BiomesBy Gina-Gail Auslander and Kaitlin Hon

The Estuaries BiomeThe Chaparral Biome

I'll be your tour guide for the chaparral biome.

I'll be your tour guide for the estuaries biome.

finished both?Take the quiz!

The Chaparral BiomeThe chaparral biome gets its name from the "semi-arid shrub that is dominant in these regions. The Sclerphyllous is a woody plant that has adapted to the summer droughts and mild, wet winters that frequent the chaparral biome". Fires occur infrequently with natural intervals of 30 to 150 years.

Fun Fact: Did you know this biome is most often portrayed in "Wild West" movies?

This biome is found on the western coast of the United States and South America, the Cape Town part of Africa, and the western tip of Australia as well as coastal regions of the Mediterranean.

The chaparral ranges from flat plains, rocky hills, to mountains.

Done with this biome? Head on over to the next one!

The Chaparral Biome (cont.)

The Mediterranean Chaparral Biome

The California Chaparral Biome

The two most common examples of the chaparral biome are: the Mediterranean chaparral biome and the California chaparral biome.

The Mediterranean Chaparral Biome• This biome is found in Europe, Africa, Asia Minor, North America,

as well as South America.

• The annual rainfall is approximately 15 to 40 inches.

• The temperature ranges from 37° to 91.5° F.

• These particular biomes are generally located at 30° and 50° North and South latitude, mostly on the west coasts of continents.

30°N

30°S

40°N

40°S

Click here for more info about its climate!

Physical Features

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· The Mediterranean chaparral biome is comprised mainly of shrublands and woodlands.

Click here to find more on the plant life!

Click here to find out more on the animal life!

Vegetation of the Mediterranean Chaparral Biome• The plants of this biome include: evergreens, cacti, olive trees,

flower trees (ex.oranges), and cork oak.

Most of the plants here have small, leathery leaves with a waxy covering or small hard needles and thick bark. This is all in an effort to prevent evaporation because the climate can get very hot and dry at times.

In order to obtain as much water as possible through the times of droughts, plants here are designed in a way that their roots catch and absorb as much water as possible. Their roots don't go very deep but rather they extend horizontally.

Some even go as far as to have thorns to prevent any unwanted dinner guests from eating them.

Did you know that these plants have fire-resistant roots?

Aromatic Plants and HerbsThere are also aromatic plants as well as herbs which include: rosemary,

thyme, sage, and oregano.

These plants, however, are a source of danger in the sense that they have extremely flammable oils and thus can easily play a role in forest fires. These fires are usually caused by lightning which can release mineral nutrients that are essential to the regeneration of a plant.

Animals of the Mediterranean Chaparral Biome

Animals in this kind of biome have to be able to live in the hot climate. Animals include the Apennine wolf, the beech-marten,

wild goats, and wild sheep.

deer, the black stork, the black vulture,the dormouse, the Egyptian mongoose, the great bustard,

the hare, the hedgehog, the Iberian lynx,the Spanish Imperial Eagle, the weasel, the wild boar,

Animals here, just like the plants, have to be very well adapted to the climate and terrain that is associated with the Mediterranean Chaparral biome. Due to the rugged terrain, animals here are excellent climbers, search for food and provisions over a larger span of land, and adapt their diets to fit the inadequate environment.

Done with the Mediterranean Chaparral? Guess what. It's time for you to check out the other biomes!

The California Chaparral Biome• This particular type of biome is mainly found on the coast of

California, hence the name.

• The average rainfall averages from 12 to 40 inches of rain yearly.

• The average temperature in the coastal areas is between 53° and 65°F and 32° and 60°F in the mountain regions.

• It is located between 53° to 65° N latitude in the areas near the coast and about 32° to 60°N latitude in the mountain areas.

53°N65°N

32°N

60°N

Want more info? Check out this website!

Physical Features- Just like the Mediterranean Chaparral, the California Chaparral is characterized by woodlands and grasslands along with the prominent shrubs covering the ground.-The California Chaparral is more desert like than its Mediterranean counterpart.

PlantsAnimals

Plants of the California Chaparral Biome

The plants in this region are:

oaks,

pines,

mahoganies,and brush (ex. narrow leaf golden brush).

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Animals of the California Chaparral BiomeThe animals include: Bewick's wren, cactus mouse,

California quail, California striped racer Snake, California thrasher , chipmunk, coyote, deer, deer mouse, fox, kangaroo rats, lizards, lynx, mountain lion, northern red diamond rattlesnake, orange-throated whiptail lizard, pocket mouse, rabbit, Southern Pacific rattlesnake, spiders, spotted towhee, wood rats, wrentit, and the zebra swallowtail butterfly.

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The Estuaries BiomeWhat is an "estuary?"

An estuary is a body of water that is partially enclosed, where freshwater from rivers and streams mix with salty sea waters.

Estuaries can go by many different names such as bays, lagoons, harbors, inlets and sounds.

Estuaries make for a home that can support a wide variety of life. Estuarine environments are among the most productive on earth, creating more organic matter each year than comparably-sized areas of forest, grassland, or agricultural land.

Well...

Fun Fact: The Hudson Bay is an example of an estuary biome.

The Estuaries Biomehttp://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/estuaries.html

-click the link above to watch a video about the estuary biome

Don't worry. We have all the info sorted out for you. Just head on over to the next slide.

Physical Features

Plant Animals

Because estuaries aren't limited to any one climate, the characteristics of estuaries can vary quite a bit. The basis for an estuary is that it is the merging of a freshwater body with a saltwater body.

