1 / 36

Biomes

Biomes. Chapter 6. What is a biome?. Biome- large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of organisms. Biomes and Vegetation. Biomes are described by their vegetation because plant species will determine the animal species in an area.

catalina-amora
Download Presentation

Biomes

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Biomes Chapter 6

  2. What is a biome? • Biome- large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of organisms.

  3. Biomes and Vegetation • Biomes are described by their vegetation because plant species will determine the animal species in an area. • Plants in a biome have adaptations that allow them to survive the climate conditions for that biome. • Ex- size, shape, color, root depth, reproductive strategy

  4. Biomes and Climate • Climate- weather conditions • Climate determines plants • Two most important factors: • Temperature- most organisms are adapted to live in a range of temperatures. If the temperature get out of the desired range the organism my die. • Precipitation-The larger the organism the more water is needed for growth and survival.

  5. Biomes and Climate

  6. Biomes and Climate • Latitude- distance north or south from the equator. • Altitude- the height of an object above seas level.

  7. Forest Biomes

  8. Forest Biomes • Tropical Rain Forest • Location- around the world near the equator

  9. Forest Biomes • Tropical Rainforest • Precipitation- 200-450 cm per year • Temperature- very warm • Growing season- 12 months • Soil- Poor quality • Leeching washes away nutrients • Plants adapted with buttresses to support the tall trees with shallow root systems.

  10. Tropical Rainforest Species diversity- greatest amount of diversity One hectare of land may contain 100 species of trees (compared to only a few species in a temperate forest.) Insects, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds Threats- Logging and clearing for farm land 7% of earth’s surface (compared to 20% in the past) Everyday about 100 acres lost Forest Biomes

  11. Forest Biomes • Temperate Rainforest • Location- North America, Australia and New Zealand. • Precipitation- 200-450 cm per year • Temperature- Moderate Temperatures • Growing season- 9-12 months since it rarely gets below freezing. • Soil- Nutrient Rich

  12. Forest Biomes • Temperate Deciduous Forest • Location- between 30 and 50 N

  13. Forest Biomes • Temperate Deciduous Forest • Precipitation- 75-125 cm per year • Temperature- Warm to hot summers and cool to cold winters • Growing season- 4-6 months • Soil- Deep rich soil due to dropping of leaves in the autumn.

  14. Forest Biomes • Temperate Deciduous Forest • Species diversity- Good Species Diversity • Insects, mammals, birds • Amphibians and reptiles in warmer forest • Threats- Logging and clearing for farm land and urbanization • Forest land has increased as farm land has been abandoned in the U.S. and other countries. • Today more forest exist in Alabama than in 1900.

  15. Forest Biomes • Taiga (Northern Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest) • Location- around 50 N

  16. Forest Biomes • Taiga • Precipitation- around 50 cm per year • Temperature- Warm summers and cold harsh winters • Growing season- 50 days to 6 months • Soil- poor quality- very acidic

  17. Forest Biomes • Taiga • Species diversity- Low Species Diversity • Insects, mammals, birds • Plants dominated by conifers • Threats- Acid rain, disease, and logging • Low species diversity allows disease to decimate a forest.

  18. Grasslands • Savanna • Location- near equator

  19. Grasslands • Savannas • Precipitation- 50 – 125 cm per year • Wet and dry season • Temperature- 25- 30 C • Growing season- during the wet season • Soil- Rich in moist areas and poor in very dry regions

  20. Savanna Species Diversity- relatively diverse (less than rain and deciduous forest) Plant adaptations- runners, vertical leaves, thorns, drop leaves during the dry season Insects, mammals, birds Large migratory grazing herbivores are dominant on the landscape. Grasslands

  21. Grasslands • Temperate Grassland • Location- around 30 N & S latitude • American Prairie, Russian Steppes, Veldt of South Africa, and Pampas of South America

  22. Grasslands • Temperate Grasslands • Precipitation- 25-75 cm per year • Temperature- Hot summers and cold winters • Growing season- During the warm summer months (latitude will determine the length of summer) • Soil- Rich Soil

  23. Grasslands • Temperate Grasslands • Species Diversity- moderately diverse • Plants- • dense sod forming grasses or bunch grasses • Grasses survive frequent fire • Animals- • Insects, mammals, birds, reptiles • Large migratory grazing animals • Burrowing mammals

  24. Grasslands • Temperate Grassland

  25. Grasslands • Chaparral- Temperate woodland with scattered tree communities. • Location- Temperate zone near coastal areas

  26. Grasslands • Chaparral • Precipitation- around 30-35 cm per year • Dry summers and wet winters • Temperature- warm summers and mild winters • Growing season- year around • Soil- poor

  27. Grasslands • Chaparral • Species Diversity • Plants- • low-lying, evergreen shrubs and trees • Leathery leaves retain water • Adapted to fire • Animals • camouflage • Threats- • Human development

  28. Desert • High Desert • Location- 30- 60 N & S latitude • Hot Desert • Location- 0- 30 N & S latitude

  29. Desert

  30. Desert Precipitation- less than 25 cm per year Temperature- varies (hot days/cold nights) Growing season- shortly after rain Soil- poor (very little humus) Desert

  31. Desert • Species Diversity- Very Low • Plant adaptations • Succulents- thick, fleshy stems and leaves that hold water. • Shallow spreading root system • Short quick growth cycle when rain is available • Animal adaptations • Thick scaly skin holds water • Estivating- burrowing during the hottest part of the day • Nocturnal • Reptiles, Mammals, Birds, insects • Threats- species loss, the amount of desert is increasing word wide.

  32. Tundra • Location • Northern polar regions (above 60 N latitude)

  33. Tundra • Precipitation- Less that 25 cm per year (snow) • Temperature- long cold harsh winters and short mild summers • Growing season- summer (4 months or less) • Soil- Poor (permafrost)

  34. Tundra • Species Diversity- very low • Plant adaptations • Low growing • Shallow roots systems • Quick reproductive cycle • Animal adaptations • Migrate or burrow during winter • Mammals, birds (summer), insects (summer) • Threats • Habitat loss and pollution

  35. Tundra

  36. Tundra

More Related