Download Mrs. Ms Biomes

Terrestrial
Biomes
Climate Determines Biomes
Biome: Large areas with similar temps,
precipitation, flora and fauna.
Climate diagrams show relationships between
2 abiotic factors that can effect plant growth.
Example:
Plant growth can be limited by both
temperature and precipitation.
9 Terrestrial Biomes
Tundra
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cold, treeless, little vegetation.
Short growing season, low productivity
Permafrost: permanently frozen ground.
Very fragile ecosystem.
Specialized species, simple food chains/webs.
Low biodiversity.
Shallow, thin, nutrient poor soils, poorly
developed
• Short soggy summers
• Low precipitation, long, cold, dark winters
• Mosses, lichens, and short grasses
dominate
• Affected by climate change, and oil and gas
pipelines
• Alaska, Russia, Canada, Finland
• Artic fox, Musk Ox, Ermine, Caribou
Boreal Forest(Taiga)
• Coniferous (cone bearing) evergreens(fir and
spruce)
• Cold climate, long cold winters, short mild
summers
• Moderate precipitation, high humidity.
• Plant growth constrained by temperature.
• Poor nutrients, nutrient poor soil but thick
humus.
• Not suitable for agriculture but good for logging
(acidic soil).
• Effected by mining, oil extraction, logging and
hydroelectric development.
• Maine, Minnesota, Mongolia, Russia,
Norway, Canada
• Lynx, gray wolf, wolverine, grizzly bear, river
otter
Temperate Rainforest
• Coastal biome.
• Ocean currents help moderate temperature
fluctuations.
• Mild winters and 12 month growing season,
mild temperatures, abundant precipitation.
• Cool, dry summers.
• Coniferous trees.
• Little nutrients in the soil.
• Rocky, acidic soils.
• Logging, mills, and costal fisheries, recreation
and tourism.
• Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, redwood, mosses
and firs
• Oregon, Argentina, Australia, Taiwan,
Washington
• Elk, Tree Frogs, Cougars, Muskrat
Temperate Seasonal Forest
• Lots of precipitation(year round).
• Warm summers, cold to moderate winters.
• Broadleaf deciduous trees dominate, some
conifers, flowering shrubs, herbs
• Lots of nutrients in the soil, rich in organic
material from seasonal decomposition of
leaves.
• Long growing season.
• Used for agriculture, development, and
industry
• Bald Eagle, Coyote, Black Bear, White tail
deer
• Vermont, Japan, China, Germany, France,
Indiana
Woodland/Shrubland/Chapparal
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Known as shrubland (Southern California)!
Hot, dry summers, cool, moist winters.
Fire resistant plants are common.
Fire necessary for seeds and eliminating
overgrowth.
Thin, poor soil nutrients, year round growth for
deep rooted plants.
Climate describes as “Mediterranean”
Woody evergreen shrubs, with small leathery
leaves, fragrant oily herbs in winter.
Human ignited fires, vineyards.
• Southern California, Nevada, Australia,
Spain, Chile, South Africa
• Bobcat, Jackal, Javelina ,Roadrunner
Tropical Seasonal Forest and Savanna
• Warm temperatures, distinct wet and dry seasons
(seasonal rainfall)
• Drop their leaves during drought, produce new
leaves during the wet season.
• During the dry season becomes a savanna.
• Has good soil with plenty of nutrients, fertile soil
is farmed (can be compacted by animals).
• Seasons due to moving ITCZ.
• Tall grasses, drought tolerant and fire resistant
trees.
• Conversion to land for agriculture and grazing;
hunting, poaching, mining, recreation and tourism
• Large herds of migrating animals
• India, Indochina, Boliva, Tanzania, Nambia,
Zimbabwe
• African elephant, Black Mamba, Baboon,
Emu, Mongoose
Subtropical Desert
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hot, dry, very little vegetation.
Low Precipitation.
Adapted plants.
Few large mammals.
Variable day/night temps.
Soil rich in minerals, poor in organic material.
Low diversity.
Low resistance, resilience, and low
productivity.
• ATVs military activity, drilling for oil, mining,
nuclear waste disposal
• Cacti, succulents, plants with short
growth cycles
• Armadillo, Jackrabbit, Gila monsters,
Kangaroo rat
• Arizona, Egypt, Mexico, Iran, Saudi Arabia
Tropical Rainforest
•
•
•
•
•
Hot and wet year round.
Thin, nutrient-poor soils.
Most productive land biome
Seasons depend on the ITCZ.
Broad leaved evergreen trees, climbing
vines, orchards.
• Deforestation =s BAD! (Causes loss of
habitat, diversity, soil erosion, climate
change, destruction of indigenous cultures,
loss of potential medicines).
• Brazil, Congo, Indonesia, Peru, Madagascar
• Beetles, Toucan, Cobra, Sloth,
Chimpanzees