BiomesBiomes

Standard 5e & 6aStandard 5e & 6a

Standard 5e & 6aStandard 5e & 6a

5e: 5e: Students knowStudents know rain forests and rain forests and deserts on Earth are distributed in deserts on Earth are distributed in bands at specific latitudes.bands at specific latitudes.

6a: 6a: Students know Students know weather (in the weather (in the short run) and climate (in the long short run) and climate (in the long run) involve the transfer of energy run) involve the transfer of energy into and out of the atmosphere.into and out of the atmosphere.

Energy TransferEnergy Transfer

We learned from last unit that the We learned from last unit that the sun heats the earth unequally, sun heats the earth unequally, causing differences in temperature.causing differences in temperature.

We also learned that evaporation and We also learned that evaporation and precipitation of water occurs because precipitation of water occurs because of the unequal heating.of the unequal heating.

Because of these two main things, Because of these two main things, solar energy and precipitation, solar energy and precipitation, energy is transferred throughout the energy is transferred throughout the globe.globe.

Weather vs. ClimateWeather vs. Climate

Energy transfer causes the Energy transfer causes the weather; weather; the state of the atmosphere at a the state of the atmosphere at a given time or place given time or place (temperature, (temperature, precipitation, humidity, air pressure)precipitation, humidity, air pressure)• Wind & RainWind & Rain• Clouds, lightning, & thunderClouds, lightning, & thunder• Disasters: hurricanes, tornadoesDisasters: hurricanes, tornadoes

Weather is different from Weather is different from climate; climate; the long term average of weather.the long term average of weather.

What affects climate?What affects climate?

Climate in an area is affected by two Climate in an area is affected by two main thingsmain things• Direct sunlight (heat)Direct sunlight (heat)• PrecipitationPrecipitation

Climate directly affects the type of Climate directly affects the type of biome biome • BiomeBiome is an environment with specific is an environment with specific

vegetation and organismsvegetation and organisms• If it is cold, you have organisms that are If it is cold, you have organisms that are

suitable to the ____suitable to the ____

SunlightSunlight Sunlight gives off Sunlight gives off

different wavelengthsdifferent wavelengths When it strikes the When it strikes the

earth, different earth, different wavelengths get wavelengths get reflected while others reflected while others are absorbed, heating are absorbed, heating the Earth.the Earth.

Some of it escapes Some of it escapes into space, some into space, some reflects back to earth reflects back to earth due to greenhouse due to greenhouse gasesgases

Sunlight

Some heatescapesinto space

Greenhousegases trapsome heat`

Atmosphere

Earth’s surface

Greenhouse Effect

LatitudeLatitude

The amount of direct light can affect the The amount of direct light can affect the temperature.temperature.

Remember that the equator gets the most Remember that the equator gets the most sunlight, and polar regions gets the least.sunlight, and polar regions gets the least.

Low Sunlight

Most direct sunlight

Sunlight

Sunlight

Low Sunlight

90°N North Pole

66.5°N

23.5°N

0°

23.5°S

66.5°S

90°S South Pole

Arctic circle

Tropic of Cancer

Equator

Tropic of Capricorn

Arctic circle

PrecipitationPrecipitation

The amount of The amount of water falling in the water falling in the given area can given area can greatly affect the greatly affect the type of climatetype of climate

Remember that Remember that precipitation falls precipitation falls at 0° and 60°at 0° and 60°

BiomesBiomes

Because of these two factors Because of these two factors combined, we get specific biomes at combined, we get specific biomes at specific areas.specific areas.

For example, at the equator, there is For example, at the equator, there is a lot of sunlight, and a lot of a lot of sunlight, and a lot of precipitation, so there is a tropical precipitation, so there is a tropical rainforest.rainforest.

At 30°, there is a lot of sunlight, but At 30°, there is a lot of sunlight, but little or no precipitation, so there is a little or no precipitation, so there is a desert.desert.

OverviewOverview

Sunlight and precipitation affect the Sunlight and precipitation affect the climateclimate

Climate over an environment Climate over an environment produces a biomeproduces a biome

A biome has organisms suited to the A biome has organisms suited to the climateclimate

Biomes generally occur on the same Biomes generally occur on the same latitudeslatitudes

BiomesBiomes

There are two main types of biomesThere are two main types of biomes• LandLand• Aquatic (water)Aquatic (water)

We will cover both todayWe will cover both today

Land BiomesLand Biomes

Most land biomes are named after Most land biomes are named after their climax community.their climax community.

