Understanding Biomes: Tundra, Taiga, Deciduous Forest, and Tropical Rainforest

1. Chapter 21 Ecosystems

2. Section 1 Vocabulary Pretest • Biome • Tundra • Permafrost • Tropical forest • Canopy • Epiphyte • Coniferous tree • Deciduous tree • Temperate deciduous forest • Treeless biome of the northern hemisphere • Tree with needles and cones • Large region of Earth that has characteristic kinds of organisms • Broad-leaf tree that loses its leaves • Plants that grow on trees for more sunlight • Dense vegetation in treetops • Permanently frozen ground • Wettest land biome • Biome of Pennsylvania

3. 10. Taiga 11. Temperate grassland 12. Savanna 13. Chaparral 14. Desert • Driest land biome • Grassland biome with dense, spiny shrubs and sparse coniferous trees • Grassland biome with fertile farming soil • Grassland biome of Africa • Biome with mostly coniferous trees

4. Answer Key • Biome C • Tundra A • Permafrost G • Tropical forest H • Canopy F • Epiphyte E • Coniferous tree B • Deciduous tree D • Temperate deciduous forest I • Taiga N • Temperate grassland L • Savanna M • Chaparral K • Desert J

5. What is a Biome? • Biome—a large region of the earth that has characteristic kinds of organisms. • Identified by their dominant plant life and distinctive groups of animals. • Biomes are determined by climate—average yearly rainfall and temperature.

6. Land Biomes and their Climates Biome Ave. Yearly Rainfall Ave. Yearly Temp. Tundra less than 25 cm -26oC to 12oC . Tiaga 35-75 cm -10oC to 14oC . Temperate forest 75-125 cm 6oC to 28oC . Tropical forest 200-450 cm 20oC to 34oC . Grasslands 25-75 cm 0oC to 25oC . Savanna_______75-150 cm_______________16oC to 34oC____. Chaparral_____less than 25 cm__________10oC to 18oC____. Deserts less than 25 cm 24oc to 40oC .

7. Biome Map

8. The Tundra • Tundra—treeless biome across northern N. America, Europe, and Asia. (covers 1/5 of world’s land surface). • Characteristics • Cold temperatures • Little rainfall • Long, cold winters with little or no daylight • Short, cool summers with 24 hours of daylight • One meter of soil thaws in summer. The rest stays permanently frozen--permafrost

9. Plants of the Tundra • Extreme cold, a short growing season, and shallow soil allow very few plants to grow in the tundra. • Most common are grasses, mosses, sedges and lichens. • No trees!!!

10. Animals of the Tundra • Most common: caribou, reindeer, musk oxen and snowy owls. • Small mammals include the Arctic fox, Arctic hare, wolves, and snow shoe rabbits. • Ducks and geese nest there in the summer do to large swarms of black flies and mosquitos found at the ponds formed from snowmelt

11. Taiga • Taiga—broad region south of the tundra made up of cone-bearing trees (Conifers). Also called the boreal or coniferous forest. Lies between 50oN and 60oN latitude. • Characteristics: • Long, cold winters. Snow covers the ground, insulating and protecting tree roots from freezing • Short summers • Nutrient-poor soil

12. Plants of the Taiga • Conifers have needle-shaped leaves with a waxy coat to protect them from freezing and water loss. • Examples: spruce, fir, and pine trees.

13. Animals of the Taiga • Many large and small animals including: moose, black bear, wolves, deer, squirrels, lynx, chipmunks, eagles and migratory birds. • Some can stay year round, others must migrate. • Some hibernate 6-8 months out of the year.

14. Coniferous Forests of N. America • Ecologists recognize three areas of coniferous forests in North America: • Taiga—northern Canada and Alaska • Spruce-moose belt —south of the taiga, covering most of Canada and Northern U.S. • Southern Pine Forest —covers most of southeastern U.S.

15. Temperate Deciduous Forest • Deciduous Forest —located south of taiga, it is the dominant biome of the eastern U.S. and Europe. • Characteristics: • Four distinct seasons • Cold winters/Warm summers • Rain unevenly distributed throughout the year • Trees that lose their leaves

16. Plants of the Deciduous Forest • Many kinds of broad-leafed trees that lose their leaves seasonally (deciduous). • Loosing leaves prevents water loss during winter. • Examples: maples, oaks, chestnuts and elms.

17. Animals of the Deciduous Forest • A deciduous forest supports a large number of different kinds of animals. • Examples: deer, foxes, raccoons, skunks, rabbits, bears, reptiles, amphibians, many insects and birds. • Many of these will migrate to warmer climates during the winter.

18. Tropical Rainforest • Tropical Rainforest —located near the equator (between 23.5oN and 23.5oS latitude).Support more than ½ of all plant and animal species on Earth. • Characteristics: • Warm all year with at least 200 cm of rain/year • Trees do not lose their leaves, creating a dense canopy that supports much of the animal life • Very diverse: one hectare (2 football fields) of rainforest has about 300 different species of trees: Deciduous forest (12)

19. Rainforest plants require several adaptations to survive in the hot, humid and wet conditions of the rainforest: Thin, smooth bark limits growth of other plants on the trees. Climbing vines can be rooted in the ground and draped over tall trees to reach sunlight. Leaves with drip tips to allow excess water to fall off; preventing fungus growth. Buttresses and stilt roots give tall trees stability in shallow, wet soil. Epiphytes (plants that grow on trees to get more sunlight) Bromeliads (flowers that trap water) Plants of the Rainforest

20. bromeliad thin bark epiphyte Climbing vines stilt roots buttress drip leaves

21. Animals of the Rainforest • Rainforests are home to 50% of the world’s animals. The different rainforests of the world support different populations of animals. Since the climate is the same year round, the animals that live there cannot tolerate changes in temperature, light, or rain. • Examples include: parrots, monkeys, snakes, lizards, insects, insects, insects!!!!

