1. Biomes

2. Weather & Climate Weather: The condition of the atmosphere day-to-day.
Climate: The average year-to-year conditions.

3. 3 Main Climates on Earth Polar Temperate Tropic
Climate zones are determined by differences in latitude and the tilt of the Earth. (changes the angle of heating)

4. Biotic & Abiotic Factors in the Ecosystem
Bio = Life
A = Not
Biotic factors: Living things
Abiotic factors: Nonliving things

5. Biotic and Abiotic Factors in an Ecosystem

6. Biome
a major regional terrestrial community with its own type of climate, vegetation, and animal life

8. Can all kinds of organisms live in every biome?
NO!
Species are adapted to survive in certain biomes.
Adaptation: an inherited condition that increases an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce.

9. Who lives where? Climate is important! 2 main factors of climate:
Temperature
Precipitation
A “Climatogram” (climate diagram) shows temperature and precipitation for an area
Microclimate: climate in a small area that is different from the climate around it.

10. Tropical Rain Forest

11. Tropical Rain Forest -found near the equator
-temperature varies little from approximately 23°C
-the length of daylight varies from 12 hours by less than one hour
-rainforest>2000mm

12. Tropical Rain Forest -canopy trees up to 55 m tall
-largest biome, on an area basis
-very little light actually reaches the ground!
-soils are generally unfertile
-nutrients and carbon stored
in plant biomass, not soils

13. Tropical Savanna

14. Tropical Savannah -found in the tropics (but > 10° latitude)
-pronounced dry season
with <5 cm rainfall in some months

15. Tropical Savannah -fire & grazing by animals
-scattered trees and grass
-fire & grazing by animals
also contribute to
predominance of grasses

16. Temperate Forest

17. Temperate Forest -distinct winter season, frost a defining feature
-summer season usually moist with
ppt > evapotranspiration

18. Temperate Forest -relatively large tree biomass
-also called the deciduous forest,
but contains evergreen needle trees as well

19. Temperate Grassland/Shrubland

20. Temperate Grassland/Shrubland
-similar to tropical savanna, but with cold winter
-relatively hot summer
-potential evapotranspiration > ppt

21. Temperate Grassland/Shrubland
-scattered trees and shrubs
-trees are short statured
-fire & grazing by animals
also contribute to
predominance of grasses,
but that depends on climate

22. Desert

23. Desert -hot or cold deserts exist -low precipitation <25cm,
sporadic
-evaporation is greater than precipitation!!

24. Desert -thorny plants -other adaptations to conserve water nocturnal
large ears to help cool blood
wax covered leaves to prevent water evaporation

25. Chapparal/Temperate Woodland

26. Chapparal/Temperate Woodland
-mild winters
-seasonal rainfall
winter rain, summer drought
-maritime influence
cold ocean currents
continental winds

27. Chapparal/Temperate Woodland
-sclerophyllous plants
-adaptations to fire

28. Boreal Forest/ Taiga

29. Boreal Forest/ Taiga -severe winters, MAT can be < 0 deg C
-ppt is low, but evapo-
transpiration low
-short growing season

30. Boreal Forest/ Taiga -10-20 m trees evergreen needle and deciduous
-second largest biome,
on an area basis
-fire dominated, but on longer
timescale than grassland
-more nutrients and carbon
stored in soils than plants

31. Tundra

32. Tundra -severe winters -short growing season, cool summer
-arctic or alpine

33. Tundra -no trees -sedges,low shrubs, mosses -permafrost
roots cannot penetrate deep so the plants are small and close to the ground to prevent freezing.