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Intro to Biomes. TROPICAL RAIN FOREST SAVANNA TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST TAIGA TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS DESERT TUNDRA. Tropical Rain Forest. Home to more species than all other biomes combined
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Intro to Biomes TROPICAL RAIN FOREST SAVANNA TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FORESTTAIGA TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS DESERT TUNDRA
Tropical Rain Forest Home to more species than all other biomes combined Located in parts of South and Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Southern India, and Northeastern Australia
Tropical Rain Forest Organisms Dominant Plants Rainforest Orchid • Broad leaved evergreen trees • Ferns • Large woody vines • Climbing plants • Orchids • Bromeliads
Tropical Rainforest Organisms Dominant Wildlife • Insects • Butterflies • Ants • Beetles • Freshwater fishes • Piranhas • Reptiles • Caymans • Boa constrictors • anacondas • Herbivores • Sloths • Tapirs • Capybaras • Predators • Jaguars • Anteaters • Monkeys • Birds • Toucans • Parrots • Parakeets
Savanna Characterized by a cover of grasses, isolated trees, small groves of shrubs Compact soils, frequent fires, and large animal action Located in large parts of eastern Africa, southern Brazil, and northern Australia
Savanna Organisms Dominant Plants Cycas • Tall, perennial grasses • Trees or shrubs • Drought-tolerant • Fire-resistant
Savanna Organisms Dominant Wildlife • Predators • Lions • Leopards • Cheetahs • Hyenas • Jackals • Aardvarks • Baboons • Insects • termites • Herbivores • Elephants • Giraffes • Antelopes • Zebras • Birds • Eagles • Ostriches • Weaver birds • Storks
Temperate Deciduous Forest Cold winters halt plant growth for several months Trees shed their leaves in Autumn Spring new plants grow Fertile soils rich in humus Eastern U.S. southeastern Canada, most of Europe, parts of Japan, China, and Australia
Temperate Deciduous ForestOrganisms Dominant Plants Maple Leaves • Broadleaf deciduous trees • Some conifers • Flowering shrubs • Herbs • Ground layer • Mosses • ferns
Temperate Deciduous Forest Organisms Dominant Wildlife • Deer • Black bears • Bobcats • Nut and acorn feeders • Squirrels • Omnivores • Raccoons • Skunks • Numerous songbirds • Turkeys
Taiga Largest biome in the world Winters very cold with snow Summer warm, rainy, humid Coniferous trees a.k.a. boreal forest Eurasia and North America
Taiga Organisms Dominant Plants Fir Tree • Needle-leaf coniferous trees • Spruce • Fir • Broadleaf deciduous trees • Berry-bearing shrubs
Taiga Organisms Dominate Wildlife • Predators • Lynxes • Timber wolves • Weasels • Small herbivorous mammals • Large herbivores • Moose • Beavers • Songbirds • Migratory birds
Temperate Grasslands Mix of grasses & fertile soils Plains, prairies Periodic fires Heavy herbivore grazing Central Asia, North America, Australia, Central Europe
Temperate Grassland Organisms Dominant Plants Perennial Grasses • Lush • Perennial grasses and herbs • Resistant to • Drought • Fire • cold
Temperate Grassland Organisms Dominant Wildlife • Predators • Coyotes • Badgers • Wolves • Grizzly bears • Herbivores • Mule deer • Pronghorn antelopes • Rabbits • Prairie dogs • cattle • Bison • Birds • Hawks • Owls • Bobwhites • Prairie chickens • Mountain plovers • Reptiles • Snakes • Insects • Ants • grasshoppers
Desert Dry Precipitation less than 25cm Extreme temperature change during course of day Africa, Asia, the Middle East, U.S., Mexico, South America, Australia
Desert Organisms Dominant Plants Cacti • Cacti • Succulents • Creosote bush • Plants with short growth cycles
Desert Organisms Dominant Wildlife • Predators • Mountain lions • Gray foxes • Bobcats • Herbivores • Mule deer • Pronghorn antelopes • Desert bighorn sheep • Kangaroo rats • Bats • Birds • Owls • Hawks • Roadrunners • Insects • Ants • Beetles • Wasps • Reptiles • Tortoises • Rattlesnakes • lizards
Tundra Characterized by permafrost Short cool summers, soggy wet ground, winter topsoil freezes Cold temperatures, high winds, short growing season Northern North America, Asia, Europe
Tundra Organisms Dominant Plants Lichens • Ground hugging plants • Mosses • Lichens • Sedges • Short grasses
Tundra Organisms Dominant Wildlife • Can withstand harsh conditions • Birds • Mammals • Migratory waterfowl • Shore birds • Musk ox • Arctic foxes • Caribou • Lemmings • Small rodents