BIOMES OF THE WORLD

1. BIOMES OF THE WORLD

2. BIOME - large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups which are adapted to that particular environment. • LIMITING- climate and precipitation FACTOR • ECOTONE- area where two biomes come together- contains characteristics of both biomes • ECOTYPE- organisms (flora or fauna) found in the ecotone

3. Information Necessary in Understanding Biomes • What the climate of the region is like • Where each biome is found • What the geography is like • Special adaptations of the vegetation • Types of animals • Physical and behavioral adaptations of the animals to their environment

4. MAJOR BIOMES TERRESTRIALAQUATIC Tundra Freshwater Taiga Saltwater Grasslands Forests Deserts

5. TUNDRA • Extremely cold climate • Low biotic diversity • Simple vegetation structure • Short growing season • Short reproductive season • Energy and nutrients are in the form of dead organic material • Two major nutrients: Nitrogen (nitrogen fixation) and phosphorus (precipitation) • Two types: Artic tundra and Alpine tundra

6. ARTIC TUNDRA • Located in the Northern Hemisphere • Encircles the North pole and extends as far south as the coniferous forests of the TIAGA • Contains a layer of PERMAFROST • Plants- adapted to winds and disturbances to soil short and grouped together lichens liverworts low shrubs reindeer moss • Animals- adapted to long winters and short reproductive season insulation migratory caribou lemmings polar bears salmon migratory animals trout insects squrriels

7. ALPINE TUNDRA • Located on mountains of the world where trees can not grow • Growing season – 180 days • Night time is usually below zero • Plants- tussock grass dwarf trees, small leafed shrubs • Animals- marmots, elk mountain goat, grouse like birds insects

10. FORESTS Represents the largest and ecologically complex ecosystems Occupies 1/3 of the Earth’s land mass Accounts for over 2/3 of the leaf area of land plants Contains about 70% of the carbon present in living things Classified by seasonality Major types: TROPICAL TEMPERATE BOREAL CHAPARRAL

11. TROPICAL RAINFOREST Contains the greatest amount of species diversity of all terrestrial habitats 70% of the plants are trees No one species dominates: In a quarter of a mile it is possible to see all the different species with no two of the same species Scientists have counted 100-300 species in 2 ½ acres Average precipitation – 50-260 inches Characterized by high temperatures that decomposes organic material very rapidly (34C) Characterized by sparse vegetation at ground level Produces 40% of the World’s oxygen Produces ¼ of the medicines currently used

12. Tropical Rainforest Flora Characteristics Most trees are broadleaved Trees have shallow roots; have buttresses (swollen bases) to hold tree up Contains continuous canopy which produces dark habitat Trees contain four main layers: Emergent- trees spaced wide apart;100-240 feet tall; leaves are small and pointed Upper Canopy - Trees are 60-130 feet tall; gets most of the sunlight Understory- Made up of trunks of trees (<60foot), shrubs, plants and small trees Little air movement Forest Floor- No light (less than 1% of the light reaches the floor) Soil is thin and poor quality plants here are specialized for constant shade All stories support extensive epiphytic communities Contains vines as thick as a man’s thigh; will overgrow the trunks of trees and eventually kill it

14. TIAGA • Largest biome • Located below the Tundra • Also known as the BOREAL FOREST • Stretches over Canada, Europe, and Asia • Cold winters (long nights) • Winter temperature - -65F – 30F • Short warm summers (long days) • Summer temperature - 20F – 70F • Total yearly precipitation 12-33 inches • Prone to wildfires • Average temperature- below freezing (6 months) • Plants - lichens, conifers • Animals- wolverine, lynx, bobcats, insects, migratory birds

17. TEMPERATE FOREST Located below the boreal forest – Europe, Asia, Eastern US Dominated by broadleaved hardwoods Trees are deciduous (lose leaves in the fall) Precipitation – 30 -60” annually; varies with longitude Good deep soil for agriculture; growing season (140-200 days) Among the first biome to be used by pioneers for farming Well defined seasons with a distinct winter Temperature varies 30 to -30 C Contains 5 different zones Tree Stratum Zone- Tree Height is 60-100 feet Oak, Beech, Maple, Hickory, Elm, etc Small Tree/Sapling Zone- contains young and short trees Shrub Zone- Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel Herb Zone- contains short plants such as herbs Ground Zone- contains lichens, club moss, true moss

19. CHAPARRALS Also known as a shrub forest They are dry areas usually found along coastline regions usually on the west coast of continents Landscape is predominated by dense evergreen shrubs and grasses Possesses a Mediterranean climate Temperature - 30-100F (hot in the summers; cold in the winter) Precipitation-10-40” annually (usually in the form of rain and in the winter) Soil quality is poor Plant leaves are hard, needle-like and hairy

21. GRASSLANDS • Found in every continent except ANTARTICA • Located on either side of the desert belts • Divided into two categories closest to the equator ---tropical grasslands further from equator --- temperate grasslands • Covers ¼ of Earth’s land mass • Characterized by grasses instead of trees • Known by different names US prairies (tall and short) SA pampas Europe steppes Africa savannas

22. GRASSLANDS • Prairies- region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land generally humid (10” -12” precipitation) found between desert shrubs and forests Extends from Texas - Saskatchewan densely covered with tall trees fertile soil covers about 1/3 of the Earth only few spots of wild prairie remains famous for beautiful flowers and grasses Endangered – most have been converted to farmlands and ranches

