Download Biomes

Biomes
• Similar ecosystems grouped together
• A large region characterized by a specific type
of climate and certain types of plants and
animal communities.
• Defined/described by their climate &
vegetation
– (because plants that grow in an are determine the
other organisms that can live there).
Biomes
• Plants in a particular biome have
characteristics, specialized structures, or
adaptations that allow them to survive in that
biome.
– Adaptations like size, shape, & color
• Ex.) Plants in the Tundra are short because they cannot
obtain enough water to grow larger (they also have a
shorter summer growing season and less soil).
• Ex.) A cactus has specialized structure to retain and
conserve water.
Biomes and Climate
So what’s climate have to do with biomes?
• Climate – weather conditions such as
temperature, precipitation, humidity, and
winds in an area over a long period of time.
– Temperature and precipitation are the 2 most
important factor determining a regions climate
(and the plants which grow in certain areas).
Biomes and Climate
So what’s climate have to do with biomes?
Climate
– Determined by the average temperature and
precipitation (which also helps determine what
organisms live in an area).
• Ex.) Larger organisms usually need more water, so
biomes with little rainfall may only have small trees,
shrubs, grasses, cactus, etc.
• Ex.) Biomes with heavier rainfall may have large trees
– So the higher the temperature and precipitation,
the taller and denser the vegetation.
Biomes and Climate
So what’s climate have to do with biomes?
Biomes and Climate
So what’s Latitude and Altitude have to do with it?
• Latitude – distance N or S of the equator
(measured in degrees)
• Altitude – height of an object above sea level
– Climate varies with latitude and altitude.
• Climate gets colder as latitude and altitude increases,
so that changes the vegetation and therefore the
biomes.
• Ex.) Trees of a tropical rainforest usually grow close to
the equator, mosses & lichens grow in the tundra closer
to the poles, agriculture is grown in the temperate
region (30-60 degrees N or S of equator).
Biomes and Climate
So what’s Latitude and Altitude have to do with it?
http://www.xpeditiononline.com/imags/mountain2.jpg
Tropical Rainforest
• Typically found near the
equator
• Receives more than 200 cm of
rain annually
• Temperatures typically on the
warmer side – averages about
75o F for the year
• As many as 50% of all the
world’s animal species may be
found here
Tropical Rainforest
• Layers of a Rainforest
– Emergent Layer – tallest trees
(60-70m tall), grow and
emerge in the direct sunlight.
– Canopy – trees >30m tall, form
dense layer that absorbs 95%
of sunlight
– Understory – trees and shrubs
adapted to grow in shady
areas. < 3.5 m tall
Tropical Rainforest
• Threats :
– Exotic pet trading
– Habitat Destruction –
• Used to cover 20% of Earth’s surface, now rainforests
only cover ~7%.
• Every minute of every day ~ 100 acres is cleared for
logging, agriculture, or oil exploration
• Kills homes of many species
• Kills home of 50 million native people living in
rainforest
Foods of Rainforest
• Acai – a palm tree that
produces dark purple
fruit (similar to grape, but
smaller)
– Its claimed they contain
antioxidants which
promote health.
Brazil
Foods of Rainforest
• Chocolate - from
the seeds of the
cacao plant
http://www.inriodulce.com/images/cocoa.jpg
South America’s Rainforests
http://www.raw-living-food-success.com/images/cacao-chocolate-bean.jpg
Foods of Rainforest
• Bananas – fruit we
eat.
– Wild bananas have
hard seeds, but have
been grown overtime
to produce without
seeds.
Southeast Asian Rainforests
Foods of Rainforest
• Macadamia Nuts – small
white nuts, contain high
nutritional value for a nut.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macadamia
Eastern Australia
Rainforest
• Plants:
– Nutrients at surface of soil, so
plants have shallow roots.
• Bromeliads (related to pineapple
family), bowl-shape center helps
them catch rain
• Orchids, grow on trees for support
• Venus fly trap – carnivorous plant
• Mangrove trees – extensions from
trunk help support and trap
sediment
http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/plants/stilt.html
Rainforest
• Animals:
• Spider monkey- live in canopy
• Toucan- sharp and saw-like edges on bill; used
to squash fruit and berries he eats. saw-like
edges used to tear off parts of larger fruits.
