Transcript BIOMES - Earth science

BIOMES
What is a Biome?
• Biome: A group of land ecosystems with similar
climates and organisms.
• Ecosystem: The community of organisms that live in
a particular area, along with their nonliving
surroundings.
• Biotic – All living things in an ecosystem (plants,
animals, bacteria, etc.)
• Abiotic – Non-living things in an ecosystem (water,
rocks, soil, light, rainfall, etc.)
How many biomes are there and what
are they?
• There are 6 major biomes
– Rain Forests
– Desert
– Grassland
– Deciduous forest
– Boreal forest
– Tundra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIQS8kb1wg4
Rain Forest Biome
• Two types:
–Temperate Rain Forests found in the
NW US.
–Tropical Rain Forests found along the
equator. Sometimes called Jungles.
Temperate Rain Forest
• > 300cm of rain/yr.
• Huge hardwood trees
• Moderate temperatures
Temperate Rain Forest
Tropical Rain Forest
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Close to equator.
Warm and humid year round
Distinct tree layers (strata)
More biodiversity than any
other biome!
Tropical Rain Forest Biome
Desert Biome
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< 25cm of rain per year.
Evaporation > precipitation
Big temperature shifts daily
Found outside of the equator
Organisms need special
adaptations to survive.
Desert Biomes
Grassland Biome
• Middle Latitudes
• Prairie: mostly grasses and
other non-woody plants
• 25-75cm of rain/yr.
• Savanna: Grasses, small
shrubs, and small trees.
• up to 120cm of rain/yr.
Grassland Biomes
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Biome
• Deciduous trees loose their leaves annually.
• Rain 50cm/yr.
• Large variation in temp. over the yr.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Boreal Forest Biomes
• AKA Taiga
• Located in colder regions in the upper
middle latitudes
• Trees are coniferous.
– Seeds are in cones and leaves are needle shaped.
Boreal Forest Biomes
Tundra Biome
• Extremely dry and cold
• Most soil is frozen yr. round, upper area that
defrosts = permafrost
• Plants: mosses, grasses, shrubs and dwarf
trees.
• Shallow ponds/marshy areas in the summer.
• Located in the Northern Hemisphere and
north of the Arctic Circle.
Tundra Biomes