7-2 how does climate affect the nature and locations of biomes?

7-2 How Does Climate Affect the Nature and Locations of Biomes?

Concept 7-2 Differences in average annual precipitation and temperature lead to the formation of tropical, temperate, and cold deserts, grasslands, and forests, and largely determine their locations.

Climate Affects Where Organisms Can Live

Biomes characterized by having similar:• Climate• Precipitation• Temperature

• Soil• Plants• Animal

Latitude and elevation Biomes are mosaics of patches Do not have distinct boundaries (ecotone)

The Earth’s Major Biomes

Generalized Effects of Elevation and Latitude on Climate and Biomes

Natural Capital: Average Precipitation and Average Temperature as Limiting Factors

Biome: Deciduous Forest

Climate• Temperature:

Temperate & Tropical• Precipitation: 75 – 250

cm per year Dominant Vegetation &

Adaptations:• Hardwood (Deciduous)

Trees• Loose leaves in winter

to conserve energy


Major Locations• North America, Europe, Australia, and Eastern

Asia Characteristic Fauna• Black bear, white-tail deer, squirrels, raccoons,

opossums


Soil Characteristics• Very rich soil with high organic content

Other Important Facts• Slow decomposition rates in the forest lead to

high soil quality

Temperate Rain Forest in Washington State, U.S.

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Forests

Biome: Tropical Rainforest

Climate• Temperature: Tropical• Precipitation: 200 – 400 cm per year

Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:• Broadleaf Evergreen trees• Large leaves to catch rare sunlight

• Vines, epiphytes• Get moisture from the air, roots not in ground

• All plants adapted to LOW light


Major Locations• South America, West Africa, Southeast Asia

Characteristic Fauna• Monkeys, insects, amphibians, tropical birds


Soil Characteristics• POOR soil due to rapid rate

of decomposition Other Important Facts• Stratification provides

niches for specialized species – leads to high biodiversity

Stratification of Specialized Plant and Animal Niches in a Tropical Rain Forest

Biome: Grasslands

Climate• Temperature: Tropical & Temperate• Precipitation: 10 – 60 cm per year

Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:• Sod-forming grasses which are adapted to fire • Grasses store most of their biomass in the roots,

this ensures their recovery after a fire, and after grazers have eaten their tops

Biome: Grasslands

Major Locations• North American plains (prairies), Russia

(steppes), South Africa (velds), Argentina (pampas), Africa (savanna)

Characteristic Fauna• Grazers & Browsers

Biome: Grasslands

Soil Characteristics• Rich Soil • Has made the

grasslands prime for human interference by agriculture

Other Important Facts• Fire adapted• Large animals

Climate Graphs of Tropical, Temperate, and Cold Grasslands

Monoculture Crop Replacing Biologically Diverse Temperate Grassland

Biome: Taiga (Boreal or Coniferous Forest)

Climate• Temperature: Cold• Precipitation: 20- 60 cm (mostly in summer)

Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:• Coniferous evergreens• Small needle-shaped leaves with waxy coating to

help conserve energy loss. Stay green all year because of relatively low solar intensity year-round


Major Locations• Northern North America (Canada), Northern

Eurasia Characteristic Fauna• Bears, wolves, moose, lynx, and burrowing

rodents


Soil Characteristics• Soil is thin and nutrient poor

because of the acidic tannins in pine needles

Other Important Facts• California’s Giant Redwoods

(Sequoias)

Biome: Tundra

Climate• Temperature: Cold (grassland)• Precipitation: Less than 25 cm

Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:• Herbaceous plants• Low-growing plants,

dwarf shrubs,lichens

Biome: Tundra

Major Locations• Northern latitudes of North America, Europe and

northern Eurasia Characteristic Fauna• Caribou (reindeer), migratory waterfowl, arctic

wolf, arctic fox, musk oxen, snowy owl

Biome: Tundra

Soil Characteristics• Permafrost!!• Very thin, fragile soil

Other Important Facts• Most annual growth occurs in the 7-8 week long

summer

• Melting permafrost releases CH4 and CO2: both greenhouse gasses!!

Biome: Chaparral (Scrub/Shrub Forest)

Climate• Temperature: Temperate• Precipitation: 50 – 75 cm (mostly in winter)

Dominant Vegetation & Adaptations:• Small trees with large hard leaves, spiny shrubs,

adapted to fire• Burn easily• Seeds germinate

when exposed to hot fire


Major Locations• Western North America, the Mediterranean

Characteristic Fauna• Mule deer, chipmunks, jackrabbits, lizards,

variety of birds


Soil Characteristics• Shallow and infertile soil

Other Important Facts• Prone to fire in dry season• Desirable climate w/ risks!

Chaparral Vegetation in Utah, U.S.

Biome: Deserts (Hot & Cold)

Climate• Temperature: Tropical,

Temperate, Cold• Precipitation: Less

than 25 cm Dominant Vegetation &

Adaptations:• Cactus and other low-

water adapted plants (Succulents)


Major Locations• 30 North and South of the Equator

Characteristic Fauna• Camels, reptiles, rodents (kangaroo rat – never

drinks water)


Soil Characteristics• Coarse texture (sandy)• not good at holding moisture or nutrients

Other Important Facts• Fragile ecosystem due to• Slow plant growth• Low species diversity• Slow nutrient recycling• Lack of water

Climate Graphs of Three Types of Deserts

La Mesa, CA

Philadelphia

Biome review!

What are some of the traits that are similar between biomes of the same type?

What is an ecotone? Which type of grassland is found in Africa? Which type of desert is found in Mongolia? Why is Antarctica not considered a part of a biome? Which biome do we live in? What is stratification? Where do we see it? If I hiked up a mountain, tell me what changes in

vegetation I would experience. Why do pine trees have needle shaped leaves? Why do rainforest trees have broad-leaves? Why do deciduous trees lose their leaves? Explain how grasses are adapted to their environment.

7-2 how does climate affect the nature and locations of biomes?

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