Download What are biomes? Biome - a group of land ecosystems with similar

Chapter 12 – Section 5 Cornell Notes - Biomes
What are biomes? Biome - a group of land ecosystems with similar climates and
organisms.
*The Six Major Biomes that most ecologists study are the Rain
Forest, Desert, Grassland, Deciduous Forest, Boreal Forest, and
Tundra.
*It is mostly the climate – temperature and precipitation – in an
area that determines its biomes.
What makes up a
Rain Forest?
Characteristics of a Rain Forest
Lots of Rain / Sunlight barely gets to the Forest Floor / Lots of
Plants (Ferns, Flowers, and Vines) / Flying, Creeping, and Slithering
Animals.
Types of Rain Forests
1) Temperate Rain Forest
- Has moderate Temperature (Northwestern Coast of US)
- Huge Trees (Cedars, Redwoods, Douglas Firs)
- Receives more than 300 cm of rain a year.
2) Tropical Rain Forests
- Warm and Humid Climate all year long.
- Lots of plants (300 different kinds of trees)
- Canopy – A leafy roof formed by tall trees.
- Understory – A layer of shorter plants that grown in the shade
of a forest canopy.
- Home to many insects and mammals.
What makes up a
Desert?
Characteristics of a Desert
- An area that receives less than 25 centimeters of rain per year.
- Water evaporation is greater than the amount of precipitation.
- Deserts can be hot during the day, and cools rapidly at night.
- Organisms that can adapt to lack of rain and extreme temps.
What makes up a
Grassland?
Characteristics of a Grassland
- An area that is populated mostly by grasses and other non-woody plants.
- 25 to 75 Centimeters of Rain Per Year.
- Fires and droughts are common in this area.
Savanna – A grassland close to the equator.
- Home to many of the largest animals (Elephants, Bison, Zebras, Giraffes,
and Kangaroos)
What makes up a
Deciduous
Forest?
Characteristics of a Deciduous Forest
- Cool mornings give way to warm days.
- Numerous Plants; Deciduous Trees – Trees that shed their leaves and
grow new ones each year. Growing season lasts for around five to six
months.
- Birds and mammals such as Chipmunks and Skunks make this their home.
- Seasons bring a different look to a Deciduous Forest.
What makes up a
Boreal Forest?
Characteristics of a Boreal Forest
- Colder Climate
- Coniferous Trees – Trees that produces their seeds from cones and have
needle shaped leaves that keep water from evaporating. Well adapted to
cold Climates. (Fir, Spruce, and Hemlock Trees)
- Snow can reach heights well over your head. Summers are rainy and
warm enough to melt the snow.
- Animals such as Red Squirrels, insects, and birds eat the seeds from
coniferous trees. Snowshoe Hares, Moose, and Beavers eat tree bark.
Predators such as Wolves and Bears occupy the area.
What makes up a
Tundra?
Characteristics of a Tundra
- Extremely cold and dry with deep snow, Long days in the summer.
- Permafrost – Soil that is frozen all year.
- Plants: Mosses, Grasses, and Shrubs, Willows
- Animals: Insects and Birds (In Summer); Caribou, Foxes, Wolves, and Artic
Hares.
How are mountains *Mountains provide a variety of biomes depending on where you are on a
and ice connected to mountain.
climate?
Grasslands at the Base / Forests / Tundra
Some land is covered by ice (Greenland and Antarctica)