1. Warm Up
Write what you think a biome is Write an example and describe that example

2. Biomes
A Biome is a large area characterized by its climate and the plants and animals that live in the area.

3. Forests
There are 3 different types of forest biomes These biomes have mild temperatures and plenty of rain The type of forest biome depends on the amount of rainfall in addition to the temperatures within the area.

4. Temperate Deciduous Forests
Located in the temperate latitudes and has definite seasons Has deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the Fall to save water during the winter) Has brilliant colors of red, orange, and yellow before the leaves fall Plants – oak, hickory, beech, and maple trees Animals – bears, deer, snakes, salamanders, and birds Mean Temps: 82˚F Summer & 42˚F Winter Mean Rainfall: cm per year Locations: North America, South America, Asia, & Europe

5. Coniferous Forests (Taiga/Boreal)
Further from the equator
Experience long winters with lots of snowfall & short summers
Conifers-trees that produce seeds in cones & have thick, waxy needles which keep water from evaporating **Known as Evergreen Trees**
Fir, spruce, hemlock trees
Waxy needles: ~helps keep conifer leaves from drying out ~protects from being damanged by the cold ~ allows the trees to keep leaves year round
Plants – little light reaches the ground so few plants
Animals – deer, moose, lynx, weasels, beavers, caribou, wolves, bears, porcupines
Some animals hibernate during the winter months
Mean Temps: 57˚F Summer & 14˚F Winter
Mean Rainfall: cm per year
Locations: North America, Asia, & Europe

6. Tropical Rain Forests
Have more biodiversity- (greater variety) in organisms than any other biome
Warm, humid regions near the equator
**Very important for medicines
Plants – evergreen trees, vines, ferns (greatest amount of plant growth)
Animals – insects, monkeys, jaguars, bats, tree frogs
Many live in the canopy-treetops
Mean Temps: 86˚F
Mean Rainfall: 400+ cm per year
Locations: South America, Central America, Africa, Central Asia, Australia

7. Grasslands
Found on all continents except Antarctica Variety of names: steppes, prairies, chaparral, and pampas Often flat or gently rolling hills

8. Grasslands-Savanna
Savanna- a grassland that often has scattered trees, found in tropical/subtropical areas where seasonal rains, fires, and drought happen)
Regions located in the middle latitudes that get more rain than a desert, but not enough to support a forest
Plants – grasses, very low trees, and flowering plants
Animals – zebras, elephants, giraffes, gazelles (herbivores-eat plants) and lions, leopards (carnivore- eat animals/meat)
Mean Temps: 86˚F
Mean Rainfall: cm per year
Locations: all continents except Antarctica
Savannas are located in India, South America, & Africa

9. Desert
Desert- Hot & Dry regions near the equator with little or no plant life, extreme temps, long periods without rain; found in hot climates Plants & animals survive with little water and grow far apart (not to compete for water) Plants – low bushes, cactus (store water), yucca trees (other plants have a waxy coating to prevent water loss) Animals – owls, hawks, scorpions, kangaroos, gila monsters, rattlesnakes, rats Mean Temps: 100˚F and 38 ˚F Mean Rainfall: less than 25 cm per year Locations: USA, Africa, Asia, Australia, India, & South America

10. Tundra
Tundra- a treeless plain found in the Arctic, in the Antarctica, or on the tops of mountains that is characterized by very low winter temps, & short, cool summers Largest & most northern biome Covers 1/5 of the Earth’s land! Dry, cold, and is characterized by a layer of soil that is permanently frozen called permafrost. Plants – Trees do not grow, small mosses, grasses, & lichen (not really plants) Animals – reindeer, arctic foxes, caribou, & snowshoe hares Mean Temps: 54˚F Summer & -14˚F Winter Mean Rainfall: less than 25 cm per year Locations: portions of Antarctica & Arctic Circle

11. Alpine Tundra:
Has permafrost Found at the top of tall mountains Above the Tree Line – trees cannot grow on the mountain Gets plenty of sunlight and precipitation

12. Fresh Water
Made up of ponds, lakes, streams, & rivers Only 3% of the Earth’s surface Algae (Kingdom Protista) near the surface are the major producers Plants and animals of rivers are adapted to survive currents Plants – algae, water lilies, duckweed Animals – fish, insects, frogs, turtles, beaver, snails, salamanders, crayfish, mosquitoes, dragonflies

13. Salt Water/Marine
Made up of oceans and seas They cover ¾ of the Earth’s surface Any water environment that has 3.5% salt is salt water Contain 97% of the water supply Largest animals on Earth live in this biome Millions of microscopic creatures live here, too Phytoplankton is the most abundant producer in the ocean Plants – algae, bacteria, & seaweed Animals – sharks, jellyfish, corals, dolphins, sea lions, octopi, whales, & fish Ocean is the only biome insects do not live in!

14. Wetland/Estuary/Marsh
Estuary an area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean. (amount of salt water is always changing)
Wetlands- areas where the water level is near the soil’s surface. Important breeding grounds for amphibians and aquatic animals like shrimp, redfish, and mullet
Marsh- a treeless wetland ecosystem where plants such as grasses grow.
Found in shallow areas along the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams
Plants – grasses, reeds, bulrushes, wild rice
Animals – muskrats, oysters, turtles, frogs, and birds