25. GRASSLANDS • Pampas- flat fertile land found primarily in Argentina and Uruguay humid and warm extremely windy (winds blow most of the time) average temperature – 18C has dry season in summer home of the “GAUCHO”

27. GRASSLANDS • Steppes- dry, cold grassland found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica located away from oceans and close to mountain barrier average rainfall- 10”-30” summer precipitation – 4-5” warm summers extremely cold winters can experience periods of long draught and violent winds mostly inhabitable by humans

29. GRASSLANDS • Savannas- areas of open grasslands with few trees located primarily in Africa – covers 46% temperatures vary according to seasons typically arid- <30” precipitation average temperature 23C has extended dry and rainy seasons Two types: tropical semi-tropical

31. DESERTS Lands of extremes—extreme dryness and temperatures Located between 30 N and 30 S (desert belt) Covers 1/5 of Earth’s land surface Temperature range -40 - >100 F Precipitation- <10 inches annually Mountain deserts are caused by the rainshadow effect As air moves over a mountain it gets cold and loses the ability to hold moisture so it rains or snows, when air moves down the other side it gets warmer (warm air hold plenty of moisture) so it doesn’t rain and a desert is formed 2 Types: hot desert cold desert

32. RAINSHADOW EFFECT

33. HOT DESERTS Seasons are usually warm throughout the year and hot is summer Rainfall occurs in short burst followed by long periods of drought often times rains evaporate before reaching the surface Soils are course, rocky, shallow, or gravely with good drainage flora– low lying shrubs, short woody trees leaves are small and thick cacti have “spines” to reduce water loss Fauna- most animals are nocturnal, small, and burrowers Famous hot deserts in US: Chihuahuan Mojave Sonoran

34. CHIHUAHUAN Located in a small area of southeastern New Mexico and extreme western area of Texas---extends to the south of Mexico largest desert in US Shrub desert Predominant shrub: Yuccas, Agaves Precipitation occurs in summer Characterized by Big Bend National Park

35. MOJAVE Located in southern Nevada, extreme southwestern Utah, eastern California, north of the Sonoran Precipitation is less than 5 inches usually occurs in winter Summers are usually hot and windy Predominant flora: Yucca Exception: Joshua tree Useful for mineral extraction: gold, tungsten, silver, iron Characterized by Death Valley

36. SONORAN Located in a small region of south central California, most of the southern Arizona, Most fertile of all US deserts Considered the most beautiful desert of world Hottest US desert Subdivision: Colorado and Yuma Well developed monsoon seasons Flora: annuals and woody shrubs desert saltbrush, creosote bush catclaw, saguaro Fauna: rich in wildlife Characterized by the Painted Desert and Petrified National Park

37. OTHER FAMOUS HOT DESERTS Arabian Desert - covered almost entirely of sand contains the most extensive regions of sand dunes in the world bordered by the Nile ,Red Sea, and Gulf of Suez sparsely populated– most live along the wells and springs (Bedouins) Flora: acacia, saltbrush, oleander Fauna: camel, desert locust, Oryx

38. Kalahari Desert- located in southwestern Africa covered by sand dunes and gravel plains largest sand basin in the world populated by Bushmen Flora: acacia, aloe Fauna: gazelle, hyena, springbok

39. Sahara Desert- largest desert of the world Covered by mountains, gravel plains, and salt flats Central areas are prone to no precipitation for years at a time Flora: acacia, grasses, tamarisks Fauna: antelope, gazelle, horned viper, spiny- tailed lizard Characterized by the Tuareg nomadic tribe

40. Thar Desert - located in India and Pakistan covered by sand dunes and gravel plains Flora: acacia, euphoria, grasses, shrubs Fauna: black buck, camel, great Indian bustard Characterized by small villages of 10-20 houses

41. COLD DESERTS Located near the neartic and artic regions of the world Characterized by cold winters (snow) and mild summers Temperature range - -2 – 26 C Soil- heavy, silty, and salty Flora: widely scattered, mostly deciduous Fauna: badgers, squirrels, jackrabbit, deer (only in winter) Famous US desert: Great Basin

42. GREAT BASIN Located in the northern part of Nevada, western and southern Utah, southern Idaho, and south eastern corner of Oregon It is bordered on the south by the Mojave and Sonoran Largest desert in US Precipitation fall as rain in summer, snow in winter Vegetation is low and homogenous Predominant plant – Playa, sagebrush, and blackbrush Characterized by Salt Lake

43. OTHER FAMOUS COLD DESERTS Antarctica-coldest, windiest, and driest 98% continental ice sheet 2% barren rock Flora: lichen, moss Fauna: seals, penguins, albatross

44. Gobi- Northern China, Southern Mongolia covered by sandy soil with areas of small stones Crossed by Genghis Khan in 13th C Populated by government farming Flora: camel’s thorn, grasses Fauna: bactrian bamel, gazelle, onager, wolf

45. Patagonia- located in southern Argentina and Chile Eastern side is warmer than western Flora: creosote brush, grasses, cacti Fauna: guanaco, puma, parakeet, rhea, hummingbirds Characterized by the Tierra del Fuego