BIOMES

1. BIOMES By Emily Freel

2. Tropical Rainforests: an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator. This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall. Climate Rain forests belong to the tropical wet climate group. The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 93 °F or below 68 °F; average humidity is between 77 and 88 percent, and rainfall usually adds up to 100+ inches a year. Location on Planet

3. Plant and Animal Life The Aye-Aye This is a small primate that resides primarily in Madagascar that has evolved to feed nocturnally in order to avoid day-time predators. It has large eyes and uses echolocation. The aye-aye also possesses an especially elongated middle finger which it uses to scoop insects from small holes in trees that otherwise could not be reached. The Venus Fly Trap Since sunlight can be so scarce on the floor of the rainforest, there are plants that are carnivorous. The venus fly trap has adapted to obtain nutrients from animal matter – specifically insects, which it attracts with sweet nectar. Adaptations: Long arms, legs and tails to swing through trees and avoid ground predators Wings to avoid ground predators Elongated/slender fingers or beaks to reach food in narrow, difficult-to-reach places Camouflage to hunt prey or hide from predators

4. Human Impact Environmental In the process of deforestation, humans cut down trees (every second, a section the size of a football field is cut down). The amount of rainforest on the planet has been reduced from 14 to 6 percent. The absence of trees leads to endangerment and extinction, habitat loss, soil erosion, and climate change. Social Indigenous people that live in the rainforests lose their homes and their cultures to deforestation. Also, medicine is being limited because of the decreasing availability of ingredients that we get from rainforest plants.

5. Temperate Deciduous Forests :a type of forest characterized by trees that seasonally shed their leaves; the trees of deciduous forests usually produce nuts and winged seeds. Climate The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. Location on Planet:

6. Animal and Plant Life Adaptations • Migration: the torpid or resting state in which some animals pass the winter • Adaptation: the making of something suitable for a new use or purpose; modification The Squirrel One adaptation that is extremely beneficial to a squirrel's lifestyle is the anatomy of their back legs. Squirrels are able to rotate their hind feet which allows them to descend down a tree head first. This is helpful for avoiding predation as well as reaching for food and traveling from tree to tree. They also have a heightened olfactory sense. This aids them in their search for food. A good memory also helps them to rediscover the food that they have hidden and stored for winter. The Oak Tree This is a deciduous tree. This means it drops its leaves in the fall, and grows new ones in the spring. Its thin, broad, light-weight leaves capture lots of energy from the sun in the warm weather. In cold weather, the leaves cause too much water loss, and can be weighed down by snow, and so they fall from the tree. Another adaptation includes thick bark that protects against cold temperatures.

7. Human Impact Humans cut down large areas of temperate deciduous forests for the valuable timber and rich soil. While there is a need for these items, the forests suffer terribly from deforestation. Also, the nutrients in the forests’ soil is considerably decreased, which lessens the abundance of overall plant life. Another way that humans are impacting deciduous forests is through pollution. The increased release of toxins into the atmosphere leads to acid rain, which causes more damage to deciduous forests than any other factor.

8. Taigas Climate Location on Planet The taiga climate is for the most part dominated by cold arctic air. Exceptionally cold winds bring cold air from the Arctic Circle. The temperatures fall even more on clear nights when there is no cloud cover. Winter, with its freezing cold temperatures, lasts for six to seven months. Summer is a rainy, hot and short season in the taiga. Fall is the shortest season for taiga. Spring brings flowers, the frozen ponds melt, and the animals come out from hibernation.

