Download 4.4 biomes - OG

4.4 Biomes
What do you need to know?
- General characteristics (climate,
soil type, plant/animal life)
-EX Test Question:
- What 2 biomes have the least amount
of rainfall?
Guess the Biome!
• Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now
they cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that the last
remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.
• Nearly HALF of the world's species of plants, animals and
microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over
the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.
• Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect
species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That
equates to 50,000 species a year. As the rainforest species
disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening
diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide
come from plant-derived sources.
• More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the
Amazon Rainforest
TROPICAL RAIN FOREST
• Climate hot & humid
year round
• Soil - thin,
poor soil
• Animal life: lots of
camouflage
– Canopy = top
– Understory = below
canopy
• Adaptations for
climbing, jumping,
and/or flight
• Plants – very abundant;
tall trees, vines
Desert
• Climate
– Low precipitation
– Variable temps
– Soil - Rich in
nutrients, but
poor in organic
materials
• Plants
– Short growth cycles
– Cacti – waxy coating
to prevent waterloss
• Animals
– Adaptations to
regulate body temp
if need to lose heat
quickly
Tropical Dry Forest
• Climate/Soil –
warm yearround with
alternating wet
and dry
seasons; rich
soil
• Plant life
– tall, deciduous (drop
their leaves),
succulent
• Animal life
– undergo estivation
(to spend a hot, dry
season in an inactive,
dormant state) or
migration
TEMPERATE WOODLAND &
SHRUBLAND
• Climate/soil
– Hot, dry summers
and cool moist
winters
– Nutrient poor soil
• Chaparral=
dominated by
shrubs
• Frequent fires
• Animals
– Mainly browsers
Northwestern Coniferous
Forest
• Climate/soil
– Mild
temperatures,
much precip in
fall, winter, spring
– Rocky, acidic soil
• Plant life
– Conifers, shrubs,
moss
– Lush vegetation
• Animal life
– Adapt to seasons
– Camouflage
– Many browsers
Boreal Forest (Taiga)
• Climate – long,
cold winters;
short, mild
summers;
moderate
precipitation
• Soil – acidic,
nutrient-poor
• Plants – conifers
(cone-bearing)
• Animals – most
with extra
insulation, some
migrate during
winter
Temperate Grassland
• Climate/Soil –
warm to hot
summers, cold
winters; fertile
soil agriculture
• Animal/Plant life
– Plants – tall
grasses, prairies
– Animals –
Camouflage and
burrowing are 2
common
protective
adaptations
Tundra
• Climate/Soil:
• Cold, dark winters
and short, soggy
summers
• Permafrost –
layer of
permanently
frozen subsoil
• Plants: low to the
ground
• Animals: must be
able to tolerate
harsh conditions
Tropical Grassland/
Savanna/ Shrubland
• Climate
– More rain than
deserts, but less
than tropical dry
forest
• Soil
– Compacted soils,
frequent fires
• Plants
– Similar to tropical
dry forest
• Animals
– Lions, zebra,
wildebeests
– Large animal
herds
Temperate Forest
• Climate/Soil
– Cold/moderate
winters, warm
summers
– Year-round precip
– Fertile soil
• Plant life
– Deciduous trees
and conifers
• Animal life
–
–
–
–
Cope with weather
Migrate
Hibernate
Camouflage
What areas are not easily
classified into a major biome?
• Polar ice caps –
–
–
–
–
–
Cold year-round
Few plants
Animals: marine mammals, insects, mites
North = polar bears
South = penguins
• Mountain ranges – conditions
vary with elevation