1. Biomes
Chapter 6

2. Biomes
Biome
A large region with a specific type of climate and a certain type plant and animal communities
Made up of several ecosystems

3. Biomes

4. Biomes
Biomes are classified based on the types of plants that live there
The types of plants will determine the other organisms
Organisms in each biome have specific adaptations that allow them to survive
Adaptations include size, shape, and color

5. Biomes
Organisms are adapted to survive a very small range of temperatures and precipitation
Small changes the temperature or the amount of precipitation can kill off a majority of organisms
Since organisms can only survive in specific conditions the biggest factor that affects biomes is climate

6. Biomes

7. Biomes
The climate around the world varies depending on altitude and latitude
Altitude
Height above sea level
Latitude
Distance north or south of the equator
“Lat lays Flat”
You can find the same climates by either going up a mountain or by going north

8. Biomes
Since climate depends on altitude and latitude, the type of biome depends on the same things
You can find the same biomes, by either going up a mountain or going north
“Altitude Substitutes for Latitude”

9. Biomes

10. F:\Seagate Sync\VOL\My Documents\Ecology\United Streaming\Biomes__Our_Earth_s_Major_Life_ Zones.asf

11. Forest Biomes
Forest Biomes are the most widespread and diverse of all biomes.
They are typically found in areas where there is more precipitation
Big trees need a lot of water!
Three main types:
Tropical, Temperate, Taiga
end

12. Forest Biomes- Tropical
Located near the equator
Constant high temperature and lots of rain throughout the year
Direct sunlight all year and very humid
100x’s more species per acre as temperate forests
end

13. Forest Biomes- Tropical
The soil has very few nutrients
As dead organisms decompose, the nutrients are immediately sucked up by the plants
Most nutrients are stored in the plants
This makes the water run-off as pure as distilled water from a store
When the trees are cut down for farmland, the soil can only support crops for a few years
end

14. Forest Biomes- Tropical
Because the soil is so thin, trees have nothing to hold on to
The have adapted structures called buttresses to add support
Roots that are above ground
Buttresses
end

15. Forest Biomes- Tropical
There are 4 layers of forest:
Emergent, Upper Canopy, Lower Canopy, Understory
end

16. Forest Biomes- Tropical
Emergent
Top layer
The very tallest trees (~230 ft high)
Gets direct sunlight
Canopy
Primary layer of the rain forest
~98 ft high
Absorbs around 95% of the sunlight
Most animals live in this layer
Divided into upper and lower levels
end

17. Forest Biomes- Tropical
Understory
Shade loving trees and shrubs
No more than ~11 ft high
end

18. Forest Biomes- Temperate Rain
Cooler temperatures than a Tropical Rain Forest
But still lost of precipitation
Found in Washington State, Australia, and New Zealand
Around the Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean keeps the temperature above freezing year-round
end

19. Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous
Trees have broad, flat leaves
Which are lost each fall
Has a large change in seasons
Very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer
Most 1st world countries are in this biome!
end

20. Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous
Plants grow for around half of the year
And go dormant as the weather gets cold
Animals will either hibernate or migrate during the winter
We live in this biome!
end

21. Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal)
Coniferous forest (trees with seed in cones) just below the arctic circle
Canada, Northern Europe, Russia, China
Winter lasts for 6 to 10 months
With very little sunlight
end

22. Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal)
Plants have as little as 50 days to grow each year
Plants are adapted to retain water and shed snow
Most animals are only in the Taiga for the short summer
Those that stay either go underground to hibernate or camouflage themselves to survive the winter
end

23. Grasslands- Savanna Found mostly in Africa, South America, India
Little precipitation (rain) throughout the year
The rain it gets comes all at one time
Fires during the dry season restore nutrients to the soil
end

24. Grasslands- Savanna
Plants must be able to survive long periods without water
Large horizontal root system
Leaves grow vertical to expose less area to the sun
Animals have a migratory life style
They follow the water
Give birth during the rainy season
end

25. Grasslands- Temperate
Dominated by grasses with very few trees
Hot summers and cold winters
Less rain than a forest
The most fertile soil of any biome
This is the world’s farming land
end

26. Grasslands- Temperate
Often found near mountains
They keep the amount of rain low
Grasses form a layer of roots below the surface
Helps to survive drought and fire
Animals are adapted to being mostly herbivores
Have underground burrows to provide protection
Over farming can cause this biome to become like a desert
From soil erosion and depletion of nutrients
end

