1. Earth’s Major Biomes

2. Type of biome controlled by temperature and precipitation

3. Earth’s Major Biomes Tundra

4. Earth’s Major Biomes Tundra Characterized by: Very short growing season Little precipitation (10-25 cm / yr) Permafrost Low species diversity

5. Earth’s Major Biomes Boreal Forest (Tiaga)

6. Earth’s Major Biomes Boreal Forest (Tiaga) Characterized by: Short growing season Low precipitation (~50 cm / yr) Dominated by conifers (spruce, fir), but also has aspen, birch

7. Earth’s Major Biomes Temperate Rain Forest

8. Earth’s Major Biomes Temperate Rain Forest Characterized by: Cool; high precipitation (~127 cm / yr) Dominated by evergreens (hemlock, spruce, cedar) Heavily logged

9. Earth’s Major Biomes Temperate Deciduous Forest

10. Earth’s Major Biomes Temperate Deciduous Forest Characterized by: Hot summers, cold winters Moderate precipitation (75-150 cm / yr) Dominated by oaks, hickory, maple Commonly converted to agriculture

11. Earth’s Major Biomes Grasslands

12. Earth’s Major Biomes Grasslands Characterized by: Hot summers, cold winters Low to moderate precipitation (25-75 cm / yr) Dominated tallgrass or shortgrass prairies Heavily converted to agriculture

13. Earth’s Major Biomes Chaparral

14. Earth’s Major Biomes Chaparral Characterized by: Dry summers, mild winters Frequent fires Dominated by short pines, evergreen shrubs, scrub oak (but varies worldwide)

15. Earth’s Major Biomes Deserts

16. Earth’s Major Biomes Deserts Characterized by: Wide daily variations in temperature Very dry (<25 cm precipitation / yr) Sparse plant coverage

17. Earth’s Major Biomes Savanna

18. Earth’s Major Biomes Savanna Characterized by: Precipitation 76-150 cm / yr, but very seasonal with extended dry periods Dominated by grasses, with occasional trees African most famous for herds of wildebeest, antelope, zebra

19. Earth’s Major Biomes Tropical Rain Forests

20. Earth’s Major Biomes Tropical Rain Forests Characterized by: Very high precipitation 200-450 cm / yr Very nutrient-poor soil Extremely high primary productivity Extremely high species richness

21. Earth’s Major Biomes Vertical Zonation: The Distribution of Vegetation on Mountains

22. Aquatic Ecosystems Human Impacts on Coral Reefs Sedimentation / siltation Pollution Overfishing Direct disturbance (anchor dragging, divers damaging / collecting specimens)

23. Aquatic Ecosystems Human Impacts on the Ocean

24. Aquatic Ecosystems Human Impacts on the Ocean