Download The World`s Biomes

The World’s Biomes
What is a Biome?
• A biome is an area of the planet that can be
classified according to the plants and animals that
live in it.
• Temperature, soil, and the amount of light and
water help determine what life exists in a biome.
• Biomes change based on climate patterns / change
What is a Biome?
• Biome is different from an ecosystem.
• An ecosystem is the interaction of living and nonliving things
in an environment.
• A biome is a specific geographic area notable for the species
living there. A biome can be made up of many ecosystems.
• For example, an aquatic biome can contain ecosystems
such as coral reefs and kelp forests.
Types of Biomes
• Not all scientists classify biomes in the same way.
• Some use broad classifications and count as few as five biomes.
• These are
1. Forest,
2. Grassland,
3. Freshwater,
4. Marine,
5.
Desert,
6.
Tundra.
Types of Biomes: Forest
• Today, forests occupy approximately one-third of Earth's land area
• Forests are threatened from human activity such as deforestation,
pollution, and industrial usage
• There are three major types of forests, classed according to latitude:
• Tropical
• Temperate
• Boreal forests (taiga)
Forest Biome: Tropical
Tropical forest
• Tropical forests have the greatest
diversity of species.
• They occur near the equator.
• They have only two seasons: (rainy
and dry). There is no winter.
• The length of daylight is 12 hours
Olympic Peninsula rain forest,
Washington
Forest Biome: Temperate
Temperate forest
• Found in eastern North America,
northeastern Asia, and western and
central Europe.
• Well-defined seasons with a distinct
winter.
• Moderate climate and a growing
season of 140-200 days during 4-6
frost-free months
Wisconsin woods
Forest Biome: Boreal / Taiga
• Boreal is the largest Biome
• Boreal forests can be found in Siberia,
Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada.
• 2 seasons: short, moist, and warm
summers and long, cold, and dry
winters.
• The length of the growing season is 130
days
Jasper National Park,
Alberta, Canada
Types of Biomes: Grassland
Also known as the prairies, are located in the Southern parts of
Manitoba, Sask. and Alberta
Very dry climate that is suited for grass
Drought resistant short grasses, sagebrush and cactus
Soils: limited rainfall and high evaporation create calcified soils
which are unsuitable for crops – cattle are grazed instead
Grasslands Cont’d
In southern grassland areas precipitation encourages the
growth of tall grasses
Year after year as the tall grasses die in the fall, they produce
large amounts of humus that result in rich, black soil.
This is the richest soil in Canada and produces some of the
best grains in the world.
The Freshwater Biome
• Freshwater is defined as having a low salt concentration
— usually less than 1%.
• Plants and animals in freshwater regions are adjusted to
the low salt content and would not be able to survive in
areas of high salt concentration (i.e., ocean).
Freshwater Biome
• There are different types of freshwater regions:
• Ponds and lakes
• Streams and rivers
• Wetlands
Types of Biomes: Marine
• Marine regions cover about three-fourths of the Earth's
surface and include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries.
• Marine algae supply much of the world's oxygen and take
in a huge amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Marine Biomes
• The evaporation of the seawater provides rainwater for the
land.
• Types of Marine Biomes include
• Oceans
• Coral reefs
• Estuaries
Marine Biomes: Oceans
• The largest of all the ecosystems, oceans are very large
bodies of water that dominate the Earth's surface.
• Oceans have a great diversity of species even though
fewer species than on land.
Marine Biomes: Coral Reefs
• Coral reefs live in warm shallow waters. E.g. The
Great Barrier Reef off Australia
• Reef waters are nutritionally poor, so corals get
nutrients through the algae using photosynthesis
• Reefs include microorganisms, fish, sea urchins,
octopuses, and sea stars.
Marine Biomes: Estuaries
• Estuaries are areas where freshwater streams or rivers
merge with the ocean.
• Different salt concentrations creates a very unique
ecosystem.
• Plant life includes algae, seaweeds, marsh grasses,
• Organisms include worms, oysters, crabs, and waterfowl.
Types of Biomes: Desert
• Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's surface and
occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year.
• Most deserts occur at low latitudes. E.g. the Sahara of
North Africa and the deserts of the southwestern U.S.,
Mexico, and Australia.
Desert Biome
• Most deserts have specialized vegetation and animals.
• Soils often have abundant nutrients because they need
only water to become very productive
• Problems: occasional fires or cold weather; sudden,
infrequent, but intense rains that cause flooding.
Types of Biomes: Tundra
• Tundra is the coldest of all the
biomes.
• It has frost-molded landscapes,
extremely low temperatures, little
precipitation, poor nutrients, and
short growing seasons.
Tundra near Churchill, Manitoba,
Canada
Tundra Cont’d
Characteristics of Tundra include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Extremely cold climate
Low biotic diversity
Simple vegetation structure
Limitation of drainage
Short season of growth and reproduction
Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material
World Map Task
Fill out a World Map. You must include:
• Continents
• Political divisions / Countries
• World Biomes
Make sure you label the map clearly!