9. Animal and Plant Life The Ermine The ermine is a small mammal that resides in northern biomes such as tundras, as well as taigas. It is a carnivore with very sharp teeth. Its flexible spine allows it to do the "marten run" in which the hind feet are tucked in by the front feet, causing the back to arch, and then extend. In the summer, its coat is chocolate brown with a white underbelly and a black tip on the tail. In the winter the coat turns entirely white except for the black end of its tail, which protects it from predators. The Evergreen Tree This is a primary tree of the taiga biome. Its cone shape helps prevent damage. It never loses its needles, and they help to keep the tree warm during the winter. Its branches droop downward to shed excess snow. Adaptations Migration to warmer regions in the winter Ability to produce a layer of insulation (feathers or fur)

10. Human Impact • Deforestation: Current extensive logging in taiga forests may soon lead to their disappearance. • Acid Rain: Air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is causing rain to be more acidic, which weakens the trees and limits the amounts of nutrients available to them. • Global Warming: Biologists and scientists think temperature changes over the next century may occur at rates 15 to 50 times faster than historical averages. Organisms will have trouble responding to these changes and will face even greater odds of surviving. Extreme changes in temperature and precipitation could cause climatic zones to shift.

11. Savannas Climate Location on Planet In the savanna climate, there is a distinct dry season in the winter. Savannas get all their rain in the summer months. The temperature ranges from 68° to 86° F. In the winter, it is usually about 68° to 78° F. In the summer the temperature ranges from 78° to 86° F. The temperature does not change much - when it does, it’s very gradual. Annual precipitation is around 10 to 30 inches of rain.

12. Animal and Plant Life The Zebra Since its vibrant colors make it easy to spot, this mammal lives in herds to protect it from predators. This actually acts as camouflage, so that one may not be spotted as an individual. Acacia Senegal Acacia senegal is a low branching shrub or tree that starts out small and may grow to 7 meters high (maximum 15 meters). The tree flowers during the rainy season and loses its leaves during the dry season. When water is only available at great depth, deeply penetrating tap roots can develop, and the tree will grow considerably larger than normal. Adapataions Long legs or wings to travel and migrate Long mechanisms/features to reach far-away food and water Storage mechanisms for food/water/energy during dry seasons

13. Human Impact Humans haven caused a lot of changes to the landscape of and the animals in savanna biomes over a long period of time. Large areas of savannas have been turned into farmland for growing crops and for rearing cattle. Sometimes, fires are started by humans and they spread quickly through grasses and damage the soils. Moreover, a large number of animals have been hunted for their valuable body parts.

14. Chaparrals Climate Location on Planet In the winter, the Chapparal climate (which is also known as the Mediterranean climate), is mild and moist, but not often rainy. During the summer it is very hot and dry. The temperature is usually mild but it can range from very hot to nearly freezing. The temperature range is between 30° and 100° F. This biome only gets about 10-17 inches of rain all year, and most of it comes in the winter.

15. Animal and Plant Life Black-tailed Jackrabbit Though it is called a jackrabbit, it is actually a hare. They are born with fur for protection against the harsh, dry weather conditions. They have huge ears, through which blood flow can be regulated, which helps the jackrabbit to absorb heat or cool off. It has long legs, and can reach speeds upwards of 36 mph. The soles of their feet are covered with fur, which cushions their step. Their silver and tan fur blends in well with the chaparral landscape. Blue Oak Blue oaks are adapted to drought and dry climates. They can survive temperatures above 100° F for several weeks at a time. In deep, moist soil it can grow up to 60 feet. It is a winter deciduous tree, but will sometimes shed its leaves during severely hot and dry years and go dormant. Adaptations Hard exteriors to survive long periods of dryness Hairy exteriors to collect and use moisture out of the air

16. Human Impact Mainly, humans build tourist attractions in the chaparral biome. One of the major threats is humans coming in and building industries and factories. This affects organisms that depend on natural forest fires to survive. The biome is being simplified to suit modern human needs. As a result, more and more organisms are becoming threatened and endangered. Sustainable revolution is very important in this biome. It is important to have an environment that both humans, plants, and animals can live in. With this evolution, involves cooperation between humans and other organisms. Conservation biology is occurring in the biome. It is a research study that researches the effects that humans have on the environment. Restoration ecology, however, is restoring the environment so that it can be safe for organisms to live. This is also taking place in the chaparrals.

