Biomes

Land Biomes

Biomes

• A large geographic area that has a specific climate (av. rainfall and temp.)

Tundra: LocationBelt of land across northern North America,

Europe, Asia, and top of mountains

Tundra• Less than 25cm of

precipitation each year

• Less than 1m deep, ground is frozen– Permafrost

• Boggy is summer when ground thaws

• Temperature range: -30 degrees to 50 degrees F

World map of Tundra Biomes

Tundra: Vegetation• Virtually treeless

• Dominated by herbaceous plants, mosses and lichens

• Grow close to the ground to help them survive icy winds

Tundra: Animal Life

• Large hoofed mammals

• Small rodents

• Some predators

• Migratory birds– During 2 months of

summer

TaigaMostly in northern North America and northern

Eurasia

World map of Taiga Biome

Taiga• Coniferous forest

• Limited precipitation (20 to 60 cm) mostly in summer

• Ground is covered with a thick layer of needles and dead twigs, matted together by fungus

• Temperature range: -65 degrees to 70 degrees F

Vegetation

• Evergreen trees with small compact leaves protected by a thick covering to prevent water loss

• No annual plants

Taiga: Animal Life

• Large and small mammals

• Adaptations to survive winter

• Heavy fur coats and/or hibernation are common

Temperate (Deciduous) ForestNorth America, Europe, Australia, and eastern Asia

Word map of Temperatre Deciduous Forest

Temperate Forest

• Relatively warm summers and relatively cold winters

• 75 to 250 cm precipitation per year spread throughout the year

• Rich topsoil composed of decomposing organic material

• Average temperature is 50 degrees F

Temperate Forest: Vegetation

• Large trees - canopy• Bushes / shrubs /

ferns• Annuals / Perennials

Temperate Forest: Animals

• Variety of mammals• Birds

ChaparralWestern North America and Mediterranean

World Map of Chaparra Biome

Chaparral• Mild, rainy winters

• Long, hot, dry summers

• Temperature range is 30 degrees to 100 degrees F

Chaparral: Vegetation

• Small trees and spiny shrubs with broad, thick evergreen leaves

Chaparral: Animal Life

• Large herbivores move into the chaparral in the spring and out to cooler areas in the summer

• Animals that stay are usually small and dull colored

GrasslandsNorth America (plains and prairies), Russia

(steppes), South Africa (veldt), and Argentina (pampas)

World Map of Grasslands Biome

Grasslands

• Rich agricultural lands

• Periodic droughts, hot-cold seasons

• Rolling flat terrain

• 10 to 60 cm of rain per year

• Warm and wet spring followed by scorching, dry summers

• Cold and snowy winters

• Temperature range is -40 degrees F to 70 degrees F

Grasslands: Vegetation

• Mostly sod-forming grasses mixed with legumes and various annuals

Grasslands: Animal Life

• Small, seed-eating rodents

• Large herbivores and carnivores

SavannaCentral Africa and South America

World map of Savanna Biome

Savanna

• Area of reduced annual precipitation

• Transition between tropical rain forest and desert

• 90-150 cm of rainfall each year

• Wide fluctuation in temperature

• Seasonal drought

• Fine, sandy soil

• Temperature range is 68 degrees to 86 degrees

Savanna: Vegetation• Mostly grasses with

dense root systems that can withstand extensive dry periods

• Few trees that die during

drought

Savanna: Animal Life

• Mammals

• Herbivores– Capable of extracting nutrients from the

cellulose-rich grasses– Ability to be warned of and flee from predators

• Carnivores – adaptations to allow them to catch herbivores

efficiently

Savanna: Animal Life

Tropical RainforestSouth America in and around the Amazon

Basin, in West Africa and in Southeast Asia, and equatorial regions

World Map of Tropical Rainforest Biome

Tropical Rainforest

• Richest biomes in terms of numbers of species (1/2 world’s land organisms)

• Rainfall of 200 to 450 centimeters per year

• Length of the day varies by less than one hour

• Temperature range is 68 degrees F to 93 degrees F

Rainforest: Vegetation

• Tall trees form high canopy of large, leathery leaves

• Variety of flowers

• Woody vines appear in open spaces

• Ferns, orchids, mosses – Adapted to grow at low light intensities

Rainforest: Vegetation

Rainforest: Animal Life

• Large numbers of insects and tree-living vertebrates

• Birds, primates, large and small mammals and reptiles

DesertInteriors of continents, especially Africa,

Eurasia, and Australia

Desert • Less than 25 cm of rainfall per year

• Occur between 20º to 30º north and south latitude

• Warm days but cold nights

• Average temperature is 64 degrees F

World Map of Desert Biome

Desert: Vegetation

• Mostly annuals – Seed to flower in the short period of time

when water is present

• Perennials – Adapted for water storage with no leaves or

leaves that are small and leathery

• All have extensive root systems – Trap water during periods when it is available

Desert: Vegetation

Desert: Animal Life

• Reptiles and insects have waterproof outer coverings and water-conserving excretions

• Mammals are nocturnal with the ability to extract water from plants

Desert: Animals