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Explore the various biomes, from the vast oceans to the lush tropical rainforests, each with unique characteristics and ecosystems. Learn about the different types of biomes and the diverse plant and animal life they support.
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Biomes: An Overview • Question: What is a biome? • Answer: Large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community • Climax community= stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species. • Question: How many types of biomes are there? • Answer: 2: Aquatic and Terrestrial
Ocean • Covers ¾ of the earth’s surface • Highest level of biomass (living material) • Two zones a: photic=shallow levels with light b: aphotic=deep waters with no light
Freshwater • Rivers, lakes and ponds • Living things are near to the warmer surface • Less biomass than the ocean
Tundra • South of the north pole • Long summer days • Short winter sunlight • Treeless terrain, with little other plant-life • Permafrost=permanently frozen under the topsoil • Few living animals (oxen, snowshoe hares, reindeer)
Taiga • South of the tundra • Northern Coniferous forest • Poor soil for growth due to coniferous needles (lacks permafrost) • Long winters, short summers (warmer than tundra) • More living organisms than the tundra
Desert • Driest region (less than 25cm of precipitation) • Almost nonexistent plant life • Living things have adaptations to survive (cacti=thorns • Example animals=owls, kangaroo rat, coyotes. • Example plants=shrubs, mesquite trees, cacti
Grassland • Moderate precipitation (25-75cm) • Covered with grasses and small plants • Largest terrestrial biome (bison, wolves, humans) • Called prairies (Canada/U.S.A), savannas in Africa, steppes in Russia • More area than any other biome in the world • 4 seasons!
Temperate Forests • Approximately 70-150 cm of precipitation • Broad-leaf trees (lose foliage) • Top layer of soil rich • Deep layer made of clay • 4 seasons • Birds, mice, deer, bears make up common animals
Tropical Rain Forest • More species than any other biome on earth…why? • This area was never covered with ice during the Ice Age, so large scale extinction did not occur • Typically warm in temperature due to proximity to the equator • Wet=more than 200cm of rainfall • Poor vegetation growth in low levels of forest due to large amount of decomposers