BIOMES OF THE WORLD

BIOME - large geographical area ofdistinctive plant and animal groups which are adapted to that particular environment.

LIMITING- climate and precipitationFACTOR

ECOTONE- area where two biomes come together- contains

characteristics of both biomes

ECOTYPE-organisms (flora or fauna) found in the ecotone

Information Necessary in Understanding Biomes

What the climate of the region is like Where each biome is found What the geography is like Special adaptations of the vegetation Types of animals Physical and behavioral adaptations of the

animals to their environment

MAJOR BIOMES

TERRESTRIAL AQUATIC

Tundra Freshwater Taiga Saltwater Grasslands Forests Deserts

TUNDRA Extremely cold climate Low biotic diversity Simple vegetation structure Short growing season Short reproductive season Energy and nutrients are in the form of dead

organic material Two major nutrients: Nitrogen (nitrogen fixation)

and phosphorus (precipitation) Two types: Artic tundra and Alpine tundra

ARTIC TUNDRA Located in the Northern Hemisphere Encircles the North pole and extends as far south as the coniferous forests of the

TIAGA Contains a layer of PERMAFROST Plants- adapted to winds and disturbances to soil

short and grouped together lichens liverworts low shrubs reindeer moss Animals-adapted to long winters and short reproductive

seasoninsulationmigratory

caribou lemmingspolar bears salmonmigratory animals troutinsects squrriels

ALPINE TUNDRA Located on mountains of the world where trees can not

grow Growing season – 180 days Night time is usually below zero Plants- tussock grass

dwarf trees, small leafed shrubs

Animals- marmots, elkmountain goat,

grouse like birdsinsects

FORESTS

Represents the largest and ecologically complex ecosystemsOccupies 1/3 of the Earth’s land mass

Accounts for over 2/3 of the leaf area of land plantsContains about 70% of the carbon present in living thingsClassified by seasonalityMajor types: TROPICAL

TEMPERATEBOREALCHAPARRAL

TROPICAL RAINFORESTContains the greatest amount of species diversity of all terrestrial

habitats70% of the plants are trees

No one species dominates:In a quarter of a mile it is possible to see all the differentspecies with no two of the same speciesScientists have counted 100-300 species in 2 ½ acres

Average precipitation – 50-260 inchesCharacterized by high temperatures that decomposes organic material

very rapidly (34C)Characterized by sparse vegetation at ground levelProduces 40% of the World’s oxygenProduces ¼ of the medicines currently used

Tropical Rainforest Flora Characteristics

Most trees are broadleavedTrees have shallow roots; have buttresses (swollen bases) to hold tree upContains continuous canopy which produces dark habitatTrees contain four main layers:

Emergent- trees spaced wide apart;100-240 feet tall; leaves are small and pointed

Upper Canopy - Trees are 60-130 feet tall; gets most of the sunlightUnderstory- Made up of trunks of trees (<60foot), shrubs, plants and

small treesLittle air movement

Forest Floor- No light (less than 1% of the light reaches the floor)Soil is thin and poor quality

plants here are specialized for constant shadeAll stories support extensive epiphytic communitiesContains vines as thick as a man’s thigh; will overgrow the trunks of trees and

eventually kill it

TIAGA Largest biome Located below the Tundra Also known as the BOREAL FOREST Stretches over Canada, Europe, and Asia Cold winters (long nights) Winter temperature - -65F – 30F Short warm summers (long days) Summer temperature - 20F – 70F Total yearly precipitation 12-33 inches Prone to wildfires Average temperature- below freezing (6 months) Plants - lichens, conifers Animals- wolverine, lynx, bobcats, insects, migratory birds

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TEMPERATE FORESTLocated below the boreal forest – Europe, Asia, Eastern USDominated by broadleaved hardwoodsTrees are deciduous (lose leaves in the fall) Precipitation – 30 -60” annually; varies with longitudeGood deep soil for agriculture; growing season (140-200 days)

Among the first biome to be used by pioneers for farmingWell defined seasons with a distinct winterTemperature varies 30 to -30 CContains 5 different zones

Tree Stratum Zone- Tree Height is 60-100 feet Oak, Beech, Maple, Hickory, Elm, etc

Small Tree/Sapling Zone- contains young and short trees Shrub Zone- Rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurel Herb Zone- contains short plants such as herbs Ground Zone- contains lichens, club moss, true moss

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CHAPARRALS

Also known as a shrub forestThey are dry areas usually found along coastline regions usually on

the west coast of continentsLandscape is predominated by dense evergreen shrubs and grassesPossesses a Mediterranean climateTemperature - 30-100F (hot in the summers; cold in the winter)Precipitation-10-40” annually (usually in the form of rain and in the

winter)Soil quality is poorPlant leaves are hard, needle-like and hairy

GRASSLANDS Found in every continent except ANTARTICA Located on either side of the desert belts Divided into two categories

closest to the equator ---tropical grasslandsfurther from equator --- temperate grasslands

Covers ¼ of Earth’s land mass Characterized by grasses instead of trees Known by different names