• Macaw- have a sharp, hooked bill strong
enough for eating nuts, fruits, and seeds.
• Sloth- very slow, live most of life upside down
• Poison arrow frog - One frog carries enough
poison to kill about 100 people. Native hunters
use it on the tips of their arrows.
http://uniquetraveldestinations.net/wp-content/uploads/Canopy-Walk-Mamu-Rainforest-OZwww.webecoist.com-mamu2.jpg
Tropical Savanna
• Grasslands with a few
scattered trees
• Experience a wet and dry
season
• Hot temperatures
• Annual rainfall is
between 50 and 127 cm
• More species of grazing
mammals than any other
biome
Savannas
• Location:
– Africa, western India, Northern Australia & a few parts of
South America
– Found in tropical to subtropical areas near equator
between tropical rainforests & desert biomes.
• As the precipitation in an area decreases, so does the
diversity of species in the area. (animals tend to be
active in wet season, or need to migrate to areas
with food)
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/images/savanna_location_map.gif
Savannas
• Plants:
– Trees and shrubs may have thorns or sharp leaves
to keep herbivores away.
– Can survive droughts
• Have large horizontal root systems to help obtain water
during dry periods.
– Large roots also help plants to quickly regrow after a fire
• Vertical leaves of grasses give them less exposure to the
sun and helps them conserve water
– Fires also help to restore nutrients back to soil
• Some trees loose leaves during dry season to conserve
water
Savannas
• Animals:
– Grazing herbivores and their predators
• Many animals migrate & follow rains
• Many give birth only during rainy season (when the
food is abundant)
• Animals graze on different size vegetation to reduce
competition.
– Small gazelles eat grasses
– Black rhinos eat shrubs
– Giraffes eat tree leaves
http://room42.wikispaces.com/file/view/4savanna.jpg/34448245/4savanna.jpg
http://ecolibrary.org/images/full_image/Herbivory_w_competition_on_savanna_Tanzania_2_DP146.jpg
http://reservaeleden.org/who_we_are/Savanna.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Savanna_fire_Bild1215.jpg
Desert
• Typically found between 25o
and 40o latitude
• Receives less than 25 cm of
rain each year
• Temperatures can be hot or
cold - typically range
between 20oC and 25oC but
some extreme deserts can
reach temperatures higher
than 38oC and lower than
–15oC
Desert
• Ex.) Hot Desert = Arizona’s Sonoran Desert
• Ex.) Cold Desert = Gobi Desert in China, Great
Basin in western US.
• Often located near large mountain ranges
(that block the precipitation from falling on
these areas)
Desert
• Plants:
– Roots are shallow because the rainfall is so little
that it won’t penetrate deeply into the soil.
– Some plants die and drop their seeds, so that they
can quickly germinate at the next rain.
– All have adaptations for conserving and obtaining
water
• Succulents – plants with thick, fleshy stems and leaves
that store water.
– Ex.) cactus
» Sharp spines on cactus keep thirsty animals away
Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Desert
• Animals:
– Adapted to live in dry areas
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page.htm
• Reptiles (gila monster, rattlesnakes) have thick, scaly
skin to help them survive in dry areas
• amphibians (spade foot toad) estivate – burrowing in
the ground and sleep during the dry season
• Most animals are nocturnal (active during the night) to
avoid the heat during the day
http://ceipntrasradelapiedad.files.wordpress.com
/2010/03/spadefoot_toad1_large.jpg
http://www.trekway.com/united-arab-emirates/images/EAU04_240-desert-survival-guide.jpg
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-profile/
Gobi Desert, Mongolia/China
(Cold Desert – because of high altitude and Himalayan Mountains
Sonoran Desert (Arizona)
Because it is so close to
the ocean, the Sonoran
Desert (Arizona) receives
more rain than any other
desert, about 10 to 14
inches (25 to 35
centimeters) a year. This
precipitation allows cacti
like this saguaro to grow
extremely large.
