Land BiomesLand Biomes

Chapter 20Chapter 20

BiomesBiomes

• Geographic area characterized by certain types of plant and animal communities

• Contains smaller ecosystems• Rainfall and temperature are the major

factors determining what biome is in a region

• Not specific to a place– Ex. Desert biome doesn’t refer to one desert

in particular but to any of them

ForestsForests

• Needs enough rain and right temperature– Not too hot, not too cold

• Three types– Temperate Deciduous forest– Coniferous forest– Tropical Rain forest

Temperate Deciduous Temperate Deciduous

• This is where you live• Deciduous = leaves

that fall off• Producers include

trees, grass, moss, ferns

• Animals include bears, birds, rodents and even the platypus

Temperate DeciduousTemperate Deciduous

• Rain• 75-125 cm a year• Temperature• Summer 28 C• Winter 6 C

Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

• Don’t change much from winter to summer

• Long cold winters• Coniferous = pine

trees with cones

Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

• Producers include pine trees mostly and some flowers, moss, wild potato

• Animals include yak, llamas, goats, birds, snow leopards

Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

• Rain – 35-75 cm• Temperature 14 C in

summer, -10 C in winter

• Also called Boreal forest or Tiaga

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

• More diversity than any other biome

• Some animals only live in the tree tops (canopy) while others live on the ground.

• Most nutrients are found in the vegetation

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

• Producers include bamboo, various trees such as coconut, lianas or vines, flowers and strangler fig

• Animals include elephants, tigers, monkeys, bats and insects

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

• Rain – up to 400 cm a year

• Temperature -> 34 C during the day

• 20 C at night• Also called the jungle

GrasslandsGrasslands

• Also called steppes, pampas, prairies

• Found between deserts and forests

• Found on every continent

• Most are flat with rolling hills

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland

• Prairie• Rain 25-75 cm a year• Temperature – 30 C

in summer• 0 C in winter

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland

• Producers include GRASS, and small flowering plants

• Animals include prairie dogs, birds, mice, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, insects

SavannaSavanna

• Tropical Grassland• 150 cm in rain a year• Temperature –

– Dry season 34 C– Wet season 16 C

SavannaSavanna

• Producers include GRASS with scattered trees

• Animals include elephants, giraffes, zebras, gazelles, wildebeests, leopards, lions and hyenas

SavannaSavanna

• Think of the Lion King

DesertDesert

• Hot, dry area• Plants and animals

have adapted to gain and conserve water

• Rain – less than 25 cm a year

• Temperature- 38 C in the summer, 7 C in the winter

DesertDesert

• Producers include cactus, small flowering plants such as aster, and bushes

• Animals include rodents, birds, bobcats, reptiles such as snakes, lizards, tortoise and gila monsters

DesertDesert

TundraTundra

• Far North on tops of mountains

• Too cold for trees to grow

• Permafrost – permanently frozen ground below the surface– Keeps water from

draining keeping surface soggy and wet

TundraTundra

• Producers include moss, grasses, berries, tea, small willow shrubs and lichens

• Animals include caribou, musk oxen, lemmings, shrews, hares, birds, bears, fox and wolves

TundraTundra

• Rain – 30-50 cm a year

• Temperature – 12 C in summer– -26 C in winter