27. Chaparral Temperate woodland biome with broad leaf evergreen shrubs
Found along the coast with Mediterranean climates
end

28. Chaparral Mostly low-lying shrubs
They stay close to the ground
Have leathery leaves covered in oils that promote burning
The fire will kill off trees that are competing for nutrients
Can quickly regrow after a fire
Animals are camouflaged to blend in with the environment
Humans develop this land for coastal housing
end

29. Desert Areas with little to no rain and plant life
Also have extreme temperatures (hot or cold)
Often found near large mountain ranges
Mountains block moisture in clouds
end

30. Desert
Plants have thick flesh with a waxy coating that helps to store water
Roots are found just below the surface and widespread
In severe drought, plants will die off and their seeds will go dormant until rainfall germinates them
Animals have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss
Most bury themselves underground to avoid the sunlight
They are only active at night (nocturnal)
end

31. Tundra
Area above the Arctic Circle with long, cold winters and short cool summers
Grasses, mosses/lichens, and herbs grow
Below the small amount of topsoil is permafrost
Permanently frozen soil
end

32. Tundra Plants stay very close to the ground Very few animals
Avoid the wind and get heat from the soil
Roots are just below the surface and widespread
Very few animals
Bird migrate in for the short summer
Some migrate through the tundra all year
Following food and water
With so few organisms the ecosystems are very simple
Any change to this biome can be a big threat to the ecosystems
The discovery of oil has influenced humans to develop
end

33. end

34. end

35. Oil exploration in ANWR could have a negative impact on the animals and people living in and around the refuge, but oil in the refuge may help the US meet its future energy needs. Without knowing what the consequences or benefits will be, do you think that the US should permanently protect the ANWR or open it for oil exploration?
end

36. Aquatic Biomes
While climate determine the type of biome on land, in the water there are other factors to worry about
Climate (temperature, sunlight)
Oxygen
Nutrients
Salinity (amount of salt)
Based on the amount of salt, Aquatic Biomes are divided into Freshwater and Marine.
end

37. Aquatic Biomes- Lakes and Ponds
2 layers:
Littoral Zone
Nutrient-rich, near the shore, diverse life
This is where the sunlight can reach
Benthic Zone
Bottom of the pond, decomposers, dead organisms, clams
Very little sunlight
end

38. Aquatic Biomes- Lakes and Ponds
If a lake has an increase in nutrients (eutrophication)
Then more plants, algae, and bacteria start to grow
This uses up the oxygen dissolved in the water
No oxygen = No life
end

39. Aquatic Biomes- Freshwater Wetlands
Areas of land covered with fresh water for part of the year
2 types:
Marshes
Contains Non-woody plants
Swamps
Contains woody plants
(trees and shrubs)
Originally thought to be “wastelands”
We are now trying to fix the damage we have caused
end

40. Aquatic Biomes- Freshwater Wetlands
Controls flooding
Nature’s water filter- no more pollution! :-)
Mating grounds for many animals
end

41. Aquatic Biomes- Rivers and Streams
Begin with melting snow from the mountains
Cold water with lots of oxygen
As you go down hill the water gets warmer with less oxygen
Different plants and animals are found along the river based on the temp and amount of oxygen
The biggest threat is runoff from industries
end

42. Aquatic Biomes- Coastal Wetlands
Areas covered by salt water for part of the year
Estuary
Area where fresh water from a river mixes with salt water from the ocean
Constantly is replenished with nutrients
Making it a very productive biome (lots of organisms)
Organisms have to be able to survive in a wide range of salt content (Very Little Salt to Lots of Salt)
Have been used in the past as a waste dump
Killing off lots of organisms
end

43. Coral Reefs Limestone ridges build by tiny coral animals
Live in clear, warm salt water
Extremely diverse organisms
Many are in danger of destruction from humans
Climate Change, Pollution, Over-Fishing
end

44. Oceans Most life concentrated in the shallow waters
Sunlight only penetrates about 100 m (330 ft)
Different organisms are found at certain depths depending on the amount of sunlight
One of the least productive biomes
Pollution and Over-Fishing are the biggest threats
end

45. Biome
Ecosystems
Types of plants
Climate
Altitude
Tropical Rain Forest
Buttresses
Canopy
Temperate Deciduous
Taiga
Temperate Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Littoral zone
Benthic zone
Marsh
Swamps
Freshwater wetland
Snow topped mountains
Coastal wetland
Estuary
Coral reefs
First 100 meters
Hydrothermal vents