1. Biomes

2. What is a Biome?
The earth is covered by many different types of ecosystems
Scientists group similar ecosystems into Biomes.
A biome is a large area with a specific climate and certain plants and animals.

3. There are 10 main land biomes
Polar ice
Tropical rainforest*
Temperate forest*
Taiga*
Tropical savanna
Temperate grassland*
Chaparral*
Desert*
Tundra*
Mountains

4. Biomes and Vegetation (plants)
Biomes are described by the plants that grow in them because the plants determine what animals will live there
Plants in a biome will all have characteristics that allow the plants to survive better in that biome
These characteristics include size, shape and color

5. Biomes and Vegetation (plants) cont.
Ex. A cactus that lives in the hot desert does not have leaves because leaves let out water. In a hot desert having leaves would mean the cactus would dry out and die

6. Biomes and Climate Climate refers to weather conditions like:
temperature
rainfall
humidity
wind
Temperature and rainfall are the 2 most important factors

7. Temp. and Precip.
The climate of a biome is determined by it’s average temperature and it’s average amount of rainfall.
Most organisms have a certain temperature range that they can live in.
They also must live in an area that gets enough water to keep them hydrated.

8. Latitude and Altitude
Biomes, climates and the things that live there change with latitude and altitude.
Latitude is how far north or south of the equator you are.
As your latitude increases you get farther from the equator which means there is less direct sunlight and the climate gets colder
Altitude is how high above sea level you are.
It also gets colder as the altitude increases (as you go up a mountain)
The colder climates change the plants that grow there.

9. Biome Bag Project/Presentation