1. Biomes of the World Main categories Terrestrial Biomes Aquatic biomes
Based on Precipitation and Temperature (and Soil)
Climate dictates the plants and animals that live there
Aquatic biomes
Based on water depth and salinity

2. 5.2 Land Biomes—rain forests
Tropical rain forests
High temperature; high precipitation
Found in tropics
Greatest diversity of life
Temperate rain forests
Mild temperature; high precipitation
Generally found along coasts at mid-latitudes
Rainforests have poor soil.
Nutrients are stored in plants

3. 5.3 Deciduous and coniferous forests
Deciduous forests
Found in southern temperate zones
Warm in summer, cold in winter; moderate precipitation
Have rich soils
Contain all types of animals
Coniferous forests
Known as the Taiga
Found in northern temperate zones
Cool summers, very cold winters; moderate precipitation
Reptiles and amphibians are fewer.
May be found at high altitudes
Southern U.S. coniferous forest due to poorer soil

4. 5.4 Grasslands Savannas Temperate grasslands Chaparrel Tropical
Hot with a cooler rainy season
Trees interspersed with grass
Temperate grasslands
Hot summers, cold winters; less precipitation than forests
“Uber” rich soil – just look out the window in the spring!
Chaparrel
Hot summers, cold winters; less precipitation than other grasslands
Scrubby plants and tough grasses

5. 5.5 Tundra & Desert Tundra Deserts Arctic—contains permafrost
Alpine—above the tree line
Cool, short summer, very cold winter; little precipitation
Very susceptible to damage
Few, if any, reptiles and amphibians
Deserts
Usually around 30o Latitude
Hot summers, warm winters; very little precipitation
Large variety of reptiles
(retired lawyers, insurance salesmen)

6. 5.6 Marine biomes Open oceans Photic zone—within 200 m of the surface
Light penetrates
Holds most of life in oceans (as far as we can tell)
Disphotic zone—down to 1000 m from surface
Light is dim
Aphotic zone—down to 4000 m from surface
No light—scary
Some life—even scarier
Abyss—beyond ‘deep’
Don’t ever go there

7. Coral reefs Coastal wetlands Tropical
Great diversity of life—rivals rain forests
Coastal wetlands
Estuaries—shallow, mixed fresh and salt water
Salt marshes—very shallow
Important ‘nursaries’
Swamps—shallow and diverse

8. 5.7 Fresh water biomes Lakes and ponds Streams and rivers
Shallow to deep
Slow movement of water
Can be cold or warm
Streams and rivers
Shallow; fast moving water.
Diverse life