Transcript Biomes - MRMWILLIS

Biomes
Chapter 6
Biomes
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Biome
A large region with a specific type of climate and a
certain type plant and animal communities
 Made up of several ecosystems
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Biomes
Biomes
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Biomes are classified based on the types of
plants that live there
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The types of plants will determine the other
organisms
Organisms in each biome have specific
adaptations that allow them to survive
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Adaptations include size, shape, and color
Biomes
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Organisms are adapted to survive a very small
range of temperatures and precipitation
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Small changes the temperature or the amount of
precipitation can kill off a majority of organisms
Since organisms can only survive in specific
conditions the biggest factor that affects biomes
is climate
Biomes
Biomes
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The climate around the world varies depending
on altitude and latitude
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Altitude
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Height above sea level
Latitude
Distance north or south of the equator
 “Lat lays Flat”
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You can find the same climates by either going
up a mountain or by going north
Biomes
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Since climate depends on altitude and latitude,
the type of biome depends on the same things
You can find the same biomes, by either going up a
mountain or going north
 “Altitude Substitutes for Latitude”
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Biomes
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Forest Biomes
• Forest Biomes are the most widespread and
diverse of all biomes.
• They are typically found in areas where there is
more precipitation
– Big trees need a lot of water!
• Three main types:
– Tropical, Temperate, Taiga
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Forest Biomes- Tropical
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Located near the equator
Constant high temperature and lots of rain
throughout the year
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Direct sunlight all year and very humid
100x’s more species per acre as temperate forests
Forest Biomes- Tropical
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The soil has very few nutrients
As dead organisms decompose, the nutrients are
immediately sucked up by the plants
 Most nutrients are stored in the plants
 This makes the water run-off as pure as distilled
water from a store
 When the trees are cut down for farmland, the soil
can only support crops for a few years
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Forest Biomes- Tropical
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Because the soil is so
thin, trees have
nothing to hold on to
The have adapted
structures called
buttresses to add
support
 Roots that are above
ground
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Buttresses
Forest Biomes- Tropical
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There are 4 layers of forest:
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Emergent, Upper Canopy, Lower Canopy, Understory
Forest Biomes- Tropical
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Emergent
Top layer
 The very tallest trees (~230 ft high)
 Gets direct sunlight
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Canopy
Primary layer of the rain forest
 ~98 ft high
 Absorbs around 95% of the sunlight
 Most animals live in this layer
 Divided into upper and lower levels
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Forest Biomes- Tropical
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Understory
Shade loving trees and shrubs
 No more than ~11 ft high
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Forest Biomes- Temperate Rain
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Cooler temperatures than a Tropical Rain Forest
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Found in Washington State, Australia, and New
Zealand
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But still lost of precipitation
Around the Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean keeps the temperature above
freezing year-round
Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous
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Trees have broad, flat leaves
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Has a large change in seasons
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Which are lost each fall
Very cold in the winter and very hot in the summer
Most 1st world countries are in this biome!
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Forest Biomes- Temperate Deciduous
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Plants grow for around half of the year
–
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And go dormant as the weather gets cold
Animals will either hibernate or migrate during
the winter
We live in this biome!
Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal)
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Coniferous forest (trees with seed in cones) just
below the arctic circle
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Winter lasts for 6 to 10 months
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Canada, Northern Europe, Russia, China
With very little sunlight
Forest Biomes- Taiga (Boreal)
• Plants have as little as 50 days to grow each year
• Plants are adapted to retain water and shed snow
• Most animals are only in the Taiga for the short
summer
• Those that stay either go underground to
hibernate or camouflage themselves to survive
the winter
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Grasslands- Savanna
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Found mostly in Africa, South America, India
Little precipitation (rain) throughout the year
The rain it gets comes all at one time
 Fires during the dry season restore nutrients to the soil
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Grasslands- Savanna
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Plants must be able to survive long periods
without water
Large horizontal root system
 Leaves grow vertical to expose less area to the sun
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Animals have a migratory life style
They follow the water
 Give birth during the rainy season
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Grasslands- Temperate
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Dominated by grasses with very few trees
Hot summers and cold winters
 Less rain than a forest
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The most fertile soil of any biome
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This is the world’s farming land
Grasslands- Temperate
• Often found near mountains
– They keep the amount of rain low
