Transcript World Biomes - Tartu Veeriku Kool

World Biomes
Mediterranean biome
Climate
• In the winter the Mediterranean climate, is mild and
moist, but not rainy. During the summer it is very hot
and dry. The temperature is usually mild but it can get
very hot or nearly freezing. The temperature range is
between 0° and 20° C.
• This biome only gets about 250-500 mm of rain all
year, and most of it comes in the winter. Because of
the long period of dryness in the summer, only plants
with hard leaves can survive, such as scrub oaks,
chamiso shrubs, pines, cork and olive trees. Many
leaves are also hairy so they can collect the moisture
out of the air and use it.
Distribution of biome
• Mediterranean biome exists in a mid-latitude climate
and lie in a belt of prevailing westerly winds. This is
why it tends to be on the west sides of continents.
• Mediterranean biome can be found from 30° to 50° N
and 30° to 40° S latitudes. The Mediterranean climate
occurs in central and southern coast of California; the
coast areas of the Mediterranean Sea; coastal western
and southern Australia; the Chilean coast in South
America, and the Cape Town region of South Africa.
Distribution
Soil
Mediterranean soils are
generally deficient in humus, not
so much because of sparse
vegetation cover as because of
the slowness of the chemical
processes that convert the
vegetable matter to humus. Low
rainfall, occurring when
temperatures are lowest, retards
chemical weathering. The
uneven surface relief of the
regions where these soils occur
also makes it difficult for mature
soils to develop.
Plants I
• Shrubs and low growing vegetation are the main
components of this biome. In some areas the growth
extends to larger trees and hard leaf forests, as well
as aromatic plants. The vegetation must be hardy and
drought resistant and will include evergreens, cacti,
olive and fruit trees, and cork oak, among others.
Small hard needles are an asset in this environment,
as well as plants with small leathery leafs. Aromatic
plants and herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, sage, and
oregano do well in this biome. These aromatics do
contain highly flammable oils which could contribute to
forest fires.
Plants II
• Plants have adapted by storing water through thick
bark or waxy coverings, and by growing thorns to
prevent animals from eating them. Adaptations also
include regeneration after fire.
Olive tree
Rosemary
Cork oak
Lebanon cedar
King protea
Animals
• Animals have adapted to this sparse and rough terrain
by becoming agile climbers, foraging over larger
areas, and varying their diet to include the often
scrubby brush lands.
Porcupine
Aardwolf
Cactus mouse
California trasher
California striped racer Snake
Dormouse
Spanish Imperial eagle
Wild goat
Australian bush-turkey
Pudu
Cape sugarbird
People
• Mediterranean regions have long been impacted by
humans especially through the use of fire and the
grazing of livestock. The Mediterranean proper was
formerly forested with live oaks, pines, cedars, wild
carob and wild olive.
• A main concern associated with Mediterranean biome
is the large human populations that live in and around
this biome.