Biomes of the World

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Main Biomes of the World

Defining Characteristics of a Biome1.Precipitation/Rainfall - average in a year2.Climate – The average temperature in a yearly period.

Types of BiomesDesert; Grassland; Deciduous Forest, Coniferous Forest; Tropical Rainforest; Tundra/Alpine; Aquatic

Tropical Rain Forest• Near the equator

– Central Africa, Central and South America (North of Amazon), India, SE Asia, part of Australia

• More than 200 cm rainfall per year• Warm & wet all year• Roof of rainforest= Canopy: 35 m or taller• Quick Decomposition of organisms• Broadleaf plants, palms, tree ferns, climbing

vines, bromeliads• Bats, lizards, snakes, monkeys, baboons,

toucans, sloths, parrots

Tropical Rain Forest Producers

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Tropical Rain

Forest Consumer

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Destruction of Tropical Rainforests

• Destroyed at an alarming rate- clear cut and burned for farming

• 200+ cm of rain each year leads to erosion of soil, leaving the land useless within just a few years.

• Extinction of thousands of species

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Tropical Rainforest Deforestation Map

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•The United States has a

Temperate Rainforest

• this means that the level of precipitation is over 200 cm per year

•but the temperature is cool, creating the temperate effect

•This rainforest is found in the states Oregon and Washington

Temperate Rainforest Producers

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Desert

• Less than 25 cm of rain per year• Extremely dry• Sand storms, sand dunes• Cactus, fleshy plants, succulents,

grasses, small-leaved shrubs, tumbleweeds

• Lizards, snakes, small rodents, camels, sidewinders, coyote, desert tortoise, desert hare, desert toad, beetles

Desert Producer

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Desert Consumer

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Deciduous Forest

• More than 75 cm of rain per year• Moist with cold winters and warm

summers• Broadleaf deciduous trees (elms,

maples, oaks) – trees lose leaves• Raccoons, squirrels, small birds, deer

Deciduous Forest

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Deciduous Forest

Consumers

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Coniferous Forest

• More than 50 cm of rainfall per year• Cool and moist on mountains• Mild winters & heavy rainfalls in

coastal areas• Conifers have waxy coatings• Cedars, hemlocks, pines, redwood• Bears, mountain lions, wolves, birds,

elk

Coniferous Producers

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Coniferous Consumer

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Tundra and Alpine Regions

• ~20 cm of rain per year• Extremely cold and dry• Lichen, shrubs, grass-like plants• Arctic foxes, arctic hare, polar bears,

grizzly bears, lemmings, wolves, migratory birds, mountain lions, mountain goats, alpaca, llamas, caribou

Tundra and Alpine Terminology

• Permafrost – soil that is permanently frozen 3-4 inches down; keeps plant life from growing deep roots

• Altitude – moving up a mountainside – the air thins out and causes a change in climate

• North/South Poles – these areas experience extended periods of sunlight or twilight depending on the season

Tundra and Alpine Producers

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Tundra and Alpine

Consumers

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Grasslands

• Other names – Savannah; Plains; Prairie; Pampas; Steppes; Veldt

• Between 25 – 75 cm of rain each year• Mild temperatures; dry and rainy

seasons• Acacia, grasses, herbaceous plants• Antelopes, buffalo, wolves, coyotes,

hyenas, lions, zebra, rhinoceros, hippopotamus

Grassland Producers

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Grassland

Consumers

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Aquatic

• Fresh Water and Salt Water • Ponds, lakes, rivers, coastal areas,

oceans• Seaweed, sea grass• Squid, dolphins, sharks, whales, seals,

walrus, penguins, octopus, crocodiles, alligators, turtles, oysters, clams, shrimp, pelicans, fish, seagulls, manatees

Aquatic Producers

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Aquatic Consumers

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