17. Deserts Climate Location on Planet Approximately one inch of rain falls in dry deserts per year. The average annual temperature of these miles of hot sand is 64° F. The climate is very dry; in the day time, temperatures usually exceed 70 degrees while night time temperatures can be freezing.

18. Animal and Plant Life Barrel Cactus This is a cylinder-shaped plant , and is one of the largest cacti in the North American Deserts. The cactus usually reaches 5-11 feet in height. It is protected by sharp 3-4 inch spines. Armadillo Lizard The nostrils of the Armadillo Lizard are formed into little tubes, which help the lizard smell for food or predators. A ground-dwelling lizard, it is active in the daytime and feeds on a wide variety of insects, as well as on spiders and other invertebrates. Its head is narrow in shape. It is fairly slow moving animal, but when the Armadillo Lizard thinks it’s in danger, it can run considerably fast for safety. The ability to store water over long periods of time Hard exteriors for protection and body temperature regulation

19. Human Impact The desert is very fragile in many ways, because of the scarcity of water and plants. Most plants that live in the desert take a long time (sometimes centuries) to grow. Once plants are destroyed, it will take many years for them to grow back. Since soil in the desert is held down by the plants roots, once plants are destroyed the soil is, too. The soil will quickly erode away in the strong winds. Many types of human activities hurt the desert. Off roading is one of these activities. Many people drive their off road vehicles in unrestricted areas all over the desert. Their vehicles leave tracks on the soil, which will scar the land for decades. These tracks also kill off vegetation. When vegetation is harmed, so are the animals. When vegetation dwindles in population, in popular off roading areas, so does the animal population. Animals that hide in the sand can also be harmed.

20. Tundras Climate Location on Planet It is cold through all months of the year Summer is a brief period of milder climates when the sun shines almost 24 hours a day. The short summer lasts only 6 to 10 weeks. It never gets any warmer than 45 or 50° F. The warmer weather causes a layer of permafrost, to melt, creating bogs and shallow lakes that don't drain. The wind blows constantly.Duringthe long winter months the sun barely rises and it is dark for most of the day. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20° F and average -20° to -30°F. The tundra is an unusually cold and dry climate. Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain a year.

21. Animal and Plant Life Arctic Fox The Arctic fox makes its home in small burrows in frost-free ground, often in low mounds, or in rock piles. Because the Arctic fox is a scavenger it can usually find food to eat. It has short legs and a long bushy tail that it uses as insulation by wrapping it around itself when sleeping. Its long hair is white in the winter, and blue/grey in the summer. Its head has a stubby muzzle, small ears, and large eyes. Its feet are lined with fur, which helps it conserve heat. The Arctic fox is a predator, and has adapted a stealthy movement . Arctic Moss The Arctic Moss is an aquatic plant that grows on the bottom of tundra lake beds. Like all mosses, it is a bryophyte, meaning they have rhizoids (tiny rootlets) instead of roots. They have tiny leaves, usually only one cell thick. There are lots of leaves on the stem. They do not have flowers. They can either reproduce by growing shoots or by sending out spores, which need to be wet to survive. It is very slow growing. It grows as slow as one centimeter per year. It also lives a very long time; the shoots live seven to nine years, the leaves live for four. It is brown in color. Its branches are crowded. It is one of the few plants on the tundra. Thick skin and fur to survive harsh/cold temperatures Large feet that allow navigation through and over snow

22. Human Impact Human influences in the Arctic are both seen and unseen. Human activity has seen a dramatic change in the arctic due to climate change. This is by far the worse impact human activity has had on the globe. Other human influences are the vast and untapped oil reserves in the Arctic have made it a target for oil companies. Oil and gas pipelines are a huge human influence in the Arctic. Garbage and other waste not to mention the impact of the oil and gas industry have left some parts of the Arctic polluted.

23. Sources • http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm • http://www.ehow.com/list_6862950_adaptations-animals-tropical-rainforest.html • https://sites.google.com/site/vivianstropicalrainforest/human-impact • http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/dforestA.html • http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/topics/taiga.html#humans