1. Biomes

2. Location

3. Arctic Tundra

4. Location Arctic Tundra • About 55o to 70o North latitude

5. What “Controls” This Biome? Arctic Tundra • Long winters & short summers • Growing season for plants is often 8 weeks or less therefore this limits growth Unique Information or Adaptations • Permafrost exists there (ground is permanently frozen below the ground surface) • Trees can’t grow in tundra due to permafrost

6. Typical Species Arctic Tundra • In the summer, area above permafrost melts & ground becomes spongy • Lots of wetlands here that breed thousands of insects & attract lots of migratory birds • Caribou & herd animals, arctic fox, snowy owl, lemmings, grizzly bears (fig. 6-26)

7. Threats to this Biome Arctic Tundra • Oil & Gas exploration & drilling • Climate Change

8. Coniferous Evergreen Forest Other Names: Boreal Forest or Taiga Location • Just south of the Arctic tundra in the northern hemisphere

9. Coniferous Forest What “Controls” This Biome? • Cold & long winters (sun shines 6-8hrs/day) • Short cool summers (sun shines 19 hrs/day) • Low precipitation • Growing season for plants is short

10. Coniferous Forest Unique Information or Adaptations • Needles of trees have waxy coating to help keep moisture in the plant • Needles decompose slowly and cause the soil to be acidic & nutrient poor • Low plant diversity (few species can survive w/ frozen soil moisture)

11. Typical Species Coniferous Forest • Primarily Coniferous Evergreen Trees • Black Spruce, White Spruce, Balsam Fir, also may have Paper Birch, and Quaking Aspen • Bears, Wolves, Moose, Beaver, Owls

12. Coniferous Forest Threats to this Biome • Deforestation • Climate Change

13. Temperate Deciduous Forest Location • Eastern US, China & much of Europe

14. Temperate Deciduous Forest What “Controls” This Biome? • Moderate average temperatures that change significantly with the season • Abundant precipitation throughout the year • Long & warm summers & cold but not severe winters • Thick layer of leaf litter (nutrients!)

15. Unique Information or Adaptations Temperate Deciduous Forest • Fairly low rate of decomposition & lots of nutrients w/ fallen leaves • Penetration of more sunlight and high precipitation support variety of ground-level plant life

16. Typical Species Temperate Deciduous Forest • Broadleaf Deciduous Trees • White-tailed deer • Lots of birds • Mice, frogs, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, raccoons

17. Temperate Deciduous Forest Threats to this Biome • Deforestation, habitat loss & fragmentation • Replacement of old-growth forest with tree plantations

18. Tropical Rainforest Location • Northern South America, Southern Central America, SE Asia, Equatorial Africa

19. Tropical Rainforest What “Controls” This Biome? • Warm annual temperature with heavy rainfall almost daily • Most nutrients are in the plants/animals – not in the soil • Soil nutrients limit growth as temperature & water are not limiting • Rapid decomposition

20. Tropical Rainforest Unique Information or Adaptations • Lots of biodiversity • Highly stratified • Lianas – hanging vines have developed a twisting adaptation to survive the pulling between trees with the wind • Green tree snakes – camouflage • Epiphytes – “air plants” (some are bromeliads) • Buttresses – large base of trunk of a tree • Shallow roots so buttress helps support tree • Also captures nutrients when it rains

21. Tropical Rainforest Typical Species • Broadleaf Evergreen • High diversity of trees here Threats to this Biome • Deforestation

22. Temperate Rainforest Other Names: Coastal Coniferous Forest Location • Coastal area of Alaska

23. Temperate Rainforest What “Controls” This Biome? • Coastal areas with ample rainfall or moisture from dense fogs • Winters are mild & summers are cool

24. Unique Information or Adaptations Temperate Rainforest • Nearness to oceans moderates the temperatures • Trees depend of frequent rains & moisture from summer fog

25. Temperate Rainforest Typical Species • Large Conifers • Sitka Spruce • Douglas Fir • Redwoods Threats to this Biome • Deforestation

26. Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Other Names: Prairies Tall Grass Short Grass Pampas Savanna – Tropical Grassland

27. Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Location • Varies widely but in the interiors of continents

28. Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands What “Controls” This Biome? • Cold winters • Hot & dry summers • Uneven precipitation through the year 10-40 inches or so

29. Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands Unique Information or Adaptations • Fires in summer & fall are often • Fires keep trees out • Tropical Grasslands may have occasional deciduous tree • Flat top acacias (Lion King) • Eucalyptus in Australia • Prairie plants regenerate after fire due to their deep roots • Organic matter accumulates to produce a deep fertile soil • Soil held in place by thick network of roots

30. Typical Species Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands • Grasses • Beetles • Insects • Prairie Dogs • Tropical Grassland • Large herds of grazing & hoofed animals • Gazelles • Zebras

31. Threats to this Biome Temperate Grasslands and Tropical Grasslands • Plowing • Agriculture • Overgrazing by domesticated animals

32. Chaparral Other Names: Temperate Shrubland Location • Varies widely

33. What “Controls” This Biome? Chaparral • Mediterranean climate • Winters are mild • Moderate rain in winter • Summers are long, hot & dry

34. Chaparral Unique Information or Adaptations • Fires are needed by this biome • Dense undergrowth of drought resistant shrubs that have large root systems • Dry brittle vegetation that is dormant in hot & dry season • Shrubs have a waxy coating on “leaves” to keep moisture in

35. Typical Species Chaparral • Scrub Oak • Spiny Evergreen shrubs Threats to this Biome • People Like to Live Here & put out fires

36. Location Desert • At about 30o of latitude where air has lost its moisture from the tropics

37. Desert What “Controls” This Biome? • An area where evaporation exceeds precipitation • Precipitation typically less than 10 inches per year & scattered unevenly throughout the year • Lack of water “controls” this biome

38. Unique Information or Adaptations Desert • Succulent plants – thorns & waxy coating to protect and keep moisture in • Animals – nocturnal & live in burrows • Rarely urinate & it may be crystals • Plants have • Shallow & wide roots • No leaves • Vegetation is sparse • Cover 30% of the earth’s land

39. Desert Typical Species • Succulents • Rattlesnakes • Roadrunner • Red-tailed Hawk

40. Threats to this Biome Desert • Deserts take a long time to recover • Tracks left by tanks practicing during WWII are still visible • Off-roading • Irrigated crops

41. Rain Shadow Effect • The up wind side of mountain ranges are very wet & dry downwind • Downwind sides are often deserts

42. Location Mountain Biome • Scattered all over the world

43. Mountain Biome What “Controls” This Biome? • Wide variety of various biomes as you go up in elevation • 100m gain in elevation = 100km change in latitude (not always)

44. Mountain Biome Unique Information or Adaptations • Wide variety of biomes on a single mountain

45. Threats to this Biome Mountain Biome • Rapidly increasing population • Increased extraction of timber & minerals • Dams • Skiing & tourism • Increase warfare in mountainous areas (guerilla warfare) • Climate Change