example, a temperate grassland or shrubland biome is known commonly as steppe in central Asia, savanna or veldt in southern Africa, prairie in North America, pampa in South America and outback or scrub in Australia.
Climate is a major factor determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes. Among the important climatic factors are:
* latitude: arctic, boreal, temperate, subtropical, tropical.
* humidity: humid, semi-humid, semi-arid, and arid.
* elevation: increasing elevation causes a distribution of habitat types similar to that of increasing latitude.
Biodiversity generally increases away from the poles towards the equator, and increases with humidity.

2. Biomes areas of the planet that have similar
climates (annual weather patterns)
physical features (latitude, minerals)
autotrophic communities (plants, plankton)
Biomes are areas of the planet that have similar climates and physical conditions.
Climate refers to the typical seasonal weather patterns
Physical features refers to where the biome is located on the surface and whether or not it is a land based or an aquatic biome.
Biomes are named for their plant and animal communities: i.e. the flora and fauna that would exist indefinitely as a stable community under those physical and climatic conditions .

3. Major World Biomes Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic Biomes Fresh Water
Ponds and Lakes
Streams and Rivers
Aquatic
Biomes
Grassland
Prairie
Savanna
Desert
Estuary
Tundra
Taiga
We will examine 9 major terrestrial biomes and 7 major aquatic biomes. As we examine each we will be asking –
What are the climatic conditions?
What are the more common plants and how do they adapt to these conditions?
What are the more common animals and how do they adapt to these conditions?
Biomes are often given local names. For example, a temperate grassland or shrubland biome is known commonly as steppe in central Asia, savanna or veldt in southern Africa, prairie in North America, pampa in South America and outback or scrub in Australia.
Climate is a major factor determining the distribution of terrestrial biomes. Among the important climatic factors are:
* latitude: arctic, boreal, temperate, subtropical, tropical.
* humidity: humid, semi-humid, semi-arid, and arid.
* elevation: increasing elevation causes a distribution of habitat types similar to that of increasing latitude.
Biodiversity generally increases away from the poles towards the equator, and increases with humidity.
Temperature Deciduous Forest
Salt Water
Alpine
Intertidal
Desert-Scrub
Coral Reef
Chapparral
Oceanic pelagic
Tropical Rain Forest
Abyssal

4. Major Terrestrial Biomes
Here is a map of the terrestrial biomes. What patterns do you see?

5. Terrestrial Biomes - Primary Determining Factors
temperature
precipitation

6. Major Terrestrial Biomes
Tropical rainforests are located in hot, wet areas – where would you expect them?
Tundra are located in cold, dry areas – where would you expect them?

7. Tundra
Tundra I known for its cold average temperature and its low precipitation. Abiotic factors also include high winds, short summers and long dark winters and poor soils. Most plants are ground hugging and include lichens and mosses. Many animals are migratory and those that stay have developed winter coats and camoflage.

8. Taiga

9. Grasslands

10. Deciduous Forest

11. Chaparral

12. Desert

13. Rainforest

14. Temperature and Precipitation
The two missing biomes are desert-scrub and alpine. Desert shrub has annual precipitation of less than 15 inches and an annual temperature of 58oF. Alpine biomes are higher altitude with an annual precipitation of less than 15 inches and an annual temperature of less than 25oF.

15. Major Aquatic Biomes

16. Major World Biomes Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic Biomes Fresh Water
Ponds and Lakes
Streams and Rivers
Aquatic
Biomes
Grassland
Prairie
Savanna
Desert
Estuary
Tundra
Taiga
Temperature Deciduous Forest
Salt Water
Alpine
Intertidal
Desert-Scrub
Coral Reef
Chapparral
Oceanic pelagic
Tropical Rain Forest
Abyssal

17. Aquatic Biome Factors distance from shore depth of water
availability of sunlight
Aquatic biomes are controlled by a different set of factors. The main three are distance, depth and light, but within each biome other abiotic factors control what lives there.

18. Major Aquatic Biomes

19. Open Ocean Biomes
Abyssal zone

20. Traveling through biomes
Biomes are determined by the combination of precipitation and temperature of their location. What biomes do you travel through as you hike to the summit?

21. Biomes – the big questions
Which abiotic factors influence biomes the most?
Which animal and plant adaptations occur in the different biomes?