Transcript Unit 6 - MCPSS-PhysicalGeography

Unit 6
Biomes and Climate Regions
Unit 6 Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, TSWBAT:
1. Describe the major biomes and climate
regions of the world
2. Describe the animals and vegetation that
are located in each biome
3. Identify biomes on a map based on latitude
and longitude.
Part 1
Biomes
What is a Biome?
• Biomes are complex living communities maintained by the
climate of a region and characterized by a distinctive type of
vegetation.
• A biome’s structure and appearance are similar throughout its
distribution.
• The world’s biomes are tropical rain forest, savanna, desert,
temperate grassland, temperate deciduous forest, taiga and
tundra.
• There are conflicting reports of how many biomes there are in
the world.
Where are biomes located?
• Biomes are located throughout the world.
• Each continent with the exception of Antarctica has
several different biomes and climate regions.
• Climate plays a huge role in determining the location
and the type of biome of a particular place.
• There are 10 major terrestrial biomes in the world
and 2 aquatic (water) biomes.
• Plants and animals are adapted to their biomes.
• For example, polar bears do not live in the desert
and toucans do not live in the Tundra!
Biomes (con’t)
• The Taiga is the largest terrestrial biome in the
world.
• The smallest biome is
• Each biome consists of unique animals and
vegetation.
• Biomes are organized into four categories:
1. Forest Biomes
4. Tundra Biome
2. Grassland Biomes
3. Desert Biomes
Biomes (con’t)
• The four major biome categories can be
further divided into many different
subcategories.
• These subcategories often are referred to by
different names in different parts of the world
as well as at different latitudes.
• For example, coniferous forests are known as
the Boreal Forest in North America and the
Taiga in Russia.
Forest Biomes
Coniferous, Deciduous, and Tropical
Rain Forests
An Introduction
• Forests occur in the mid-latitudes from the
tropical regions to the high latitudes.
• They have numerous trees and vegetation.
• Trees can reach 40 to 60 ft. in height!
• They generally live less than 300 years due to
deforestation (the clearing and destruction of
forests).
Coniferous Forests
• Approximately one-quarter of the forests
biome is coniferous after the types of trees
that grow there.
• Conifer trees grow cones that contain seeds.
• Examples of conifer trees are spruce, fir, and
pine.
• The climate here is cold with little rainfall.
• Temperatures are below freezing 6 months
out of the year.
Coniferous Forests (con’t)
• Summers only last 50 to 100 days.
• Locations include: The Pacific Northwest, the
southeastern U.S., and the eastern U.S.,
Canada, Alaska, northern Europe, and
northern Asia.
• During the winter, the ground is frozen. In the
spring, the snow melts and the ground
becomes swampy (the Taiga).
Coniferous Forests
Deciduous Forests
• Deciduous Forests are also known as Midlatitude Deciduous Forests.
• It lies between the tropics (The Tropics of
Cancer and Capricorn) and the polar region.
• It is also associated with a variety of climate
regions where average annual precipitation
ranges between 30 to 60 inches.
• Average yearly temperature is at least 75°F
but can be as high as 86°F.
Deciduous Forests (con’t)
• The word “deciduous” comes from the Latin word
“deciduous”, which means to fall off or shed at a
certain season.
• These forests experience all four seasons with no
dry season.
• The soil here is generally very rich in nutrients.
• Plants and trees are also abundant.
• Trees lose their leaves during the fall and winter
months and grow back during the spring and
summer.
Deciduous Forests (con’t)
• These forests have tall, broad-leafed hardwood
trees.
• Small flowers, shrubs, ferns, and grasses grow
here.
• They are found across North America, Europe,
and parts of China and Japan.
• They are often found near the ocean or a major
body of water.
• This region also has high humidity (the measure
of hw much water vapor is in the air).