Download Adaptations & Biomes

Adaptations & Biomes
Obj. 3a
Adaptations:
• Adaptations are structure, behavior, or
other traits in an organism that helps it
to survive in its environment
• Examples:
– White rabbits are more abundant in snowy
biomes & brown rabbits are more
abundant in grassy or forest biomes
– Spiny leaves on a cactus allows it to
reduce water loss & keep it from being
eaten.
What do you notice in this
picture?
Climate
Climate is the weather a place has over a
long period of time (50 years).
• Affected by 3 major factors:
– Precipitation: amount of rain and snow fall
– Temperature: how hot or cold it is
– Hours of daylight: amount of energy from the
sun the earth receives
• Climate limits the species of plants &
plants determine the kinds of animals that
live in a biome
Biomes
• Large geographic areas characterized by a
distinct climate and specific types of plant &
animal life.
• There are two categories of biomes:
– Terrestrial: land
– Aquatic: water
Terrestrial Biomes
• There are 6 major land biomes
– Tundra
– Boreal/Taiga/Coniferous Forests
– Temperate/Deciduous Forests
– Tropical Rain Forests
– Grasslands
– Deserts
Tundra
• Land of extreme cold, high winds, and
very little rain or snow
Tundra
• Climate:
– Extremely cold and dry
– Most soil is frozen all year which is called
permafrost that causes pools of water to form in the
summer
• Plant Life: During short summers the sun does
not set allowing for a growing seasons
– mosses, grasses, shrubs, flowering herbs
• Animal Life: have adapted to the harsh cold
land and are able to migrate or grow thick fur.
– Migration: the moving of animals from one location
to another when seasons change
– Insects, birds, oxen, wolves, grizzly, caribou, arctic
hare, and polar bears.
Boreal/Taiga/Coniferous Forest Biomes
• Land of the Evergreen trees
Boreal/ Taiga/Coniferous Forest
• Climate:
– Winters are cold & snowy
– Summers are warm and rainy enough to melt all
snow
• Animal life:
– includes snowshoe hares, moose, elk, wolves,
bears, beavers and many species of birds.
• Dominant plants : Plants have adapted to the
frozen soil by having less surface area and
thick waxy coating to prevent water loss
– Most trees are coniferous meaning they produce
their seeds in cones and have leaves shaped like
needles.
– Fir, spruce, hemlock, pine & other evergreen
Temperate/Deciduous Forest Biomes
• The land of 4 Seasons
Temperate/Deciduous Forest Biomes
• Climate: humid with distinctive seasonal
changes.
– 50 centimeters of precipitation each year
– Temperatures vary greatly through the year with a 5-6
month growing season
• Plant life: Deciduous trees have adapted by
shedding their leaves and grow new ones each
year
– Oak, Hickory, Beech, Maple, and Elm trees.
• Animal life: animals have adapted to the
seasonal changes by migrating or hibernating
– Hibernation: entering into a sleep-like state to reduce
activity and rely on fat stored in the body for energy
– deer, bears, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, and many birds
and insects.
Rain Forest Biomes
• Land of the most amazing plants & animals
Tropical Rain Forest Biome
• Climate: Rainy & warm year round
– found along and near the equator.
– support the greatest diversity of life on earth.
• Plant Life: All varieties
– The forest has 3 distinct layers
• Canopy – Top layer of leafy trees
• Understory – shorter trees & vines
• Forest floor – few plants live here due to small amounts of
sunlight
• Animal life: All varieties
– monkeys, bats, snakes, deer, rodents, reptiles,
insects and numerous amounts of bird species.
• New species are discovered every year
Desert Biomes
• Land of Extremes
Desert biomes
• Climate:
– Receives less than 25cm of rain per year
• The amount of evaporation is greater than the amount of
precipitation
– hottest temperature on Earth
• Extreme highs during the day & extreme colds at night
• Death Valley in CA has a record high temperature of 57°C
• Plant life: adapted for getting and conserving water by
having long deep roots or abilities to absorb & store
water when it rains
– includes cacti, small trees, woody shrubs, many wildflowers
• Animal life: adapted by being nocturnal or burrowing
under ground
– Nocturnal: active at night.
– Ex. Kangaroo rats, rodents, bats, snakes, toads, birds, ants,
and other insects.
Grassland Biomes
• The land of the largest animals on Earth
Grassland Biomes
• Areas that are populated mostly by grasses and
other non-woody plants
• Found in the same general area as deciduous
forest but receive less rain to support trees
• Prairies are found in the mid-latitudes and have
rich soil for plant growth
– Climate: receive 25 to 75 cm of rain per year with
milder temperatures year round
• Animal life: birds, rabbits, foxes, prairie dogs, mice, hawks,
coyotes, snakes
• Savannas are closer to the equator, receive 120
cm of rain per year, & have hotter temperatures
– Animal life: elephants, lions, bison, zebras, antelope,
giraffes, rhinoceroses, kangaroos, cheetahs
Biome Climates
• Drawing Conclusions:
– Given the
precipitation and
temperature data for
these locations, in
which biome would
you expect each to
be located? Explain
your answers.
–Location A: tropical rain forest
–Location B: desert
Group Time
Closure
– Stand up in a circle around the room
– When I throw the ball to you, share one
adaptation a plant or animal may have in
the biome I choose
Explore This Website
• http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/i
ndex.html