BiomesEQ: How are the Earth’s terrestrial biomes alike and different?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZm7InA_qWk

Biomes

A biome is a large area characterized by its abiotic and biotic factors

Abiotic: climate

Biotic: plants and animals.

A biome contains related ecosystems

Biomes are classified as either terrestrial (land) or aquatic (water)

Abiotic Factors

A biome is characterized by its climate, plants and animals

Climate is the long-term weather patterns for an area determined by its temperature and precipitation.

In biomes where the climate is characterized by high temperatures and high levels of rainfall, you will find abundant life.

Example: Rainforest

In biomes where the climate is characterized by either low temperatures and/or low amounts of precipitation, life is more scarce.

In general, the closer to the equator the biome is, the more life will exist

The Earth’s Terrestrial (Land) Biomes

There are seven major terrestrial (land)biomes:

Tundra

Coniferous Forest/Taiga

Desert

Grassland/Prairie

Grassland/ Savanna

Deciduous Forest

Rainforest

Tundra

Alaska, Northern Canada

Long cold winters

Cool summers.

“Frozen desert”

Little plant and animal life.

Permafrost

Desert

SW United States, Mexico, Africa, Australia, Middle East

Little rainfall

Extreme temp differences

Succulents

Nocturnal animals

Prairie/Grasslands

Midwest US,

Moderate precipitation

Wide range of temperatures

Windy

Flat terrain

Covered in grass

Savannas

Africa, India, S. America

Wet/Dry seasons

Wide range of temperatures

Deep rooted grasses

Hooved animals

Coniferous Forest/Taiga

Canada, N.Europe, Asia

Long, cold winters

Moderate summers

Precipitation is mostly snow

Conifers

Temperate/Deciduous Forest

Eastern US, W. Europe, E. Asia

Our biome!

Four seasons

Moderate temperatures

Moderate rain

Trees lose leaves

Tropical Rainforest

Equatorial regions

70-200 inches of rain

High temps

Layers of vegetation

Most species!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4bNrIIe0bk&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1

Aquatic Biomes

Water covers ¾ of the Earth, and is home to both the largest and the smallest organisms.

There are two types of aquatic biomes:

Marine (Ocean)

Freshwater (lakes, rivers, streams, etc)

Aquatic Biomes

Cover ¾ of the Earth

Smallest organisms

Largest organisms

Marine (Ocean)

Freshwater