US prairies (tall and short)SA pampasEurope steppesAfrica savannas

GRASSLANDS Prairies- region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land

generally humid (10” -12” precipitation)found between desert shrubs and forestsExtends from Texas - Saskatchewan

densely covered with tall treesfertile soilcovers about 1/3 of the Earthonly few spots of wild prairie remainsfamous for beautiful flowers and grassesEndangered – most have been converted to

farmlands and ranches

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GRASSLANDS Pampas- flat fertile land

found primarily in Argentina and Uruguayhumid and warmextremely windy (winds blow most of the time)average temperature – 18Chas dry season in summerhome of the “GAUCHO”

GRASSLANDS Steppes- dry, cold grassland

found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica

located away from oceans and close to mountain barrier

average rainfall- 10”-30” summer precipitation – 4-5”warm summersextremely cold winterscan experience periods of long draught and violent

windsmostly inhabitable by humans

GRASSLANDS Savannas- areas of open grasslands with few trees

located primarily in Africa – covers 46%temperatures vary according to seasonstypically arid- <30” precipitationaverage temperature 23Chas extended dry and rainy seasons

Two types: tropicalsemi-tropical

DESERTSLands of extremes—extreme dryness and temperaturesLocated between 30 N and 30 S (desert belt)Covers 1/5 of Earth’s land surfaceTemperature range -40 - >100 FPrecipitation- <10 inches annuallyMountain deserts are caused by the rainshadow effect

As air moves over a mountain it gets cold and loses the ability to hold moisture so it rains or snows,

when air moves down the other side it gets warmer (warm air hold plenty of moisture) so it doesn’t rain and a desert is formed

2 Types: hot desertcold desert

RAINSHADOW EFFECT

HOT DESERTSSeasons are usually warm throughout the year and hot is summerRainfall occurs in short burst followed by long periods of drought

often times rains evaporate before reaching the surfaceSoils are course, rocky, shallow, or gravely with good drainageflora– low lying shrubs, short woody trees

leaves are small and thick cacti have “spines” to reduce water loss

Fauna- most animals are nocturnal, small, and burrowersFamous hot deserts in US: Chihuahuan

MojaveSonoran

CHIHUAHUAN

Located in a small area of southeastern New Mexico and extreme western area of Texas---extends to the south of Mexico

largest desert in USShrub desertPredominant shrub: Yuccas,

AgavesPrecipitation occurs in summerCharacterized by Big Bend

National Park

MOJAVELocated in southern Nevada, extreme

southwestern Utah, eastern California, north of the Sonoran

Precipitation is less than 5 inches usually occurs in winter

Summers are usually hot and windyPredominant flora: YuccaException: Joshua treeUseful for mineral extraction:

gold, tungsten, silver, ironCharacterized by Death Valley

SONORANLocated in a small region of south

central California, most of the southern Arizona,

Most fertile of all US desertsConsidered the most beautiful desert

of worldHottest US desertSubdivision: Colorado and YumaWell developed monsoon seasonsFlora: annuals and woody shrubs

desert saltbrush, creosote bush catclaw, saguaro

Fauna: rich in wildlifeCharacterized by the Painted Desert

and Petrified National Park

OTHER FAMOUS HOT DESERTS

Arabian Desert - covered almost entirely of sandcontains the most extensive

regions of sand dunes in the worldbordered by the Nile ,Red Sea,

and Gulf of Suezsparsely populated– most live

along the wells and springs (Bedouins)Flora: acacia, saltbrush, oleanderFauna: camel, desert locust, Oryx

Kalahari Desert- located in southwestern Africacovered by sand dunes and gravel plainslargest sand basin

in the worldpopulated by Bushmen

Flora: acacia, aloeFauna: gazelle, hyena,

springbok

Sahara Desert- largest desert of the worldCovered by mountains, gravel plains, and salt flatsCentral areas are prone to no precipitation for years at a time

Flora: acacia, grasses, tamarisks

Fauna: antelope, gazelle, horned viper,

spiny- tailed lizardCharacterized by the Tuareg nomadic

tribe

Thar Desert - located in India and Pakistan

covered by sand dunes and gravel plains

Flora: acacia, euphoria, grasses, shrubs

Fauna: black buck, camel, great Indian bustard

Characterized by small villages of 10-20 houses

COLD DESERTS

Located near the neartic and artic regions of the worldCharacterized by cold winters (snow) and mild summersTemperature range - -2 – 26 CSoil- heavy, silty, and saltyFlora: widely scattered, mostly deciduousFauna: badgers, squirrels, jackrabbit, deer (only in winter)Famous US desert: Great Basin

GREAT BASINLocated in the northern part of

Nevada, western and southern Utah, southern Idaho, and south eastern corner of Oregon

It is bordered on the south by the Mojave and Sonoran

Largest desert in USPrecipitation fall as rain in summer,

snow in winterVegetation is low and homogenousPredominant plant – Playa, sagebrush,

and blackbrushCharacterized by Salt Lake

OTHER FAMOUS COLD DESERTS

Antarctica- coldest, windiest, and driest

98% continental ice sheet

2% barren rockFlora: lichen, mossFauna: seals, penguins,

albatross

Gobi- Northern China, Southern Mongoliacovered by sandy soil with areas of small stonesCrossed by Genghis Khan

in 13th CPopulated by government farming

Flora: camel’s thorn, grassesFauna: bactrian bamel, gazelle,

onager, wolf

Patagonia- located in southern Argentina and ChileEastern side is warmer than western

Flora: creosote brush, grasses, cacti

Fauna: guanaco, puma,parakeet, rhea, hummingbirds

Characterized by the Tierra del Fuego

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