Some of the land biomesSome of the land biomes• TundraTundra• Taiga (TIGH-guh)Taiga (TIGH-guh)• Temperate deciduous forestTemperate deciduous forest• GrasslandGrassland• Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest• DesertDesert

Tropical rain forest

Tropical dry forest

Tropical savanna Temperate woodlandand shrubland

Desert

Temperate grassland

Boreal forest(Taiga)

Northwesternconiferous forest

Temperate forest

Mountains andice caps

Tundra

Aquatic biomesAquatic biomes

There are 3 main types of aquatic There are 3 main types of aquatic biomes.biomes.

The amount of salt determines the The amount of salt determines the type of biome.type of biome.

The 3 main types of aquatic biomesThe 3 main types of aquatic biomes• FreshwaterFreshwater• Marine (saltwater)Marine (saltwater)• EstuariesEstuaries

TundraTundra

TundraTundra• Located near the polesLocated near the poles• Treeless biome covered by moss, Treeless biome covered by moss,

lichens, and grasseslichens, and grasses• Permafrost – a layer of permanently Permafrost – a layer of permanently

frozen subsoilfrozen subsoil

TaigaTaiga

TaigaTaiga• Covered by coniferous (cone bearing) Covered by coniferous (cone bearing)

trees. trees. • Bears, wolves, moose, elk are some of Bears, wolves, moose, elk are some of

the typical animalsthe typical animals

Temperate Deciduous ForestTemperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate deciduous forestTemperate deciduous forest• Plants change during the seasons Plants change during the seasons

(leaves change color)(leaves change color)

GrasslandsGrasslands

GrasslandsGrasslands• Most of the rainfall occurs in one part of Most of the rainfall occurs in one part of

the seasonthe season• Hot summers, cold wintersHot summers, cold winters

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest• Located at equatorLocated at equator• Receive 200-400 centimeters of rain a Receive 200-400 centimeters of rain a

yearyear• Constant temperature. Constant temperature. • Home of the most types of animals than Home of the most types of animals than

any other biome. Many colorfulany other biome. Many colorful

DesertsDeserts

DesertsDeserts• Located at 30° latitudeLocated at 30° latitude• Less than 25 cm of rain falls a yearLess than 25 cm of rain falls a year• Both plants and animals must be able to Both plants and animals must be able to

retain moisture. retain moisture. • Birds, lizards, snakes, insects are typicalBirds, lizards, snakes, insects are typical• Cactus and sagebrush sparsely cover Cactus and sagebrush sparsely cover

the areathe area

Freshwater biomesFreshwater biomes

Rivers, streams, and lakesRivers, streams, and lakes

Marine BiomesMarine Biomes

Includes all of the oceanIncludes all of the ocean Marine biomes are divided into 4 Marine biomes are divided into 4

subcategoriessubcategories• Intertidal zoneIntertidal zone• Neritic zoneNeritic zone• Open-sea zoneOpen-sea zone• Deep-sea zoneDeep-sea zone

EstuariesEstuaries

Estuaries are the boundaries Estuaries are the boundaries between freshwater and saltwater.between freshwater and saltwater.

Since it is a mix of the two, a variety Since it is a mix of the two, a variety of organisms can be supported.of organisms can be supported.

Examples of estuariesExamples of estuaries• Delta, swamp, lagoonDelta, swamp, lagoon

Biome ProjectBiome Project

In groups of 4-5, create a biome presentationIn groups of 4-5, create a biome presentation Give information about the biome, including:Give information about the biome, including:

• Temperature range (graph)Temperature range (graph)• Precipitation (graph)Precipitation (graph)• Location (latitudes/areas)Location (latitudes/areas)• Plants (vegetation)Plants (vegetation)• AnimalsAnimals• Brief Description (Examples)Brief Description (Examples)• Koppen climate classificationsKoppen climate classifications

Posterboard or Powerpoint acceptablePosterboard or Powerpoint acceptable More visuals, the betterMore visuals, the better 500000000 points500000000 points

To help you out…To help you out…

A Biology TextbookA Biology Textbook http://http://mbgnet.mobot.orgmbgnet.mobot.org// http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/

Laboratory/Biome/Laboratory/Biome/

Preplan…Preplan…

What kind of presentation will you What kind of presentation will you do? Powerpoint? Posterboard?do? Powerpoint? Posterboard?

Who is doing what? Research? Who is doing what? Research? Picture finding? Who’s good with Picture finding? Who’s good with computers? Who’s bringing computers? Who’s bringing materials?materials?

When do you want to meet up? When do you want to meet up? Contact info? Contact info?

Anything else you can think of…Anything else you can think of…