1. BIOMES
Chapters 6 & 7

2. Quick Quiz Name two biomes.
Pick one of the biomes you chose & describe the climate.

3. Biomes Are usually DESCRIBED by their vegetation
Precipitation is the MAIN factor that determines what type of plants grow in a biome
Plants have specific ADAPTATIONS which help them survive in their biome
With high temps & low precipitation (like deserts) have short, less dense vegetation

4. Biomes From North to South
Tundra
Taiga
Grassland
Tropical Rainforest

5. African Savannah
Here you are most likely to see large herds of grazing animals such as rhinos, gazelles, & giraffes.

6. Grasslands
Grasslands have the most fertile soil in the world & are suitable for crops such as wheat, corn, & soybeans
Receive between 10 & 35 inches of rain per year; not enough to support trees
Even though the buffalo population is not as large as it once was, prairies still support them as well as badgers, prairie dogs, & burrowing owls

7. Grasslands are threatened by soil erosion because native grasses have been damaged or destroyed by plowing or overgrazing

8. Deserts
Are the driest places on Earth getting less than 25 cm (10 in) of rainfall per year.
Contain a variety of plant life including cacti & succulents except in the most extreme conditions
Many kinds of deserts, including cold deserts, are located throughout the world
Are often located on the dry side of mountain ranges

9. Desert Animals Are small to moderate in size
Examples: Gila monsters, rattlesnakes, spiders, elf owls
Reptiles have thick scaly skin that prevents water loss
Amphibians Estivate – bury themselves underground & sleep through the dry season
Nocturnal – mainly active at night or dusk when air is cooler

10. Tundra
Permafrost – a layer of soil that is permanently frozen throughout the year
Insects are especially abundant here during the summer season
Is one of the most fragile biomes on the planet
Simple food chains mean that they are easily disrupted

11. Tundra Animals
Rodents such as lemmings, mice, & hares burrow underground during the winter
These animals do not hibernate, but instead are active in their underground winter homes

12. Tundra Animals
Arctic foxes & hares grow white fur in the winter to help them blend with their habitat
Caribou migrate in search of food & water

13. Taiga
Stretches across the northern hemisphere just below the arctic circle
Consists mostly of coniferous forests consisting of pine, fir, & spruce

14. Taiga Vegetation Thrives in the acidic soil that is found there
Have leaves that retain water due to their needle-like shape & waxy coating.
The umbrella-like shape of the trees helps snow roll off them so that branches do not break

15. Tropical Rain Forests Are Threatened By…
Deforestation – cutting down & clearing large areas of forest
Legal AND Illegal trade of plants & animals

16. Tropical Rainforest Vegetation
Include trees with above-ground roots called buttresses which increase stability in thin soil

17. Tropical Rainforest Vegetation
Orchids & vines grow on tree trunks rather than from the ground

18. Tropical Rainforest Vegetation
Herbs & ferns with large flat leaves thrive in the understory

19. Tropical Rainforest Destruction
Can result in climate change & flooding

20. Chaparral Vegetation
Survive fires because they can resprout from small amounts of surviving plant tissue

21. Name the Biome?
You are walking through a humid forest that gets abundant rain. However, temperatures are moderate.

22. Name the Biome?
You are walking through a humid forest that gets abundant rain. However, temperatures are moderate.
The Pacific Northwest - Temperate Rain Forest

23. Name the Biome?
Forest with the greatest species diversity; located near the equator.

24. Forest with the greatest species diversity; located near the equator.
Name the Biome?
Forest with the greatest species diversity; located near the equator.
Tropical Rain Forest

25. What Do Wetlands Do? Decrease runoff
Absorb & remove pollutants from water
Control flooding
Provide animal habitats

26. What are Estuaries?
An estuary is a body of water formed where freshwater from a river meets the saltwater from an ocean
Estuaries are important, nutrient-rich ecosystems

27. What are the Main Threats to Ocean Ecosystems?
Nutrient runoff
Industrial waste discharges
Overfishing
Entanglement of marine mammals in trawl nets
Sewage
Algae blooms

28. What Factors Determine What Organisms Can Live in a Lake or Pond?
Amount of Sunlight
Water Temperature
Nutrient Levels

29. Where Does Most Ocean Pollution Come From?
Activities that take place on land.
In fact, most coastal pollution is the result of industrail waste & sewage.

30. How do Many Rivers Start?
Mountain Snowmelt