Download Major Land Biome Characteristics

Major Land Biome Characteristics
Biome
D
E
S
E
R
T
15%
T
U
N
D
R
A
1/5
Description
Soil: poor, not much
organic matter
Characteristic Plants
Succulents (plants with
fleshy tissues to hold
moisture)
Low precipitation
Vegetation is scarce
Temps can vary
widely between day
and night and
seasonally
Soil: permafrostwhich stays frozen
year round, seasonal
melting on topmost
layers allows for
growth
(Cold desert or
grassland)
Characteristic Animals
Able to withstand temp.
extremes, conserve
moisture, or regulate
body temp (long ears on
rabbits, nocturnal habits,
etc.)
Problems
Mining-destroys fragile soils
and ecosystems that will take
long time to repair
Careless recreation
Overdevelopment which forces
water diversions, more traffic,
etc. that destroys fragile habitat
Migrate in during
warmer periods and out
during coldest times or
have traits that allow for
seasonal adjustments
(darker coloration in
summer and white in
winter)
Mining-traffic from large
equipment damage fragile soil
layer and will take long time to
repair
Global Warming will change
and extend warm season, more
melting of permafrost will put
more methane (very potent
greenhouse gas)into atmosphere
Many store biomass in
seeds
Small, able to withstand
cold-grasses, mosses,
shrubs
Biome
G
R
A
S
S
L
A
N
D
S
Description
Soil: rich layer of
organic matter from
continual
decomposition of
detritus of plant life
Temperatures range
from temperate to
tropical
More ppt. than
deserts but not as
much as forests
Characteristic Plants
Grasses and short
shrubs, occasional trees
in some areas
Plants all have
capability to regenerate
rapidly after grazing
and in times where
rainfall is higher
Some plants dependent
on periodic fires to
replenish soil and
remove invaders
Characteristic Animals
Large grazing mammals,
hoofed for rapid escape
from predation over flat
lands, also large flat
grinding teeth for
chewing grasses; Young
are born able to run soon
after birth
Predators adapted to be
able to run down large
mammals, sharp canine
teeth for tearing meat
Called prairies,
steppes, veldt
C
H
A
P
A
R
R
A
L
Biome
Near coastal region
and near desert
creates region of
desert scrublandmore ppt than desert
Periodic fires
maintain the
vegetation
Description
Small trees, shrubs and
in hot, dry summer
become flammable
These plants have
adapted to and are
maintained by fires
Some seeds will only
sprout after fire
Characteristic Plants
Animals adapted to
sometimes harsh
conditions
Characteristic Animals
Problems
Agricultural: large areas of flat
land with fertile soil good for
human farming and ranching
1. destruction of natural
vegetation to support crops
2. erosion of fertile soil due to
poor land management
3. pollution of water ways due
to runoff from agriculture
4. overgrazing from animals
introduced to areas (cows,
sheep) which displaces native
species
5. excess animal wastes into
waterways
6, damage of riparian (along
streams and rivers) areas from
large numbers of hooves
7. human interference with fires
Human interference by building
houses in chaparral (Malibu,
CA) leads to problems due to
fires; Fires are suppressed which
leads to more intense fires
causing damage to homes,
heavy rainfall on bare soil leads
to mudslides
Problems
Soil: Not good,
almost all nutrients
in biomass of plants
R
A
I
N
Warm temperature
year round
Plenty of water year
round
Broad leaves, evergreen,
with many adaptations to
temperature, rainfall
nutrient poor soil and
light
Leaves shed water, trap
available light, roots
capture nutrients quickly
Light is an issue
because the top
layers block light to
lower layers
D
E
C
I
D
U
O
U
S
2-5% of terrestrial
surface with at least
50% species
Soil: Excellent with
deep layer of leaf
litter and humus
from all of the fallen
leaves; nutrient rich
Temperatures are
mild with cold
winters and long
warm/hot summers
Abundant rainfall
and long growing
season
Many adaptations to
“layered life” including
ability to live up in highest
layers of forest or among
lower layers (sloths,
monkeys, lemurs, etc.)
Abundant varieties of
animals with specialized
niches
Deforestation
1. loss of habitat &
biodiversity (don’t even
know what we could be
losing)
2. logging of exotic woods
3. conversion to agriculture
which depletes already poor
soil of nutrients
Many colorful birds,
reptiles, amphibians &
insects
Not as many tree types as
rain forest, but still has
layers
Leaves are broadleafed to
take advantage of sun in
warmer months and are
shed in fall for tree to
survive winter
Not as many large
predators (due to many
years of being hunted) but
many birds (both seasonal
& year round) and small
mammals
Deforestation
Loss of habitat
Erosion of soil
Change to less diverse
forests from human
interference
Very diverse soil
organisms
Habitat fragmentation
Human development (these
are great places to live!! As
in the eastern U.S.)
Soil: acid humus &
litter from needles
C
O
N
I
F
E
R
O
U
S
20%
A
L
P
I
N
E
Very cold winters,
milder summers,
little light in winter
Most ppt. in form of
rain in summer
Mostly coniferous cone
bearing) evergreens that
are cone shaped to shed
snow easily along with
mosses & lichens
Leaves are waxy to
conserve water, needle
shaped-can
photosynthesize all year
long
Largest biome in
world-also called
taiga, cold-evergreen Fires allow for burnout of
or boreal forest
top layers so light can get
through to floor and grow
plants needed for food
Mountain soils
Home to many of the
extremely
world’s forests
vulnerable to erosion
Provide habitat for many
When alone can be
species, especially those
called “islands of
driven from lowland areas
biodiversity”
Play a key role in
About ¼ of earth’s
regulating earth’s
land

temperature” 1) snow
caps reflect solar radiation
Temp & ppt varies
back into space; 2) snow
with altitude &
melt feeds streams &
latitude

rivers
Many seasonal birds
Many small forest
mammals, larger grazing
and predators
Deforestation:
Loss of habitat
Erosion of soil
Wildfires that get out of
control near human
All with thick fur, ability to habitation
hibernate or migrate for
winter
Animals adapted to harsh
conditions: seasonal
changes in temperature,
food, water
Adaptations to steep and
sometimes rocky landscape
Deforestation
Mineral extraction
Hydroelectric dams &
reservoirs
Human recreation
High altitudes have less
oxygen
Global warming (less snow,
changes in lower altitude
conditions cause animals to
move up into mountains)