organisms and the environment
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Organisms and the Environment. Chapter Six: Biomes. 6.1 Climates and Biomes 6.2 Deserts and Grasslands 6.3 Temperate Forests and Rainforests 6.4 Taigas and Tundras. Investigation 6A. Environments Around School. What causes different microclimates within an ecosystem?. 6.2 Deserts. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Organisms and the Environment
Chapter Six: Biomes
• 6.1 Climates and Biomes
• 6.2 Deserts and Grasslands
• 6.3 Temperate Forests and Rainforests
• 6.4 Taigas and Tundras
Investigation 6A
• What causes different microclimates within an ecosystem?
Environments Around School
6.2 Deserts
• A desert is a climate region that averages less than 35 cm. of rainfall per year.
• Due to a lack of clouds, deserts get more than twice as much incoming sunlight as other regions.
Why don’t deserts have cloud cover?
6.2 Rainshadow deserts
• One desert found in eastern Washington state, is the result of the “rainshadow effect.”
• Moist air rises as it travels up the western slope of the Cascade mountains range and cools, causing lots of rain.
• By the time the air reaches the eastern side, there is very little moisture left.
6.2 Desert life
• Many different kinds of organisms have adapted to desert life.
• In fact, only the tropical rainforest biome contains a greater number of plant and animal species.
6.2 Grasslands
• Grasslands are found on every continent except Antarctica.
• There are two types of grasslands:– savannas (tropical
grasslands), and – temperate grasslands.
Which type of grassland is found in South America?
6.2 Grasslands
• Savannas are characterized by two seasons: rainy and dry.
• During the rainy season, from 50 to 127 cm. of rain can fall.
• This season is followed by a drought, in which wildfires can occur.
• Fires and poor soil conditions prevent the growth of most trees.
6.2 Grasslands
• In some areas, trees grow only on termite mounds.
• The isolated trees found in savannas have cork-like bark that protect against fire damage.
6.2 Grasslands
• Many large mammals of the savanna, including wildebeest have long legs that enable them to outrun fires.
6.2 Grasslands
• Around the world, grasslands go by different names.
Which type of grassland is closest to where you live?