World Biomes. Rainforest Climate Region: Tropical Wet Very hot and wet Hydrologic cycle repeats often here Rains more than 90 days a year Earth's.

World Biomes

Rainforest

Climate Region: Tropical Wet

Very hot and wet

Hydrologic cycle repeats often here

Rains more than 90 days a year

Earth's most complex land biome

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysfl

Bougainvillea

Plant Adaptations

Sunlight is a major limiting factor

Little sun reaches the floor

Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most light)

Bangul Bamboo

Wagler’s pit viper

Silvery Gibbon

Slender Loris

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page.htm

Animal Adaptations

Live in different levels of canopy

Many animals are specialists and require special habitat components to survive

Camouflage is common

Climate Region: Humid Continental• 4 distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter• mild summers and winters• Almost all are located by

an ocean• Much of the human population

lives in this biome

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html

TemperateDeciduous

Forests

White Birch

Lady Fern

Geulder Rose

Plant Adaptations

Birchhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_plant_page.htm

Deciduous forests grow in layers

More sunlight reaches the ground compared to a rainforest so you will find more ground dwelling plants.

More diversity in the deciduous forest vs. the coniferous forest due to increased sunlight.

Trees adapt to varied climate by becoming dormant in winter

Adapt to many seasons

Lose Winter Coat

Eat from different layers of the forest

Bald Eagle

Fat Dormouse

Least Weasel

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_animal_page.htm

Animal Adaptations

Taigaaka Northern Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest

Climate Region: Subarctic

dominated by cold, arctic air

half the year, the temperature is below freezing

only found in the northern hemisphere

Balsam Fir

Low sunlight and poor soil keeps plants from growing on forest floor

Coniferous (needle-bearing) trees are abundant

Needles long, thin and waxy

Fireweed

Plant Adaptations

http://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/plants.htm

Moose

Adapt for cold winters

Burrow, hibernate, warm coat, insulation, etc.

Great Grey Owl

Animal Adaptations

http://www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/coniferous/animals.htm

Savannas (Tropical

Grasslands) Contain the greatest

number of grazing animals on Earth.

Climate Region: Tropical Wet/Dry

Temperature doesn’t change much; 68◦-86◦

Dry winters and wet summers

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/savannah.html

Whistling Thorn

Umbrella Thorn Acacia

Plant Adaptations

Grow in Tufts

Resistant to Drought

Many plants have thorns and sharp leaves to protect against predation.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_plant_page.htm

Kangaroos Paws

Baobab

• Adapt for short rainy season—migrate as necessary

• Limited food leads to vertical feeding• Reproduce during rainy season—ensures

more young survive

Zebras

Chacma Baboon

Animal Adaptations

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_animal_page.htm

Steppe

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/steppe.htm

Climate Region: Semiarid

Less than 50 in/year precipitation

Very harsh place to live

Found in the middle of continents and in the lee of mountains

most abundant are plants called Bunch grasses, fine bladed grasses that grow in clumps to preserve water

Tumbleweed

Sweet Vernal

Plant Adaptations

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/steppe_plant_page.htm

Many migrate, hibernate or burrow during extremes in temperature and precipitation

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/steppe_animal_page.htm

Animals AdaptationsMongolian Gerbil

Saiga Antelope

Gazelle herd

Grasslands

Climate Region: Semiarid

• Many different types of grasslands; some tropical and some dry

• On every continent except Antarctica

• Very fertile soil

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/steppe.htm

•Sod-forming grasses that won’t dry out or blow away in wind.

FleabaneBuffalo Grass

Prairie Plant Adaptations

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/prairie_plants_page.htm

•Many adaptations to survive extremes

Prairie dog

Bobcat

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/pampas_animal_page.htm

Prairie Animal Adaptations

Geoffrey’s cat

ChaparralClimate Region: Mediterranean

Hot, dry summers, mild, wet winters

Slight variations in seasonal temperatures…NICE!

California Chaparral

Mediterranean Chaparral http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm

Plant Adaptations

Mostly low-lying shrubs and small trees.

Many plants have leathery leaves to resist water loss

Many plant species have oils in leaves to help them resist fire…the fire will take out “weaker” plants that don’t belong.

Blue Oak

Fairy Duster

Animal Adaptations

Camouflage—to avoid predation

Many animals will change their diet as the season changes.

Puma

Aardwolf

Deserts

The driest places on Earth!

Climate Region: Arid Less than 10 in/yr of rain Little to no topsoil due to high winds. Dry belt at 30º latitude

http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/taiga.html

Joshua Tree

Plant Adaptations: Spines Succulents Thick, waxy cuticle Shallow, broad

roots

Barrel Cactus

Ocotollio http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_plant_page.htm

Animal Adaptations: Get water from food Thick outer coat Burrow during day Large ears Smaller animals = less

surface area

Javelina

Bob Cat

Armadillo Lizard

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page.htm

http://www.runet.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tundra/tundra.html

Tundra

Climate Region: Tundra

Unusually cold and dry climate

6-10 inches of rain a year

Temperature ranges from -20◦F in winter to 50◦F in summer

Permafrost layer

One of the most fragile biomes on

the planet

Plant Adaptations Growing close to the ground

Having shallow roots to absorb the limited water resources.

Trees grow less than 1 m high!

cottongrass

Reindeer lichen

Woody shrubs

• Small ears• Insulation, thick coat• Many visitors = migration• Little competition = Few predators

Arctic foxsnowy owl

Grizzly Bear

Animal Adaptations

Alpine

Climate Region: Highland

Dangerous amount of UV rays 12 in of precipitation a year Summer temperature ranges from

10◦F and 50 ◦F Night temperature almost always

below freezing

One of the coldest biomes on the

planet

Plant Adaptations

No trees can grow

Vegetation includes tussock grasses, small-leafed shrubs, and heaths

• Must adapt to cold weather • Animals in the alpine biome include: mountain goats,

sheep, elk, beetles, grasshoppers and butterflies.

Animal Adaptations