Did you ever wonder....

1. Did you ever wonder.... • How cacti can survive the hot climate of the desert? • Thick, waxy coat to prevent the loss of water through transpiration

2. Biomes Unit 5: Biosphere Ms. Thind

3. Biome • Planetary ecosystem that has evolved under certain climatic conditions • Varieties of plant and animal species • 8 major biomes • Each unique due to temperature and precipitation differences

4. Ice cap • Regions covered in ice: Greenland, Antarctica

5. Tundra • Polar regions • Climate conditions: long, cold winters, short summers. • Plant species: mosses, lichens, spring flowers • Plants have adapted to cold conditions by growing close to the ground and remaining dormant

6. Tundra • Animal species: snow owl, polar bear and during migration periods: caribou and deer • Permafrost layer in soil. Due to summer melt lakes and ponds  abundance of insects and mosquitos.  brings many bird species during summer months

7. Threats to the Tundra: • Oil and gas development in Alaska • Melting of permafrost  more lakes/ponds/more insects disrupting the food chain • Air pollution  mosses and lichens dying a vital producer

8. Coniferous Forest • Coniferous evergreen forests of the northern hemisphere • Climate: winter very cold, warm summers, rainfall mostly in summer, conditions due to lack of ocean influence • Plant species: trees: cedar, fir spruce, hemlock (in areas of high precipitation), pine in drier locations.

9. Coniferous Forest • Layer of decaying evergreen needles  makes soil acidic = limited number of species of plants • Conifers can thrive in top layer of acidic soil • Trees are referred to as: microtherms- able to survive in low temperatures • Animal Species: moose, bears, elk, coyotes, beetles, squirrels, and deer

10. Temperate Rainforest • Coast of Pacific NW • Climate conditions: westerly winds bring moisture from Pacific, ocean influence moderates temperature • Plant species: Coniferous trees, cedar trees (in areas of abundant rainfall), ferns and shrubs, mossy forest floor

11. Threats to Coniferous and Temperate Rainforests: • Clear cutting • Urban development

12. Grassland or Savannas • Exist from tropical areas to N and S temperate regions • In areas where rainfall is too low for trees • Grasses can reach 10m • Tropical grasslands - Climate conditions: 6 months of wet weather, 6 months of dry weather (tropical wet/dry) - large herds of grazing animals: elephants, zebra, lions

13. Grassland or Savannas • Temperate Grassland: developed in semi-arid regions:

14. Threats to Grassland Biomes: • Tropical savannas: frequent fires in dry season, grazing animals at risk from hunters • Human activity: mining, national parks, tourism and urban developments. • Human usage of the savanna biome is increasing  degradation of vegetation and soil resource • The prairies: grassland gone due to cultivation

15. Temperate Deciduous Forest • Eastern NA, Great Lakes area, parts of Western Europe • Climate conditions: cold winters, warm springs, hot summers • Plant species: oak, beech, maple, hickory

16. Temperate Deciduous Forest • Trees lose their leaves as winter approaches • Leaf litter adds nutrients to soil annually • When spring reaches soil is exposed to the sun and variety of wild flowers grow • Animal Species: deer, racoons, coyote, squirrels, insects, birds

17. Chaparral, Maquis, or Sclerophyll • Found in Mediterranean type climate • Climate conditions: hot, dry summers, mild and wet winter temperatures • Plant species: manzanita, mountain mahogany, scrub oak with thick bark and leathery leaves • Schlerophyll: plant type that has adapted to hot, dry conditions of the Mediterranean

18. Chaparral, Maquis, or Sclerophyll • All schlerophylls have hard leaves and thorns to prevent water loss through transpiration • Scherophyll forests: small trees, olive, tea and acacia trees

19. Threats • Natural and human induced forest fires in dry shrub land areas • Housing development is increasing the number of landslides b/c of the removal of chaparral vegetation

20. Desert and Semi-Desert • Hot deserts. Climate conditions: 20-30° N and S of equator, high temperature all year round, little vegetation. • Temperate deserts. Farther from equator, hot summers, mild winters, short cold spell. • Cold deserts. Hot summers, cold winters eg: Gobi Desert in the heart of Asia

21. Desert and Semi Desert • Desert biomes have vegetation that has adapted to dry conditions • Plant species: Xerophyte: drought loving plants • eg: cacti • Animal species: snakes, lizards, hawks, vultures, rabbits, mice

22. How do plants and animals adapt to dry conditions? • Plants have deep roots to tap into to get moisture deep under the sand • Waxy coat on plants limits transpiration • Extensive network of roots to collect water during short rainfall periods • Some animals have thick skin to minimize moisture loss

23. Tropical Rainforest • Tropical low pressure belt • Climate conditions: wet and high temperatures all year round • Plant species: megatherms- plants that need constant heat, most of the vegetation is called tropical deciduous forest • Lianas: hanging vines

24. Tropical Rainforest • Tall trees create a canopy that blocks sunlight for shade tolerant plant species below • Trees have shallow root systems because of the abundance of rainfall • Tall trees have buttress roots to give them extra support to compete for sunlight

25. Tropical Rainforest • clear cutting • Deforestation • degradation of soil • soil in rainforest is only rich due to leaf litter on the ground  once trees have been cleared the soil will remain nutrient for a few years  burning of forests