• Grasses form a layer of roots below the surface
– Helps to survive drought and fire
• Animals are adapted to being mostly herbivores
– Have underground burrows to provide protection
• Over farming can cause this biome to become
like a desert
– From soil erosion and depletion of nutrients
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Chaparral
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Temperate woodland biome with broad leaf
evergreen shrubs
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Found along the coast with Mediterranean climates
Chaparral
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Mostly low-lying shrubs
They stay close to the ground
 Have leathery leaves covered in oils that promote
burning
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The fire will kill off trees that are competing for nutrients
Can quickly regrow after a fire
Animals are camouflaged to blend in with the
environment
Humans develop this land for coastal housing
Desert
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Areas with little to no rain and plant life
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Often found near large mountain ranges
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Also have extreme temperatures (hot or cold)
Mountains block moisture in clouds
Desert
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Plants have thick flesh with a waxy coating that
helps to store water
Roots are found just below the surface and widespread
 In severe drought, plants will die off and their seeds
will go dormant until rainfall germinates them
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Animals have thick scaly skin to prevent water loss
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Most bury themselves underground to avoid the
sunlight
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They are only active at night (nocturnal)
Tundra
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Area above the Arctic Circle with long, cold
winters and short cool summers
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Below the small amount of topsoil is permafrost
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Grasses, mosses/lichens, and herbs grow
Permanently frozen soil
Tundra
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Plants stay very close to the ground
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Avoid the wind and get heat from the soil
Roots are just below the surface and widespread
Very few animals
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Bird migrate in for the short summer
Some migrate through the tundra all year
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Following food and water
With so few organisms the ecosystems are very
simple
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Any change to this biome can be a big threat to the
ecosystems
The discovery of oil has influenced humans to develop
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Oil exploration in ANWR could have a negative
impact on the animals and people living in and
around the refuge, but oil in the refuge may help
the US meet its future energy needs. Without
knowing what the consequences or benefits will
be, do you think that the US should permanently
protect the ANWR or open it for oil
exploration?
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Aquatic Biomes
• While climate determine the type of biome on
land, in the water there are other factors to
worry about
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Climate (temperature, sunlight)
Oxygen
Nutrients
Salinity (amount of salt)
• Based on the amount of salt, Aquatic Biomes
are divided into Freshwater and Marine.
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Aquatic Biomes- Lakes and Ponds
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2 layers:
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Littoral Zone
Nutrient-rich, near the shore, diverse life
 This is where the sunlight can reach
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Benthic Zone
Bottom of the pond, decomposers, dead organisms, clams
 Very little sunlight
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Aquatic Biomes- Lakes and Ponds
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If a lake has an increase in nutrients (eutrophication)
Then more plants, algae, and bacteria start to grow
 This uses up the oxygen dissolved in the water
 No oxygen = No life
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Aquatic Biomes- Freshwater Wetlands
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Areas of land covered with
fresh water for part of the year
2 types:
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Marshes
 Contains Non-woody plants
Swamps
 Contains woody plants
(trees and shrubs)
Originally thought to be
“wastelands”
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We are now trying to fix the
damage we have caused
Aquatic Biomes- Freshwater Wetlands
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Controls flooding
Nature’s water filter- no more pollution! :-)
Mating grounds for many animals
Aquatic Biomes- Rivers and Streams
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Begin with melting snow
from the mountains
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Cold water with lots of
oxygen
As you go down hill the water
gets warmer with less oxygen
Different plants and animals
are found along the river
based on the temp and
amount of oxygen
The biggest threat is runoff
from industries
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Aquatic Biomes- Coastal Wetlands
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Areas covered by salt water for part of the year
Estuary
Area where fresh water from a river mixes with salt
water from the ocean
 Constantly is replenished with nutrients
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Making it a very productive biome (lots of organisms)
Organisms have to be able to survive in a wide range
of salt content (Very Little Salt to Lots of Salt)
 Have been used in the past as a waste dump
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Killing off lots of organisms
Coral Reefs
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Limestone ridges build by tiny coral animals
Live in clear, warm salt water
Extremely diverse organisms
Many are in danger of destruction from humans
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Climate Change, Pollution, Over-Fishing
Oceans
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Most life concentrated in the shallow waters
Sunlight only penetrates about 100 m (330 ft)
 Different organisms are found at certain depths
depending on the amount of sunlight
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One of the least productive biomes
Pollution and Over-Fishing are the biggest threats
Biome
Ecosystems
Types of plants
Climate
Altitude
Tropical Rain Forest
Buttresses
Canopy
Temperate Deciduous
Taiga
Temperate Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Littoral zone
Benthic zone
Marsh
Swamps
Freshwater wetland
Snow topped mountains
Coastal wetland
Estuary
Coral reefs