1. Biomes

2. Biome
a large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community

3. 2 Types of Biomes Terrestrial (land) Biomes Aquatic (water) Biomes
marine (salt water)
freshwater biomes

4. 6 Major Terrestrial (Land) Biomes
terrestrial biomes are defined by their latitude, altitude, and precipitation

5. Terrestrial Biomes tundra taiga dessert grasslands temperate forest
tropical rain forest

6. Tundra treeless area around the poles
temperatures rise above freezing only for very short periods of time, about 12 cm precipitation annually

7. Tundra
soil is lacking in nutrients; topsoil is thin -little decay occurs
soil supports only shallow-rooted grasses and small plants
short growing season-limiting factor for life
contains permafrost - layer of permanently frozen ground

8. Taiga called northern conifer forest
climate is harsh - long, severe winters, short, mild summers, cm precipitation annually
permafrost is usually absent
found in Canada, Northern Europe, Asia

9. Taiga
Flora/Fauna:
lichens, mosses, grasses, dwarf shrubs, cushion plants, mosquitoes, other biting insects, lemming, weasels, arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, snowy owls, hawks, musk-oxen, caribou, reindeer

10. Taiga topsoil is acidic and poor in minerals
Example Organisms: mixed pine, fir, hemlock, & spruce trees, more large species of animals- caribou, moose, lynx

11. Desert Driest of the biomes, less than 25 cm of precipitation annually
Located south of the taiga
Atacama Desert in Chile – world’s driest place

12. Desert an arid region with sparse to almost nonexistent plant life
desert plants sometimes have spines, thorns, or poisons that act to discourage herbivores
example organisms - shrub, mesquite trees, cacti, kangaroo rat, pronghorn antelopes, foxes, coyotes, hawks, owls, roadrunners, snakes, lizards, scorpions

13. Grassland receives between 25 and 75 cm of precipitation annually
soils have considerable humus content
usually experience a dry season where insufficient water exists to support forests
example organisms - more than 100 different species per acre, large herds of grazing animals, bison, buffalo, wolves, coyotes, prairie dogs, foxes, ferrets, birds, insects, reptiles, tortoises, lizards, snakes

14. large communities covered with grasses and similar small plants
known as prairies (U.S., Canada, & Australia), steppes (Russia), savanna (Africa), pampas (Argentina)
called the breadbaskets of the world-ideal for growing grains (oats, rye, wheat)
occupies more area than any other terrestrial biome
Grassland

15. Temperate Forest
soil consists of top layer rich in humus and a deeper layer of clay
example organisms - squirrels, mice, rabbits, birds, black bears, deer, salamanders, opossums

16. Temperate Forest precipitation ranges from 70-150 cm annually
deciduous forests - dominated by broad-leaved hardwood trees that lose their foliage annually (deciduous)

17. Tropical Rain Forest
most biologically diverse of the terrestrial biomes, located in the equatorial regions around the world
uniformly warm (25oC) , wet weather dominated by lush plant growth, annual rainfall is at least 200cm up to 400 cm, which much of is retained and recycled by the heavy canopy of leaves

19. Tropical Rain Forest most organisms live in the trees
more species of reptiles, amphibians, and birds are found here than any other terrestrial biome
3 million species of insects in the tropical rain forest, butterflies, gorillas, cougars
Nutrients from decay must be absorbed quickly. Why?
Due the large amount of rain

20. Precipitation Amounts
1 cm = 0.4 inches

21. Marine Biomes
oceans contain the largest amount of biomass (living material) of any biome on Earth
most of this biomass is plankton - microscopic organisms that float in the layers of the photic zone

22. Water Zones photic zone - more shallow, sunlit zone
aphotic zone - deeper water that never receives sunlight

24. Mixed Waters all waters flow to a sea/ocean
estuary – coastal body of water partially surrounded by land where saltwater and freshwater mix

25. Tides
caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon – twice a day
intertidal zone – area between the high and low tide lines

26. Photic Zone rainfall washes nutrients from land into the waters
high in nutrients and abundant in life
plankton – small organisms that live in waters of the photic zone – base of all aquatic food chains

27. Aphotic Zone intense pressure no light
animals are adapted for darkness and scarcity of food

28. Freshwater Biome ponds, rivers, and lakes
temperature varies with depth – abiotic factor that limits the kind of organisms that can survive in a deep lake
light also is a limiting abiotic factor