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The World’s Biomes Tundra The tundra is located north of the Arctic Circle. Tundra: Climate ► Short summers that have bogs and swamps ► Long winters with icy winds ► EXTREME conditions ► Most Fragile Biome Simple food chains Land easily damaged Oil is a major threat Tundra: Vegetation ► Grasses, herbs, and lichens are common ► Tough shrubs and mosses ► Vegetation can grow without soil Wide, shallow roots Plants are short Tundra: Soil ► Thin soil - Only top few centimeters thaw in summer ► Permafrost ► Vast areas of rock ► Bogs Tundra: Interesting Information and swamps provide great breeding grounds for insects ► Also provides breeding grounds for many birds, caribou and their predators ► Most rodents burrow ► Many animals have great camouflage and good insulation Taiga(Boreal Forest) ► The taiga is also known as the Boreal Forest ► It is found just below the Arctic circle in the Northern Hemisphere ► Largest terrestrial biome Taiga: Climate ► Long winters (6-10 months) ► Average temperatures are below freezing in the winter ► Receives little precipitation Taiga: Vegetation ► Forest floor has little vegetation ► Straight “Pole Trees” ► Mostly conifers (pines, spruces, firs) ► Short growing season (50 days) Taiga: Soil ► Acidic ► Forms slowly Taiga: Interesting Information ► Many lakes and swamps provide habitat for many species in the summer ► Many species migrate ► Others burrow underground or change color according to season Temperate Deciduous Forest ► Located between 30° and 50°N latitude in North America, Europe, and Asia Temperate Deciduous Forest: Climate ► Temperatures may be extreme Hot summers Cold winters ► Temperatures vary according to season ► Moist; abundant precipitation 75-125 cm rainfall/year Temperate Deciduous Forest: Vegetation ► Short growing season ► Adapted to survive seasons Shed leaves Seeds, bulbs, and underground stems remain dormant during winter ► 4-6 month growing season Temperate Deciduous Forest: Soil ► Rich, deep soil Temperate Deciduous Forest: Interesting Information ► Animals adapted to use forest plants for food and shelter ► Many animals migrate or reduce activity in winter Temperate Rainforest ► Located in some coastal areas of North America; Australia, New Zealand Temperate Rainforest: Climate ► A lot of precipitation ► High humidity ► Moderate temperatures year round Cool and moist ► Rarely freezes Temperate Rainforest: Vegetation ► Evergreen ► Lush ferns trees with mosses and lichens Temperate Rainforest: Soil ► Slow decay ► Fertile ► Supports many mosses, lichens, and ferns that cover the forest floor Temperate Rainforest: Interesting Information ► Trees can be more than 90 m tall Many are old-growth forests Provide habitat to endangered species World’s tallest trees Tropical Rainforest ► Located along the belt near the equator ► About 7% of the Earth’s surface Tropical Rainforest: Climate ► Always humid and warm ► Lots of rainfall Receives about 200-450 cm of rain/year ► Strong sunlight all year ► Relatively constant temperatures Tropical Rainforest: Vegetation ► More species of plants than any other biome ► Trees have above ground roots ► Grow in layers Tropical Rainforest: Soil ► Thin soil ► Few nutrients because of rapid decay Tropical Rainforest: Interesting Information ► Helps regulate the climate ► Plays a vital role in the nitrogen, and carbon cycles ► Greatest species diversity More animals live in the canopy ► Mass deforestation Approximately 100 acres/minute are destroyed by clearing Temperate Grasslands ► Located in the interiors of continents North American prairies Russian steppes South American pampas Temperate Grasslands: Climate ► Hot summers ► Cold winters ► Moderate rainfall 50-88 cm/year Often “victims” of the rainshadow effect Heavy precipitation rare ► Fires are common in summer ► Constant winds Temperate Grasslands: Vegetation ► Mostly grass ► Very few trees ► Roots form dense layers ► Rainfall determines the type of plants in an area Temperate Grasslands: Soil ► Most fertile soil of any biome ► Erosion is a common problem Temperate Grasslands: Interesting Information ► May have been replaced by agricultural crops, farming, and grazing areas ► Few natural grasslands remain Some say less than 1% ► Animals have large, flat teeth for grazing ► Other live underground Savanna ► Found in parts of Africa, Western India, Northern Australia, and parts of South America ► Located between the tropical rainforest and the desert Savanna: Climate ► Little precipitation throughout the year ► Have a wet and dry season Savanna: Vegetation ► Mostly grasses with shrubs and scattered trees ► Horizontal root systems ► Vertical leaves ► Thorns or sharp leaves ► Shed leaves Savanna: Soil ► Grass fires occur during the dry season and help restore the nutrients to the soil Savanna: Interesting Information ► Large variety of grazing animals and their predators Many active only during wet season Migratory ►Follow rains Feed according to height Chaparral ► Located in the middle latitudes 30° N and S of the equator ► Found along coastal areas with Mediterranean climates Chaparral: Climate ► Warm, dry summers ► Mild, wet winters Chaparral: Vegetation ► Broad-leaved evergreens and shrubs ► Low-lying ► Grow in dense patches ► Adapted to fire Chaparral: Soil ► Dry, sandy mix Chaparral: Interesting Information ► Animals are camouflaged by color, shape, or movement ► Human development (residential and commercial) are threatening this area Desert ► Both hot and cold deserts exist ► Hot deserts are found closer to the equator ► Often near large mountain ranges Desert: Climate ► Driest places on Earth Less than 25 cm of rain/year ► Extreme temperatures ► Often created by the rainshadow effect Desert: Vegetation ► Little or no vegetation ► Vegetation that does live there has thick, fleshy stems and leaves that store water Have waxy coating Sharp spines Roots spread out near surface Dormant seeds ► New plants grow and bloom quickly Desert: Soil ► DRY Desert: Interesting Information ► Animals have thick, scaly skin ► Most animals are nocturnal Marine ► Largest biome 97% of Earth’s water ► Includes: Coral reefs Open ocean Frozen seas Abyss Coastal areas Estuaries Marine: Climate ► Salt water ► Temperature varies according to depth Marine: Vegetation ► Ocean is filled with phytoplankton, algae, and kelp forests Marine: Interesting Information ► Coastal areas protect inland from flooding Filter pollution and sediments ► Some areas are productive fisheries ► Many species not yet discovered ► Chemosynthetic organisms ► Organisms with bioluminescence ► Great biodiversity