Plants

The waters of an estuary is subjected to many salinity level changes due to tides so it is important for the plants to be able to adjust themselves accordingly. Plants such as these are known as euryhalines.

It takes quite a bit of energy to adjust to the ever changing salt levels so the plants here have developed special characteristics to survive. For example, the smooth cordgrass has developed special filters in its roots to expel the salt that it might absorb while taking its fill of water.

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Animals

Plants aren't the only ones here who have to put in the extra effort to surive; the animals have to do their own work as well. Oysters and blue crabs are a prime example of this.

Birds and other critters that love bugs and fish can thrive fairly nicely in these areas.

But there is more than meets the eye in this biome! This place is just crawling with a plethora of microorganisms!

Invertebrates eat these microorganisms which are then eaten by fish. And as we said earlier, this makes it the perfect place for birds and other fish loving creatures!

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Ready for the quiz?

START

Question 1:Most cacti have a special adaptation

and thus are known as CAM plants. Which of the following is the reason as to why cacti have this type of adaptation?

a) it helps them conserve waterb) it prevents photorespirationc) all of the aboved) none of the above

Correct!Congrats! You're off to a good start!

click here to go to question 2

Maybe you should check it over again...

...just to make sure...

click here to go back to question 1

Question 2:Since vegetation in the chaparral region has

adapted by having fire-resistant roots, how might this help or increase the survival of a plant or tree?

a) the fire resistant roots give the plant a place to begin the process of regeneration after a fire

b) the roots store food reserves that also aid in the process of regenerationc) the xylem in the roots provide water that helps put out the fire fasterd) both a and be) all of the above

"Steak Sauce!"...as Mr. Krauz would say...

click here to go to question 3

Ooooh.....So Close....Oh well. But you know what they say,

"practice makes perfect!"

click here to go back to question 2

Question 3:A student in California is trying to figure out which biome a specific place is. He knows that this is a particular biome that is located at 30-40° North latitude but has rainfall under five inches at this time of year. Based upon your scientific knowledge, which biome could this be?

a) the desert biome b) the chaparral biome c) the temperate grasslands biomed) the deciduous trees biome

"On the money!"...another one of Mr. Krauz's famous

quotes...

click here to go to question 4

Better luck next time!It's okay. Everyone makes mistakes.

However, you, my friend, has the ability to go back and fix it.

click here to go back to question 3

Question 4:Many chaparral animals are active mostly at

night, except, of course, for the cold-blooded ones. Why do you think that these animals are more active at night?

a) they are nocturnalb) the sunlight makes the ground to hot to walk

onc) there is less of a risk of a forest fire at nightd) this is one of their adaptations against heat

Keep up the good work!You're almost halfway there!

click here to go on to question 5

This didn't really happen.In fact, I bet you could just go back and try it again.

click here to go back to question 4

Question 5:Plants in the chaparral biome have

adapted through the growth of extremely long roots. While this is useful in protecting against erosion, what else is it helpful for?

a) it prevents runoffb) the water in this dry environment is

more easily absorbed by plantsc) it prevents the water from evaporatingd) it helps keep the plant rooted in the

ground

Halfway there!?I can't believe it either...

click here to go to question 6

Slow down!Take your time! It's not like you have anywhere to be right now...

click here to go back to question 5

Question 6Plants in an estuary biome have to be

able to adapt to the changing salt levels. If the water around them has a higher salt concentration then...

a) The water is hypertonic to the plantb)The water and the plant are isotonicc) The plant is hypertonic to the waterd) The water is hypotonic to the plant

Congratulations! If I had a cookie, I would give you one.

click here to go to question 7

Don't cry.I have this magical button that will allow you to go back and try the question again.

click here to go back to question 6

Question 7In an estuary biome, a common food

chain is: marsh plant--> protozoa--> amphipod-->stickleback (fish) -->Great Blue Heron (bird). Here, the stickleback fish is a...

a) primary consumerb) secondary consumerc) tertiary consumerd) producer

What? You answered it right?

What is this sorcery?

click here to go to question 8

How could you let this happen?

Hurry up and try again before your mom sees thatyou got a question wrong.

click here to go back to question 7

Question 8Which statement best describes a

mediterranean chaparral biome?

a) cold temperatures all year with a lot of rain

b) Not too hot but not too cold with little to no rain

c) hot temperatures with a lot of raind) hot temperatures with scarce rainfall

Awesomtastic!...is not a word but you get the idea.

click here to go to question 9

Now is not the time to guess!

You're almost done with this anyway.

click here to go back to question 8

Question 9What animal adaptation are you most

likely to find in a california chaparral biome?

a) webbed feet-perfect for a day to the neighborhood pool

b) thick fur coats- for all those snow daysc) long legs-So you can get around all

these hillsd) none of the above

Oh my sparkly kittens wrapped in bacon!

You answered the question correctly.

click here to go to question 10

I thought we were friends...

Friends don't answer another friend's question incorrectly...

click here to go back to question 9

kk.

Question 10Which animal is most likely to

survive/live in an estuary biome?

a) an animal that works best on landb) an animal that has a long wide beak

for catching fishc) an animal with claws made for

burrowing undergroundd) all of the above

Would you look at that?Well bless my stars, you're finally done.Don't you feel better now?

This way to your freedom

Seriously? This is the last question! Don't you want to go play some video games already!?

Thank You~

not my artwork.

Thank You~

Hope you had fun and learned a lot.Here is a completely random video but we thought it would put you in a good mood after studying so hard >.<