1. Biomes Sections 22-3 & 22-4 Pages 424-434
Great Web Site to Visit

2. The Biosphere is divided into regions called Biomes
The Biosphere is divided into regions called Biomes. Each Biome is occupied by characteristic communities or ecosystems of plants and animals that share adaptations which promote survival within the biome.

3. Tropical Rain Forests
Climate
are characterized by high temperature (red) and heavy rainfall (green). - hot, wet, and humid
vegetation consists mostly of tall trees that branch only at their tops, forming a spreading canopy that allows little light to reach the forest floor. (Plants: Bamboo, Banana, Sugar Cane)
plants that live on other plants and vines commonly grow on the trees, but due to lack of light, little grows on the forest floor.
typical animals include monkeys, lizards, snakes, and birds.
Location: Tropical rainforests are near equator; temperate rainforest are near the coast lines

4. Tundra is extremely cold and dry
Climate
is extremely cold and dry
short growing season and permafrost (permanently frozen soil)
during the summer, the thawing topsoil supports a grassland type community with grasses, sedges (perennial plants that resemble grasses), mosses and other vegetation tolerant of soggy soils
Animals include caribou, musk oxen, owls, foxes, hares, and wolves
Location: Around the North Pole.
1/5 of earth’s surface.

5. Largest Biome in the World! Includes Canada, Europe and Asia
Taiga (Boreal forest)
winters are cold, and precipitation is in the form of snow.
Soil is low in nutrients and highly acidic
are characterized by coniferous forests (pines, firs, and other trees with needles).
Animals: deer, rat snakes, turkey
Climate
Largest Biome in the World! Includes Canada, Europe and Asia

6. Deciduous Forests
Climate
Location: US (eastern coast), Canada, Europe, Russia, China and Japan
have warm summers and cold winters (red), moderate precipitation (green), and rich soil with decaying organic matter and worms and fungi. (All four seasons)
contain deciduous trees that shed their leaves during the winter (Plants: beech, birch, maple, oaks, and willows), an adaptation to poor growing conditions (short days and cold temperatures).
animals include deer, fox, woodchucks, and squirrels

7. Grasslands
Climate
Location: Tropical grasslands are located near the equator; temperate grasslands are further away from the equator
Big open spaces of endless grass that receive less water and are subject to lower temperatures
the North American prairie is an example.
Plants: Prairie grass, purple coneflowers, and milk weed
Animals: Grazing herbivores like cows, buffalo; gophers, butterflies

8. Deserts- are hot and dry. soil is sandy and nutrient poor
Climate
Location: Near equator, 30º Latitude North and 30º latitude South
are hot and dry.
soil is sandy and nutrient poor
growth of annual plants is limited to short periods following rains.
other plants have adapted to the hostile conditions with leathery leaves, deciduous leaves, or leaves reduced to spines (Plants: cacti, aloe, Joshua tree.)
many animals have thick skins, conserve water by producing no urine or very concentrated urine, and restrict their activity to nights. (animals: dingo, side winder snake, fennec fox)

9. Marine Biomes = Oceans
Oceans – 5 main oceans around the world: Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Southern. Oceans are warmer near the equator and colder near the poles.

10. Ocean Zone (intertidal) (where oceans meet land)
area exposed to air twice a day during low tide
organisms must protect themselves from dehydration and crashing waves
plants include Fucus, Laminaria, kelp,
animals include crabs, mussels, sea stars, sea anemones, chitons, and snails

11. Ocean Zone - Neritic (area over the continental shelf)
area where photosynthesis takes place
most productive area of the ocean
plants include plankton, and seaweeds like Sargassum
animals include coral, mollusks, crustaceans, sea turtles, and fishes

12. Ocean Biome Pelagic Ocean zone
low nutrient levels
low productivity
part light, part dark
wide range of pressure and temperature
contains fewer species
producers include photosynthetic protists and bacteria at surface, and chemosynthetic bacteria at volcanic vents
consumers include fish, whales, dolphins, clams, crabs, and worms

13. Freshwater Biomes include ponds, lakes,
have low salt concentration (most freshwater biomes have less than 1% salt)
plants include lilies, algae, rushes, cattails
animals include birds, fish, otter, beaver
two types:
rich organic matter and nutrients, and murky
very little organic matter
Location: Found all over the world – Regional climate with limitations posed by the specific temperature and precipitation

14. Freshwater Biomes Streams and Rivers
have low salt concentration
water flows down a slope
the greater the slope, the faster the current and the lower the nutrients
higher concentrations of O2
plants include algae, cattails, shrubs,
animals include fish, birds, snails, flatworms, insect larvae,