Chaparral
• Found between 32o and
40o latitude on the west
coast of continents
• Fairly dry - Receives
between 35 and 70 cm of
rain, usually in the winter
• Extremely resistant to
drought and weather
events
http://www.behav.org/00gallery/ecol/biom_pics/biom_chaparral_map.gif
Chaparral
• Plants:
– Low-lying evergreen shrubs and small trees that
tend to grow in dense patches
– Have small leathery leaves that retain water
– Leaves contain oils that promote burning
• Good because it destroys trees that might compete for
light and space
Ex.) Chamise, manzanita, scrub oak,
olive trees, herbs (sage & bay)
Chaparral
• Animals:
– Easily camouflage themselves
• Ex.) quail, lizards, chipmunks, mule deer
– They are all the same color as the surrounding brush
http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/quail.jpg
http://img1.loadtr.com/b-471259-Chipmunk.jpg
Chaparral
• Threats:
– Human development
• Most Chaparral biome is near the oceans, where there
is a lot of sun, mild climate year round = all places
humans like to live.
http://californiarealestateandlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/img_00651.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2150123332_39be375112_b.jpg
http://www.californiachaparral.com/images/555_PS-Chamise-RS-chaparral.jpg
California Chaparral
http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/tablerock/images/Chaparral.jpg
Grassland
• Because of the dry climate,
trees are found only near
water sources such as
streams
• Usually receives between
50 and 90 cm of rainfall
each year
• warm or cold - Summer
temperatures can reach up
to 38oC (70F), and winter
temperatures can fall to
–40oC
Temperate Grasslands
• Prairies in North America, steppes of Russia
and Ukraine, pampas of South America
• Few natural grasslands remain because they
have been replace by farms
Temperate Grasslands
• Plants:
– Prairie grasses and wildflowers
• Have dense root layers, which allow them to survive
droughts and fires. Also holds soil in place
http://www.prairiefrontier.com/pages/pfmixpg/img/tallprairiewildflowers.jpg
http://www.prairiefrontier.com/pages/pfmixpg/img/shortprairiewildflowers.jpg
Temperate Grasslands
• Animals:
– Grazing animals
•
•
•
•
•
Pronghorn antelope
Bison
Badgers
Prairie dogs
owls
http://www.fws.gov/huronwetlands/photos/wildlife/images/
Pronghorn%20Antelope_jpg.jpg
http://www.emoboyfriend.com/blog/wp-content/
Temperate Grasslands
• Threats:
– Farming and overgrazing have changed the
grasslands
• Grain crops can’t hold the soil in place like native
grasses, so the soil is eroding
• Both farming and overgrazing may cause this biome to
move/change more towards a desert-like biome.
http://homepage.mac.com/wildlifeweb/mammal/bison/bison01.jpg
http://www.fossweb.com/resources/pictures/578508132.gif
Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Moderate climate Temperatures range between –
30oC and 30oC
• Most trees will lose their leaves
in the winter
• Moderate Precipitation Averages from 75 to 150 cm of
precipitation
• Well developed understory
Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Deciduous – trees with broad leaves that fall
during the winter season.
• Layers of the Forest:
– Canopy: tall trees (maples, oak, birch)
– Understory : small trees & shrubs
– Floor: ferns, herbs, mosses
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Forest
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://biologyprojectwiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/654fd_forest
http://www.ffpri.affrc.go.jp/labs/femnet/ogawa/photo1.jpg
http://webpub.allegheny.edu/dept/bio/bio220/Milt_lectures/BiomesFigs/DeciduousForestBousson.jpg
Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Animals:
– squirrels eat nuts, seeds,
berries
– Grasshoppers eat all
vegetation
– Deer eat leaves from trees
& shrubs
– Migratory Birds (fly South
for winter, in spring come
back to North to nest and
feed)
http://macroman9.tripod.com/missc2.jpg
http://www.realtrees4kids.org/images/6-8images/microhabitat.jpg
Temperate Boreal Forest/Taiga
• Also known as Taiga
• Typically found between 45o
and 60o North latitude
• Cold climate in winter (40 – 100
cm snow annually), with
summer warm, rainy, and
humid
• Very few reptiles
• Limited understory - A lot of
coniferous trees
• Snow is primary form of
precipitation (40 – 100 cm
annually)
Taiga/Temperate Boreal Forest
• Many taller trees with long trunks and green tops.
• Floor is dark with little vegetation
• Plants:
– Conifers (trees that have seeds that develop in
cones, don’t shed needles)
• Many needles, long, narrow, waxy coating to help
retain water when the ground is frozen.
