biomes

BIOMES

There are 6 major biomes in the world:• Rain Forest• Desert• Grassland• Deciduous or Temperate

Forest• Taiga or Boreal Forest• Tundra

Rain Forest Biome

Rain Forest Biome Climate• Almost constant

temperature - 25°C (77°F)

• High humidity• More than 200 cm

rainfall yearly www.angelfire.com

Rain Forest Animals More than any other biome - the

greatest variety (or diversity) and number of animals live here. The reason is the constant warmth and supply of water and food.

Small animals (monkeys, birds, snakes, rodents, frogs, lizards, insects, etc) often live only in the trees – never coming to the ground

Rain Forest Plants Emergent Layer Canopy Understory Forest Floor There is 12 hours of sunlight in a tropical

rainforest biome, but less than 2% of it reaches the ground.

Soil is very poor and infertile. “Jungle”

Desert Biome

Desert BiomeThese areas get very little precipitation

and have extreme

temperatures.www.uwsp.edu

Desert Biome Climate• 10°C – 38°C (50°F - 100°F)• Less than 25 cm (10 in)

rainfall yearly

Desert Animals Reptiles, insects, birds, small

mammals. These animals seek shade,

burrow, and are active at night (nocturnal).

Get water from food: insects, seeds, plants

Desert Plants Short grasses, sagebrush,

creosote bushes, cacti Adaptations for survival: LONG

(20 – 30 ft) tap roots (root goes deep into the ground to “tap” into groundwater, large horizontal root systems, and the ability to store water

Grassland Biome

2 types of grassland biome

Prairies – found in middle latitudes

Savannas – found close to equator

www.ucmp.berkeley.edu

www.lasr.net

Grassland Biome Climate• 0°C – 25°C (32°F - 77°F)• 25-100 cm rainfall yearly• Very warm summers

Grassland (Prairie) Animals Buffalo, prairie dogs –

many small mammals which are herbivores

Grassland (Savannah) Animals Some of the Earth’s largest animals:

elephants, giraffes, antelopes, cheetah, lions, rhinoceros

Many migrate because there is a long dry season and a wet season.

Grassland (Prairie) plants Grasses and other non-woody plants

which can grow very tall because the soil is very fertile.

Droughts are common – plants have adapted to survive long periods without water.

Fires are common – in fact helps new growth for many of these plants.

Grassland (Savannah) plants Grasses and some short (scrub) trees.

Grasses can grow very tall because the soil is very fertile.

Have adapted to survive the long dry seasons and intense wet seasons

Grow quickly when the water is available Fires are common – in fact helps new

growth for many of these plants.

Deciduous Forest or Temperate Forest Biome

Deciduous Forest Biome• Deciduous trees are trees

that lose their leaves.

• 50 cm - 200 cm precipitation yearly (rain and snow)

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov

Deciduous Forest Biome• 4 distinct seasons• The summers are warm

and the winters are cool. The average temperatures in the summer are 28º C (82º F) and in the winter are 6º C (43º F).

Deciduous Forest Biome• These forests have several

layers of vegetation or plants. These plants include shrubs, moss, ferns, and lichens because they don’t need much light.


Deciduous Forest Biome• The trees in these forests

are hardwoods such as oak, hickory, maple, beech, birch, and sweet gum.


Deciduous Forest Biome• There is a diverse

population of animals in these forests and a large number of animals. They are all adapted to survive the season changes.


Deciduous Forest Biome Climate• Examples of animals

include cardinals, robins, owls, deer, black rat snakes, opossum, mice, squirrels, raccoons, etc.


Deciduous Forest or Temperate Forest Biome

Georgia is in a deciduous forest biome.

Taiga (Coniferous or Boreal Forest)

Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome Climate• Very cold winters average

= -10º C or 14º F; warmer summer temperatures, average = 14º C or 57º F

Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome Climate

• 45-125 cm precipitation yearly

Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome

• This is a forest of conifers. Conifers are trees that produce seeds in cones. The pine tree is a common example.


• Conifer leaves save water with a thick, waxy layer that covers the leaves, or needles.


• Conifers are softwoods. Other examples are fir, spruce, and hemlock (think Christmas trees)


• Most of the animals are herbivores.

• Most survive the brutal winters by migrating or hibernating.


• Migration is the movement of animals from one habitat that will no longer support them to another habitat that will.


• Hibernation is when an animal is inactive and slows down its metabolism. It is able to lower its body temperature, slow down its breathing, and/or lower its metabolic rate.


• Examples of herbivores are squirrels, insects, birds, snowshoe hares, moose, and beavers.

• Examples of predators are wolves, bears, great horned owls, foxes, and lynxes.

Tundra Biome

Tundra Biome Climate• -40°C – 10°C (-40°F – 50°F)• Less than 25 cm

precipitation yearly• Tundra means “marshy

plain”

www.blueplanetbiomes.org

Tundra Biome• Permafrost is soil

that stays frozen all year. It is found beneath the top, thawed layer.


Tundra Biome• Because of the permafrost

the top layer of soil is always soggy. Because the soil that is NOT frozen is only a few inches deep, only plants with shallow roots can survive.

Tundra Biome• Plants are mosses,

grasses, shrubs, and small, short trees.


Tundra Biome• In the summer there

are many insects and birds that feed on the insects. Before winter these birds migrate.


Tundra Biome Climate• Mammals of the

tundra include caribou, foxes, wolves, polar bears, and arctic wolves.


Tundra Biome• The mammals that

remain in the winter grow thick fur coats.


Tundra Biome• Small mammals like

lemmings, hares, and shrews are also common.


biomes

Documents

water grassland biome

forest animalsmore

govdeciduous forest

biome climate0c

biome climate10c

common plants

tropical rainforest

supply of water