Earth’s Terrestrial Biomes

1. Earth’s TerrestrialBiomes

2. Temperate Deciduous Forest • Average Yearly Rainfall 75 to 125 cm • Average Temp. (Summer: 28ºC Winter: 6ºC) • mammals, birds, & reptiles thrive on leaves, seeds, nuts, & insects

3. Taiga Forest •Average Yearly Rainfall 35 to 75 cm •Average Temp. (Summer: 14ºC Winter: −10ºC) • Squirrels, insects • Birds: finches, chickadees, & jays • Herbivores: porcupines, elk, & moose • ground covered by a layer of needles • very little light reaches the ground • few plants can grow beneath trees due to lack of light

4. Tropical Rain Forest • •Average Yearly Rainfall up to 400 cm • •Average Temp. (Daytime: 34ºC Nighttime: 20ºC) • greater variety of organisms than any other biome • most nutrients are found in the plants • soil is very thin & poor in nutrients • trees grow roots above ground for extra support

5. Temperate Grassland • •Average Yearly Rainfall 25 to 75 cm • •Average Temp. (Summer: 30ºC Winter: 0ºC) • few trees • fires, drought, & grazing prevent growth of trees & shrubs • support small seed-eating animals: prairie dogs & mice • large mammals graze on grasses

6. Savanna (Grassland) • •Average Yearly Rainfall 150 cm • •Average Temp. (Dry season: 34ºC Wet season: 16ºC) • Africa, India, & South America • dry season: grasses dry out & turn yellow • deep roots survive for many months without water • African savanna large herbivores: elephants, giraffes, zebras, & wildebeests

7. Hot Desert • •Average Yearly Rainfall less than 25 cm • •Average Temp (Summer: 38ºC Winter: 7ºC) • plants grow far apart so they won’t compete for water • plants have shallow, widespread roots that grow just under the surface to take up water during a storm • cactuses have fleshy stems & leaves to store water • leaves have a waxy coating to prevent water lossmany animals are active at night when temperatures are cooler, some borough in the ground, & are dormant during the dry season (estivation). tortoises eat flowers or leaves and store the water under their shells

8. Tundra • •Average Yearly Rainfall 30 to 50 cm • •Average Temp (Summer: 12ºC Winter: −26ºC) • soil beneath the surface stays frozen: permafrost • surface soil only thaws in summer • soil is too shallow for deep-rooted plants so only shallow-rooted plants: grasses & small shrubs • mosses & lichens grow beneath the plants • insects lay eggs in the mud, birds feed on the insects • other animals include: musk oxen, wolves, & caribou • Alpine Tundra • Alpine tundra has permafrost • found at the top of tall mountains • trees cannot grow on mountain • plenty of sunlight & precipitation Arctic Tundra

9. Marine Biomes: Ocean Abiotic factors: water temperature, water depth, & the amount of sunlight that passes through the water As the depth of the water increases the temperature decreases.

10. Ocean cont…Abiotic factors: water temperature, water depth, & the amount of sunlight that passes through the water Intertidal zone: adaptations to survive air exposure & keep from being washed away by the waves water is warm & receives lots of sunlight Plants and animals: corals, sea turtles, fishes, & dolphins Neritic zone: deep water of open ocean Plankton found near the surface Animals: fishes, whales, & sharks Some animals live in very deep water & get food from material that sinks down from the surface Benthic zone: no sunlight, very cold Animals: fishes, worms, & crabs which get food by eating material that sinks from above Chemosynthesis: organisms get energy from chemicals that escape from thermal vents

11. Marine Biomes cont. • Intertidal Areas • found near the shore. • Include: mudflats, sandy beaches, & rocky shores • organisms must be able to live both underwater & out of water • mudflats include: worms and crabs, shorebirds feed on these animals • sandy beaches: worms, clams, crabs, & plankton • rocky shores organisms have adaptations to keep from being swept away by crashing waves: use root-like structures called holdfasts to attach to rocks, others attach themselves by releasing a special glue-like substance.

12. Marine Biomes cont. • Coral Reefs • found in warm, shallow areas of the neritic zone • made up of small animals called corals thatlive in large groups • when corals die, they leave hard skeletons & new corals grow on their remains • skeletons build up and form a reef which is home to many marine animals & plants • organisms include: algae, brightly colored fishes, sponges, sea stars, & sea urchins.

13. Marine Biomes cont… • Estuaries • where fresh water from streams & rivers spill into the ocean • the fresh water from rivers & salt water from the ocean are always mixing so amount of salt in the water changes • Plants and animals must be able to survive in changing salt content • fresh water is rich in nutrients which support large numbers of plankton • Plankton provide food for many animals.

14. Marine Biomes cont… • The Sargasso Sea • the Sargasso Sea in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean • contains floating algae called sargassums • animals that live in the Sargasso Sea are the same color as the sargassums, helping them hide from predators • .

15. Desert Ice: Antarctica • Mean Temps:Winter: (-40 to -70°C)Summer:(-15 to -35°C) • icy waters surrounding Antarctica are rich in nutrients that support large numbers of plankton • fishes, birds, and mammals rely on the plankton for food. • Animals include: penguins, seals, whales, & birds

16. Streams & Rivers • Important abiotic factor: how quickly water moves • Plants line the edges of streams and rivers • Fish live in the open waters • Clams & snails live in the mud at the bottom of a stream or river • Organisms in fast-moving water have adaptations to keep from being washed away: algae and moss are attached to rocks, tadpoles use suction disks to hold rocks, insects live under rocks.

17. Ponds and lakes Life near Shore littoral zone: closest to the edge of a lake or pond Sunlight reaches the bottom and makes it possible for algae and plants to grow Plants include: cattails and rushes The plants are home to small animals: snails and insects Clams and worms bury in the mud Frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, and snakes live in this zone. Life Away from Shore open-water zone: extends from the littoral zone across the top of the water goes as deep as sunlight can reach home to bass, lake trout, & other fishes, photosynthetic plankton deep-water zone: beneath the open-water zone, no sunlight Catfish, carp, worms, crustaceans, fungi, & bacteria live here & often feed on dead organisms that sink from above.

18. Wetland Ecosystems • area of land underwater or whose soil contains a great deal of moisture • supports many different plants and animals • play an important role in flood control : during heavy rains or spring snow melt, wetlands soak up large amounts of water • water in wetlands moves deeper into the ground to help replenish underground water supplies

19. Wetland Ecosystems cont… • Marshes • treeless wetland ecosystem found in shallow areas along the shores of lakes, ponds, rivers, & streams • plants vary depending on the depth of the water & the location of the marsh • grasses, reeds, bulrushes, & wild rice are common • muskrats, turtles, frogs, and birds live in marshes

20. Wetland Ecosystems cont… • Swamps • ecosystem of trees and vines found in low-lying areas & beside slow-moving rivers • most swamps are flooded part of the year • willows, bald cypresses, and oaks are common trees • vines grow up tree trunks • plants, like orchids, may hang from tree branches • water lilies grow in standing water • fish, snakes, & birds live in swamps