22. Grasslands • Grasslands —dominated by a variety of grasses. • Known by different names in different parts of the world: • Prairiesin N. America • Steppesin Asia • Pampas in S. America • Veldts in S. Africa

23. Temperate Grasslands • Temperate Grasslands--do not receive enough rainfall (25-75cm/ yr.) to support many trees. • Characteristics: • Hot, dry summers • Cold, snowy winters • Fertile soil ideal for farming • Dominant biome of central U.S. (bread-basket)

24. Plants of the Grasslands • Many crops are grown in the grasslands including: • Wheat • Oats • Barley • Corn

25. Animals of the Grassland • Many grazing animals live in the grasslands including: bison, antelope, cattle, and sheep. Also, coyotes, jackrabbits and rattlesnakes are common.

26. Savanna Savanna —grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs. Seen in Africa, South America and Australia. Support large numbers of herbivores such as zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, and gazelles. Also, large carnivores such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs Plants/animals must be able to tolerate drought conditions.

27. Chaparral • Chaparral—dominated by dense, spiny shrubs and has scattered clumps of coniferous trees • Mild, rainy winters/hot, dry summers • Located primarily in coastal regions such as the Mediterranean Sea and southern California

28. Deserts • Desert—rainfall is less than 25 cm/ yr. • Characteristics: • Defining characteristic of all deserts is that they are dry. • The temperature of a desert is determined by its geographic location. Many are hot during the day and cool at night (Sahara in Africa). Others are actually cold all the time (Gobi in Mongolia). • All deserts have great temperature changes from day to night (days are much warmer than nights). This is because dry air is a poor insulator and allows the heat of the day to escape

29. Plants of the Desert • Some deserts have no plants. • Others have sparse plant life including: Cactus and yucca Tumble weed (Russian thistle) Desert flowers Joshua tree (largest of the yucca)

30. Animals of the Desert • Most are small and have evolved adaptations to solve the heat and water problems, such as: nocturnal activity, estivation, dissipating heat, retaining water and getting water from plants. Examples: Road runner Jack rabbits Kangaroo rat Prairie dogs Desert iguana

31. Section 2 Vocabulary Pretest • Aphotic zone • Photic zone • Intertidal zone • Neritic zone • Oceanic zone • Pelagic zone • Benthic zone • Plankton • Estuary • Eutrophic lake • Oligotrophic lake • Freshwater wetland • Microscopic life in the ocean • Zone that is exposed to air at low tide • The open ocean • The ocean bottom • Where freshwater river meets the ocean • Lakes rich in organic matter and vegetation • Areas of land covered with freshwater for part of the year • Upper zone of ocean that receives sunlight • Lower zone of ocean that does not receive sunlight • Lakes that contain little organic matter • Most productive ocean zone • Largest zone of the ocean

32. Answer Key • Aphotic zone I • Photic zone H • Intertidal zone B • Neritic zone K • Oceanic zone L • Pelagic zone C • Benthic zone D • Plankton A • Estuary E • Eutrophic lake F • Oligotrophic lake J • Freshwater wetland G

33. Aquatic Ecosystems • Water covers 75% of the earth’s surface. • Two main types of aquatic ecosystems: Freshwater Zones Ocean Zones

34. Ocean Zones • Oceanscover about 70% of Earth’s surface. • Average depth is 2.3 miles. • Water is 3% salt • Divided into two depth zones: Aphotic Zone (deep--no sunlight); Photic Zone (shallow—receives sunlight)

35. The ocean is also divided into three zones relative to the ocean’s edges • Intertidal Zone • Neritic Zone • Oceanic Zone • Pelagic zone = open ocean • Benthic Zone = ocean bottom

36. Intertidal Zone • Intertidal zone —part of the marine biome that is underwater at high tide and exposed at low tide. Organisms here are adapted to being exposed to the air during part of the day. They also must protect themselves from being hit by waves. They include: clams, oysters, mussels and crabs

37. Neritic Zone • Neritic Zone —most productive zone in the ocean • Rich in sunlight and plankton • Coral reefs are located in this zone as well as many fish.

38. Oceanic Zone • Oceanic zone —deepest parts of the ocean. Does not support as much life. However, the area is so large that ½ of Earth’s photosynthesis takes place by the plankton in this zone. Life in this zone varies with the depth.

39. Estuary • Estuary —occurs where a freshwater river flows into the ocean. They are rich in nutrients and support many kinds of organisms. Saltwater/freshwater line visible

40. Freshwater Ecosystems • Two types of freshwater zones exist: • Still-water biomes consisting of lakes and ponds. • Running-water biomes consisting of streams and rivers.

41. Still-water Biomes • Lakes and ponds make-up the still-water biomes. • Algae and plankton are abundant and support the other animal life. • Two categories: • Eutrophic lakes —rich in organic matter so they look murky • Oligotrophic lakes —contain little organic matter so they look clearer

42. Running-water Biomes • The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water determines what kinds of organisms are found in rivers and streams. • Fast-moving streams or rivers are usually cool and therefore have a lot of dissolved oxygen. Little plankton is available so dead leaves and insect larva are important sources of food. Fish such as trout are common.

43. Running Water Biomes • In slow-moving streams or rivers, plankton is the base of the food-chain. Catfish and bass are common.

44. Freshwater Wetlands • Freshwater Wetlands are areas of land that are covered with fresh water for at least part of the year. • Include: • Marshes —containing non-woody plants such as cattails • Swamps —containing woody plants such as trees and shrubs • Bogs—containing sphagnum mosses