Transcript Biomes PPT
BIOMES! How are Biomes Determined? What makes a forest a forest? A desert a desert? Create a chart to show what you know about how biomes are characterized Climate vs. Weather • • Weather is the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time. Climate is the average weather condition in an area over a long period of time. Lots of factors influence an area’s climate… Latitude The amount of direct solar energy a particular area receives is determined by latitude. Seasons happen because the Earth is tilted on its axis at a 23.5° angle. This tilt affects how much solar energy an area receives as Earth moves around the sun. Prevailing Winds Winds that blow mainly from one direction are prevailing winds. The circulation of warm and cold air causes prevailing winds. Mountains Mountains can influence an area’s climate by affecting both temperature and precipitation. Water Large bodies of water can influence an area’s climate. Water absorbs and releases heat slower than land does. Because of this quality, water helps to moderate the temperatures of the land around it. As surface currents move, they carry warm or cool water to different locations. The surface temperature of the water affects the temperature of the air above it. GETTING TO KNOW THE BIOMES Tundra Abiotic Factors Characterized by permafrost Very little precipitation (snow) Most snow does not melt Little sunlight in winter, little darkness in summer Tundra Plant Life Small due to permafrost Grass Moss Lichen Tundra Animal Life Reindeer Polar Bear Arctic Hare Taiga (Coniferous Forest) Abiotic Factors Receives more radiant energy than the Tundra Shorter summer days but a longer summer season Taiga Plant Life Dense, woody life Little undergrowth due to acidic soil and little sunlight getting to forest floor Pine Spruce Fir Taiga Animal Life Deer Moose SQUIRRELS Bears Wolves Temperate Deciduous Forest Abiotic Factors Enough moisture to support large trees 4 distinct seasons Very rich soil Temperate Deciduous Forest Plant Life Trees lose leaves in autumn Much undergrowth Maple Oak Beech Temperature Deciduous Forest Animal Life SQUIRRELS Deer Mice Birds of prey Bears Tropical Rainforest Abiotic Factors Only two seasons (wet & dry) Rains almost every day Tropical Rainforest Plant Life Dense vegetation Little light reaches floor Forest floor divided into 4 layers Emergent Upper Lower Basement Tropical Rainforest Animal Life Many arboreal animals Monkeys Birds Chimpanzee Grassland (Savanna) Abiotic Factors 3 distinct seasons Little precipitation Droughts are frequent Grassland Plant Life Grass! Grassland Animal Life Giraffes Wildebeests Lions Elephants Desert Abiotic Factors Can be very high temperature deserts or low temperature deserts Very little precipitation Desert Plant Life Most have shallow and extensive root systems Has small leaves and thick cuticles Cacti Desert Animal Life Many seed eating animals Lightly colored Jackrabbit Snakes Scorpion