Biomes

1. Biomes Section #3: Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes

3. Biomes of the World

4. found in climates that have less rainfall less rainfall = less species diversity although you might have less variety, you still might have high numbers of individuals in those species that are present General Info

5. these grasslands are located in tropical & subtropical areas near the equator found in parts of Africa, India, Australia, and South America overall receive little precipitation throughout the year – but there are periods of heavy rainfall followed by periods of drought Savannas

6. contain grasses, scattered trees, and shrubs plants must be able to survive prolonged periods without water plants have horizontal roots systems to capture as much moisture as possible grasses have long vertical leaves that expose less surface area to the hot sun some savanna plants even lose their leaves during the dry season to conserve water thorns & sharp leaves keep herbivores at bay Vegetation of the Savannas

7. African Savanna

8. during the dry season, fires often sweep across the savanna burning the grasses and shrubs this returns nutrients to the soil plants quickly regenerate from the shallow root systems Savanna Fires

9. mostly grazing herbivores & the predators that feed on them some grazers have adopted a migratory way of life to follow the rains & find newly sprouted grasses & fresh watering holes predators usually follow & stalk the migratory animals savanna animals usually give birth only during the rainy season when more food is available to increase chances of survival Animals of the Savanna

10. herbivore species reduce the competition for food by eating vegetation at different heights Example: small gazelles – feed on grasses black rhinos – feed on shrubs giraffes – feed on tree leaves Competition in the Savanna

11. dominated by grasses, very few trees hot summers, cold winters moderate rainfall, 50-88 cm of precipitation per year summer temps and lack of precipitation can make the grasslands susceptible to fires that commonly sweep across the lands Temperate Grasslands

12. located on the interior of continents - include North American prairies, steppes of Russia & the Ukraine, and the pampas of South America few natural temperate grasslands remain, most have been replaced by farms & grazing areas located near mountains that block the grasslands from receiving much precipitation Temperate Grasslands

13. mostly perennials – prairie grasses & wildflowers grass height depends on root depth root systems are dense – designed to survive the periods of drought & also hold the rich soil in place few trees can survive – little rain, fires, & constant wind thwart tree growth Plants of theTemperate Grasslands

14. Grasslands

15. grazers with large, flat teeth for chewing the coarse prairie grasses (bison & antelope) burrowers like badgers & prairie dogs are protected underground from the weather & fires – also they burrow underground to escape predators Animals of theTemperate Grasslands

16. most fertile soil – so many people farm or graze the grasslands grain crops do not have good root systems to hold the soil – leads to soil erosion overgrazing leads to grasses being overeaten & trampled – soil cannot regenerate & becomes less productive Threats of theTemperate Grasslands

17. Similarities? Differences?

18. type of temperate woodland biome located in mid-latitudes (30° N or S) near coastal areas with Mediterranean climates warm, dry summers & mid, wet winters too dry to support a forest, but more rain than a desert receives enough precipitation to support vegetation that grows in bunches The Chaparral

19. Chaparral

20. mostly low-lying evergreen plants that grow in dense patches dominated by broad-leafed evergreen shrubs plants include chamise, manzanita, scrub oak, olive trees, sage and bay herbs, plus piñon & juniper trees The Chaparral Plants

21. the small, leathery leaves retain water and contain oils that promote burning well adapted to survive fires that kill competition for sunlight can re-sprout from small bits of plant tissue The Chaparral Plants

22. examples include quail, lizards, chipmunks, mule deer most animals utilize camouflage (shape or coloring) to blend into the environment The Chaparral Animals

23. human development of the land for both commercial & residential use humans like the area because of the mild climate year-round, proximity to oceans, and the large amounts of sunlight Threats to the Chaparral

24. areas that receive less than 25cm of precipitation a year have little or no vegetation extreme temperatures located at several latitudes covering 1/5 of the Earth’s landmasses located near large mtn. ranges that block the passage of moisture-filled clouds Deserts

26. hot deserts Sonora Desert, Arizona Sahara, Africa Australia cold deserts Gobi Desert, China Greenland Antarctica Desert Examples

27. all plants must be adapted to obtain & conserve water some plants even die & drop their seeds when the conditions get too dry the seeds remain dormant until the next rainfall when they quickly germinate & grow some can even survive when their water content drops to only 30% of their mass Desert Plants

28. succulents - such as cactuses – have thick fleshy stems & leaves to store water waxy coatings to reduce water loss sharp spines or thorns to keep thirsty animals away plant roots that spread out just under the sand to absorb as much rain as possible Other Adaptations

29. reptiles – like the Gila monster, rattlesnakes, & lizards – have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss amphibians – like the spadefoot toad – survive the high temps by ESTIVATING (burying themselves in the ground and sleeping through the dry season) desert insects & spiders are covered in body armor to retain water most creatures are nocturnal to avoid the heat of the day Desert Animals

30. located north of the Arctic Circle very short summers topsoil thaws out during the summer months creating a pattern of bogs & swamps across the land below the topsoil is PERMAFROST – permanently frozen ground constant winds Tundra

31. dominated by tough grasses, lichens, herbs, & small shrubs that grow close to the ground soil is extremely thin – wide, shallow roots anchor plants against the icy winds lichens & mosses don’t even need soil to grow plants try to absorb heat from the sunlit soil Tundra Vegetation

32. summer wet areas are breeding grounds for huge numbers of swarming insects like mosquitoes & black flies many migratory birds feed on these insects some herbivores are temporary summer visitors like caribou, deer, & moose plus the wolves that hunt them Tundra Animals

33. some very well insulated creatures stay year-round, like arctic foxes, arctic hares, ptarmigan, & lemmings although they may burrow to escape the cold, they are still active during the winter, often growing white fur to camouflage themselves in the winter snow Tundra Animals

34. very fragile biome simple food chains can be easily disrupted and lead to the demise of the other species land is easily damaged & slow to recover until recently, most areas were undisturbed by human activities – until oil was discovered Threats to the Tundra

35. oil exploration, extraction, & transport has been particularly disruptive to plants and animals pollution from spills or leaks of oil & other toxic materials can lead to the poisoning of food & water sources Threats to the Tundra

37. Compare