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Biomes of the World
Pre AP Biology
Read pages 651-658
• Ecology is the study of living organisms and
their environment.
• Biosphere is the part of the earth which
organisms live
• Ecosystems are smaller units found in the
biosphere. A pond or a particular forest may be
an ecosystem.
• The entire earth’s
surface is
considered to be
an ecosystem or
biosphere. This
includes the
aquatic
environment of
the rivers, lakes,
and oceans.
• The Biosphere is the parts of
the earth in which life exits
• Climax community is the
stable community that results
after disturbances and once
equilibrium is established.
A Biome has a characteristic
climax community
• The earth has two main
types of biomes, land
biomes and aquatic
biomes.
Most land biomes are
named for their climax
community or dominant
type of plant life.
The major types of biomes
are the tundra, taiga,
temperate deciduous
forest, grassland,
tropical rain forest, and
desert.
Tundra
• Where Found: northern North America,
Europe, Asia
• Plants: mosses, lichens, grasses, a few stunted
trees
• Animals: caribou, reindeer, wolves
• Other Characteristics: permafrost – creates
freezing and thawing cycle
Taiga
• Where Found: most of Canada and Asia
• Plants: pine trees
• Animals: bears, wolves, moose, elk, voles,
wolverines,
grouse
• Other Characteristics: long and cold winter,
summers warm enough to completely thaw the
soil.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Where Found: southern Canada, eastern U.S.,
Europe, and Japan
• Plants: trees that lose their leaves (oak, maple,
birch)
• Animals: huge variety, including fox, deer,
moose, etc.
• Other Characteristics: lands cleared by hunting
and farming
Grasslands
• Where Found: interior of many continents
• Plants: grasses and small leafy plants
• Animals: grazers and browsers
• Other Characteristics: Large variation in
temperature and seasonal changes. Grazing
and prairie fires halt succession
Tropical Rain Forests
• Where Found: South America, S.E. Asia, Central
Africa, Central America
• Plants: rich vegetation in canopy and
undergrowth
• Animals: colorful insects, lizards, amphibians,
reptiles, small mammals
• Other Characteristics: 200 – 400 cm rain,
o
constant temperature (25 C)
Deserts
• Where Found: northern Africa, southern Asia,
central Australia
• Plants: cactus and other non-leafy plants
• Animals: lizards, small rodents
• Other Characteristics: very little rainfall,
although some deserts have seasonal rain