BIOMES IN INDIA

1. BIOMES IN INDIA

2. THEMATIC RELATIONSHIP • Our three biomes, grasslands/savanna, mountain climate, and tropical rainforest were all selected in relation in India. In a roughly 22 degrees latitude span, we went from a warm, rainy climate to... The tropical rainforest is in the southern tip and eastern side, while the grasslands/ savanna is in the central and western area. The mountains region is to the north, dividing India and Nepal.

3. THEMATIC RELATIONSHIP • Our three biomes, grasslands/savanna, mountain climate, and tropical rainforest, are all selected in relation to each other in India. In a roughly 22 degrees latitude span, we went from a warm, rainy climate to a flat grassland to an area of steep mountains. The tropical rainforest is in the southern tip and eastern side, while the grasslands/savanna is in the central and western area. The mountainous region is to the north, dividing India and Nepal.

4. THEMATIC RELATIONSHIP • In India there is an abrupt transition between the grasslands, rain forest regions, and the Himalayas, which is the dominant mountain range in the area. This causes a rapid change in not only temperature and precipitation, but also plant and animal life.

5. TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

6. TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS • Tropical Rain Forests are a type of broadleaf evergreen forest located by the equator, between 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south. • The length of daylight is 12 hours. • They have a warm annual mean temperature, high humidity, and heavy rainfall--almost daily, but they do have a more dry period too. • The temperature ranges from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius, and the precipitation exceeds 2000mm a year.

7. PLANT FORMS AND SPECIES • Tropical rain forests have a ton of biological diversity; although they are 2% of the earth's land, they contain 50-80% of the earth's terrestrial species. • Many of the animal species live in the canopy layer of the forest, with abundant shelter, leaves, flowers, and fruits. • Flora is highly diverse, with one square kilometer having as many as 100 different species of trees. • Fauna include birds, bats, small mammals, and insects. • Dominant plant forms are orchids, strangler figs, liana, and Bengal bamboo (in India). • Unique animal species are the western lowland gorilla, poison dart frog, boa constrictor, keel-billed toucan, spider monkey, and the three-toed sloth.

8. MAJOR CITIES IN THIS BIOME • There are not many major cities in tropical rain forests of India, besides a city named Shivpuri; however, other tropical rainforest around the world are home to notable cities. These include Fort Lauderdale (U.S.), Panama City (Panama), Leticia (Columbia), Iquitos (Peru), and Singapore. Singapore Panama City Iquitos

9. CONSERVATION ISSUES • Drilling and mining for precious metals (such as silver or gold) and fossil fuels (oil and natural gas) is a threat. In developing economies it is encouraged to help economic growth, but since it requires large amounts of land and results in deforestation. • Slash-and-burn agriculture is destroying rainforests also. • Also, the rainforests play a big part in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide. With the destruction of the forests there would be a rise in atmospheric temperature (by 2.5-5 Kelvin so far).

10. TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS

11. Average Annual Rainfall: 50-90 inches (concentrated in one part of the year, followed by a long period of drought) • Average Annual Temperature: 18 degrees Celsius in summer, 10 degrees Celsius in winter

12. Dominant Plant Life: • Trees - cottonwoods, oaks, willows • Wildflowers - asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers, psoraleas, wild indigos • Grasses - purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta • Unique Species: gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, jack rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses, meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and spiders

13. Major Cities Located in Grasslands: Johannesburg, Dallas, Denver, Calgary, Buenos Aires • Conservation Issues in Grasslands: There are very few natural prairies still untouched by development. This is because these grasslands make ideal farmland thanks to the lack of trees the fertile soil, and the moderate climate.

14. MOUNTAINS

15. Mountain Biome • The mountain or alpine biome exists throughout the world from the Andries in South America to the Himalayas in Asia. This biome exists where ever the altitude climbs 10,000 ft. This region has very little plant life due to poor soil quality, limited amounts of CO2 and the fact that the higher elevations are constantly covered in snow. • The annual precipitation is 16 cm per year falling mostly as snow. • The average temperature is 10-15C.

16. Mountain Biome • The mountain or alpine biome exists throughout the world from the Andries in South America to the Himalayas in Asia. This biome exists we've ever the altitude climbs 10,000 ft. This region has small amounts of plant life due to poor soil quality and limited amounts of CO2. depending on the elevation but it is constantly covered in snow. • The annual precipitation is 16 cm per year, falling mostly as snow. • The average temperature is 10-15C.

17. Plants • Most of plant life in this biome are low to the ground as a protection against freezing temperatures and strong winds. But the lower altitudes of this biome are home to some trees. • Some examples of plant life in this biome are Alpine Phacelia, Wild Potato, Moss Campion and Bear Grass.

18. Animals • The unique species of the area are snow leopards, alpaca, yak, llama, Mountain Goat and Andean Condor.

19. Animals • The animals within the mountain biome have to fight the cold and heightened UV rays . To do this some animals grow large coats of fur while others grow a layer of blubber. • The unique species of the area are snow leopards, alpaca, yak, llama, Mountain Goat, Vicuña, and the Andean Condor.

20. There are no major cities in the mountain biome because it is not comfortable to live in. • The only conservation or environmental issue in this biome is small incidents of illegal hunting. There are no major incidents of habitat encroachment or pollution because there is not a large human population in this biome.

21. By Devin, Matthew, and Kaylee The End!