Transcript Biomes Notes

BIOMES
Tropical Rain Forests
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Amazon in South America
Located within 10 degrees of the equator
Warm temperatures and heavy rainfall
Rain exceedes evaporation during all months
Little light reaches the ground: blocked by tree
canopy-> restricted plant growth on ground
Tropical Dry Forests
• Located between 10-25 degrees north or
south of equator
• Hot temperatures and abundant rainfall (1-2
meters per year)
• Rainfall highly seasonal: 6-7 month rainy
season
– June in Northern Hem
– Dec in Southern Hem
Tropical Dry Forest Cont
• Animals migrate in during wet season, and out
for dry
• Trees roots are structured to be able to hold a
large amount of water (necessary during
deficit in dry season)
Tropical Savannas
• Elephants, Lions, Zebras
• Located 10-20 degrees north and south of
equator
• Warm temperatures and less rainfall
• More extreme seasonality of rainfall than
tropical dry forests
• Shorter rainy season, longer dry season
• Grassy, with wide scattered trees
Tropical Savannas
• Grasses “green up” during rainy season, and
“brown” during dry
• Start of rainy season: lightening might strike
causing fires due to dry dead grass
• Grazers- Antelopes and wildebeest
Deserts
• Sahara Desert (Africa) & Death Valley (Mojave
desert)
• Located near 30 degrees north and south of
equator….WHY????
• Lack of water causes minimal vegetation
(cacti)
• Cacti- round (reduce surface area),spines
(loose less water than leaves)
Mediterranean Woodland and
Shrubland
• Los Angeles
• Found between 30-40 degrees north or south
of equator
• Mild winters and hot summers
• Little precipitation during summer -> increase
risk of forest fires in summer
• Most trees are evergreen, with thick bark
• Animals spend most of their day underground:
snakes, rabbits, foxes
Temperate Grasslands
• Great Plains
• Located in the middle of the continent: hot
summers and cool winters
• Grasses survive forest fires by growing from
areas below surface
• Rich soil & lush grass-> herds of grazers;
consume up to 50 %
Temperate Forests
• Northern California: large sequoias
• Covers much of the east coast of N. Amer
• Found between 40-50 degrees north or south
of the equator
• Short growing season
• Deciduous trees: drop leaves in fall, regrow in
spring
• Animals hibernate/migrate in winter due to
cold temperatures
Boreal Forests
• Found at high latitudes (50-60 degrees north
or south of equator)
• Can have 100 degree Celsius difference
between highest and lowest temperatures
• Spruce trees common
• Caribou, reindeer, moose, wolves, Siberian
tigers, grizzly bears and birds.
Tundra
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Northern edge of Northern Hemisphere
Low lying plants: mosses, lichens, grasses
Covered by snow much of the year
Permafrost: any soil material that remains
below freezing for two or more years