• Needles make the soil acidic (so few plants can grown
in this acidic soil). Acidic soil also slows decomposition.
• Pointy shape of trees help them shed snow so the tree
doesn’t become weighed down.
Taiga/Temperate Boreal Forest
• Animals:
– Many lakes and swamps that attract birds
(migratory birds, travel South in winter)
– Shrews & rodents live there year round because
they can burrow underground during winter
– Lynxes, wolves, foxes live there year round
– Moose and snowshoe hare eat any vegetation
they can find.
• Snowshoe hare shed brown fur in winter and grow
white fur (camouflage)
Foods of Taiga or Boreal Forests
• Maple Syrup – comes
from the sap of maple
trees
– Put it on our pancakes
• The O'Brien
Family
Tradition of
Making Maple
Syrup
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Maple_syrup.jpg
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/D/DaneTaiga2.jpg
http://biologyprojectwiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/Taiga_winter.jpg/105847573/Taiga_winter.jpg
http://biomesfirst.wikispaces.com/file/view/taiga-exhibit.jpg/32197307/taiga-exhibit.jpg
http://www.bio.miami.edu/dana/pix/taiga.jpg
http://www.spiracanada.com/spiralbound/2007/Ostara/SnowshoeHare.jpg
http://www.ticrk.ru/resources/7649-original.jpeg
Tundra
• Means treeless or marshy plain
• Characterized by permafrost –
permanently frozen soil starting
as high as a few centimeters
below the surface – which
severely limits plant growth
• Winter temperatures (low)
average –34oC while summer
temperatures usually average
below 10oC
• Low precipitation (15–25 cm
per year) but ground is usually
wet because of low evaporation
Tundra
• Permafrost = permanently frozen soil (that lies
underneath the topsoil)
• Tundra gets bogs and swamps during summer
months when the top layer of soil thaws.
– In the summer these bogs/swamps breed many
insects (mosquitoes, black flies, etc)
Tundra
• Plants:
– Dominated by grasses, lichens, and herbs. Moss
and lichens grow on rocks.
– Have wide, shallow roots since the soil is very thin
– Flower plants (campion, gentian) are short so they
can avoid winds and keep warm
– Woody plants & perennials (willow, juniper) are
dwarf forms and grow flat along the ground
Tundra
• Animals:
– Millions of migratory birds fly to the tundra to
breed in the summer
– Many plants, mollusks, worms, insects
– Caribou, wolves, deer, moose, live there
– smaller animals (mice, rabbit) burrow themselves
underground in the winter.
– Many (like arctic fox) lose their brown fur and
grow white fur to camouflage in the winter
Tundra
• Threats:
– Its one of the most
fragile biomes with a
simple food chain, so it
can be easily disrupted
– Oil Explorations
• Ex.) Prudhoe Bay, Alaska
• It distrupts habitats of
plants and animals
• Pollution caused by oils
spills/leaks could poison
their food and water
sources.
http://opinionhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/oil-rig-exploration-tundra.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01377/bp_1377049c.jpg
http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/images/biosphere/vegetation/tundra_ice_mounds_Alaska_DDS
21_LMC0007.jpg
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/166/tundraanimals_523.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hickerphoto.com/tundra-animals-523pictures.htm&usg=__9nPtAHTOEPsgs12uaSqxiIf1WOA=&h=345&w=468&sz=40&hl=en&start=1&zoom=1
&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=9Vlpwo3w4UjxIM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=128&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtundra%2Banim
als%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:*%26tbs%3Disch:1
http://animals.timduru.org/dirlist/bear/Cute-PolarBear-Cub-SittingOnSnow.jpg)
http://www.wallpaperweb.org/wallpaper/nature/1600x1200/Caribou_Autumn_Tundra_Denali_National
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www2.lhric.org/kat/owl.gif&imgrefurl=http://www
2.lhric.org/kat/3tundra.htm&usg=__dTuLYyyScWnbeLV9fYWN6yx_h6g=&h=216&w=192&sz=39&hl
=en&start=5&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=9k3rOTYlKQEDUM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=95&prev=/imag
es%3Fq%3Dtundra%2Banimals%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26rls%3Dcom.microso
ft:*%26tbs%3Disch:1
Biome Locations