1. Biomes

2. There are 6 major biomes in the world:
Rain Forest
Desert
Grassland
Deciduous or Temperate Forest
Taiga or Boreal Forest
Tundra

3. Rain Forest Biome

4. Rain Forest Biome Climate
Almost constant temperature - 25°C (77°F)
High humidity
More than 200 cm rainfall yearly

5. Rain Forest Animals
More than any other biome - the greatest variety (or diversity) and number of animals live here. The reason is the constant warmth and supply of water and food.
Small animals (monkeys, birds, snakes, rodents, frogs, lizards, insects, etc) often live only in the trees – never coming to the ground

6. Rain Forest Plants Emergent Layer Canopy Understory Forest Floor
There is 12 hours of sunlight in a tropical rainforest biome, but less than 2% of it reaches the ground.
Soil is very poor and infertile.
“Jungle”

7. Desert Biome

8. Desert Biome
These areas get very little precipitation and have extreme temperatures.

9. Desert Biome Climate 10°C – 38°C (50°F - 100°F)
Less than 25 cm (10 in) rainfall yearly

10. Desert Animals Reptiles, insects, birds, small mammals.
These animals seek shade, burrow, and are active at night (nocturnal).
Get water from food: insects, seeds, plants

11. Desert Plants Short grasses, sagebrush, creosote bushes, cacti
Adaptations for survival: LONG (20 – 30 ft) tap roots (root goes deep into the ground to “tap” into groundwater, large horizontal root systems, and the ability to store water

12. Grassland Biome

13. 2 types of grassland biome
Prairies – found in middle latitudes Savannas – found close to equator

14. Grassland Biome Climate
0°C – 25°C (32°F - 77°F)
cm rainfall yearly
Very warm summers

15. Grassland (Prairie) Animals
Buffalo, prairie dogs – many small mammals which are herbivores

16. Grassland (Savannah) Animals
Some of the Earth’s largest animals: elephants, giraffes, antelopes, cheetah, lions, rhinoceros
Many migrate because there is a long dry season and a wet season.

17. Grassland (Prairie) plants
Grasses and other non-woody plants which can grow very tall because the soil is very fertile.
Droughts are common – plants have adapted to survive long periods without water.
Fires are common – in fact helps new growth for many of these plants.

18. Grassland (Savannah) plants
Grasses and some short (scrub) trees. Grasses can grow very tall because the soil is very fertile.
Have adapted to survive the long dry seasons and intense wet seasons
Grow quickly when the water is available
Fires are common – in fact helps new growth for many of these plants.

19. Deciduous Forest or Temperate Forest Biome

20. Deciduous Forest Biome
Deciduous trees are trees that lose their leaves.
50 cm cm precipitation yearly (rain and snow)

21. Deciduous Forest Biome
4 distinct seasons
The summers are warm and the winters are cool. The average temperatures in the summer are 28º C (82º F) and in the winter are 6º C (43º F).

22. Deciduous Forest Biome
These forests have several layers of vegetation or plants. These plants include shrubs, moss, ferns, and lichens because they don’t need much light.

23. Deciduous Forest Biome
The trees in these forests are hardwoods such as oak, hickory, maple, beech, birch, and sweet gum.

24. Deciduous Forest Biome
There is a diverse population of animals in these forests and a large number of animals. They are all adapted to survive the season changes.

25. Deciduous Forest Biome Climate
Examples of animals include cardinals, robins, owls, deer, black rat snakes, opossum, mice, squirrels, raccoons, etc.

26. Deciduous Forest or Temperate Forest Biome
Georgia is in a deciduous forest biome.

27. Taiga (Coniferous or Boreal Forest)

28. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome Climate
Very cold winters average = -10º C or 14º F; warmer summer temperatures, average = 14º C or 57º F

29. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome Climate
cm precipitation yearly

30. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
This is a forest of conifers. Conifers are trees that produce seeds in cones. The pine tree is a common example.

31. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Conifer leaves save water with a thick, waxy layer that covers the leaves, or needles.

32. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Conifers are softwoods. Other examples are fir, spruce, and hemlock (think Christmas trees)

33. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Most of the animals are herbivores.
Most survive the brutal winters by migrating or hibernating.

34. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Migration is the movement of animals from one habitat that will no longer support them to another habitat that will.

35. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Hibernation is when an animal is inactive and slows down its metabolism. It is able to lower its body temperature, slow down its breathing, and/or lower its metabolic rate.

36. Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Examples of herbivores are squirrels, insects, birds, snowshoe hares, moose, and beavers.
Examples of predators are wolves, bears, great horned owls, foxes, and lynxes.

37. Tundra Biome

38. Tundra Biome Climate -40°C – 10°C (-40°F – 50°F)
Less than 25 cm precipitation yearly
Tundra means “marshy plain”

39. Tundra Biome
Permafrost is soil that stays frozen all year. It is found beneath the top, thawed layer.

40. Tundra Biome
Because of the permafrost the top layer of soil is always soggy. Because the soil that is NOT frozen is only a few inches deep, only plants with shallow roots can survive.

41. Tundra Biome
Plants are mosses, grasses, shrubs, and small, short trees.

42. Tundra Biome
In the summer there are many insects and birds that feed on the insects. Before winter these birds migrate.

43. Tundra Biome Climate
Mammals of the tundra include caribou, foxes, wolves, polar bears, and arctic wolves.

44. Tundra Biome
The mammals that remain in the winter grow thick fur coats.

45. Tundra Biome
Small mammals like lemmings, hares, and shrews are also common.