1. Biosphere

2. Biosphere The Biosphere refers to all life on Earth.
Weather and climate influence what kinds of plants and animals can live in particular regions.

3. Biomes
Biomes- geographic regions with their own plant and animal life.
Based on the interaction of:
Climate
Landforms
Bodies of Water
Soils

4. Midway Review What is the Biosphere?
What two things influence where plants and animals can survive?
What is a Biome?

5. Latitudes Zones Biomes differ across latitude zones.
Some are exclusive, others found on more than one

6. Tropical Rain Forest Low latitudes Tropical climate, warm year round
2 seasons: wet & dry
Contain the most biodiversity, many unique species
Threated by deforestation
Brazil, Peru, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Indonesia, Thailand

8. Grasslands Mid and high latitudes – hug TRF
Have regional characteristics and names:
Plains or prairies in North America
Pampas in South America
Steppes in Central Asia
Savannas in Africa
Dominated by tall grasses, trees absent
USA, Argentina, Kenya, Tanzania, Mongolia

10. Chaparral Mid latitudes Smallest biome
Mediterranean climate – warm, dry summers & cool, rainy winters
Grass and small shrubs are abundant
California (USA), Australia, France, Italy, Algeria

12. Desert Mid and high latitude zones Receive less than 10 in. per year
Hot deserts – Mojave, Sahara, Arabian, Outback
Cold deserts - Antarctica, Atacama, Gobi
Desertification -

14. Temperate Deciduous Forest
Mid latitudes
Temperate climate
4 distinct seasons of equal length
Deciduous – trees that lose their leaves
Eastern USA, France, Germany, Japan, Koreas

16. Taiga (Boreal Forest) High latitudes Polar climate
Long winters, short summers
Dominated by evergreen coniferous (cone bearing) trees with needle-like leaves
Canada, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Finland

18. Tundra High latitudes Polar climate
Long, frigid winters & short summer
Little vegetation due to permafrost
Most threatened due to climate change
Northern Canada, Greenland,