Biomes Earth can be divided into Biomes
Dec 15, 2015
Categories of Biome
Primary Biomes:
Tropical Rain ForestTropical Dry ForestTropical SavannaTemperate GrasslandDesertTemperate Woodland/ShrublandTemperate ForestNorthwestern Coniferous ForestBoreal ForestTundra Other Land Areas:
Mountain RangesPolar Ice Caps
Tropical Rainforest Biome
EMERGENT LAYERThe tallest trees are the emergents, towering as much as 200 feet above the forest floor with trunks that measure up to 16 feet around. Most of these trees are broad-leaved, hardwood evergreens. Sunlight is plentiful up here. Animals found are eagles, monkeys, bats and butterflies.
CANOPY LAYERThis is the primary layer of the forest and forms a roof over the two remaining layers. Most canopy trees have smooth, oval leaves that come to a point. It's a maze of leaves and branches. Many animals live in this area since food is abundant. Those animals include: snakes, toucans and treefrogs.
UNDERSTORY LAYERLittle sunshine reaches this area so the plants have to grow larger leaves to reach the sunlight. The plants in this area seldom grow to 12 feet. Many animals live here including jaguars, red-eyed tree frogs and leopards. There is a large concentration of insects here.
FOREST FLOORIt's very dark down here. Almost no plants grow in this area, as a result. Since hardly any sun reaches the forest floor things begin to decay quickly. A leaf that might take one year to decompose in a regular climate will disappear in 6 weeks. Giant anteaters live in this layer.
Tropical Rainforest Biome-Home to more species than any land biomeAbiotic Factors:Hot and wet year round, nutrient-poor soilsDominant Plants:Evergreen trees, ferns, large vines, orchidsDominant Wildlife:Sloths, tapirs, jaguars, anteaters monkeys, toucans, parrots, butterflies, beetles, piranhas, reptiles, boa constrictors, anacondas
Tropical Dry Forests
Parts of Africa, South and Central America, Mexico, India, Australia, and Tropical Islands
Tropical Dry Forests
Abiotic Factors: Warm year round, altering wet and dry seasons, rich soils subject to erosion
Dominant Plants: aloes, succulents, deciduous trees
Dominant Wildlife: tigers, monkeys, elephants, termites, hog deer, spot billed pellican
Tropical Savanna
Abiotic Factors: Warm Temp, Seasonal Rainfall, compact soil, frequent lightning fires
Dominant Plants: perennial grasses, drought tolerant/fire resistant trees and shrubs
Dominant Wildlife: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, aardvarhs, elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons, eagles, storks, termites
Desert
Abiotic Factors: Low Percipitation, variable temperatures, soils rich in minerals but poor organic material
Dominant Plants: cacti, succulants, plants w/ short growth cycles
Dominant Wildlife: mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer, kangaroo rats, bats, owls, hawks, roadrunners, ants beetles, wasps, rattlesnakes, lizards
Temperate Grassland
Abiotic Factors: Warm to hot summers, cold winters, moderate, seasonal precipitation, fertile soil, occasional fires
Dominant Plants: perennial grasses and herbs- many are very resistant
Dominant Wildlife: coyotes, badgers, mule deer, rabbits, bison, hawks, owl, grasshoppers, snakes
Temperate Woodland/Shrubland
Western Coast of North and South America, Mediterranean Sea, South Africa, and Australia
Temperate Woodland/Shrubland
Abiotic Factors: hot, dry summers, cool, moist winters, thin, nutrient poor soils
Dominant Plants: woody evergreen shrubs, herbs that grow during winter and die in the summer
Dominant Wildlife: coyotes, foxes, bobcats, rabbis, squirrels, mice, hawks, warblers, spiders
Temperate Forest
Eastern U.S., Southeastern Canada, Most of Europe, Part of Japan, China, and Australia
Temperate Forest
Abiotic Factors: Cold-Moderate Winters, warm summers, year round precipitation, fertile soils
Dominant Plants: Dediduous trees, some conifers, shrubs, herbs, ground has mosses and ferns
Dominant Wildlife: deer, black bears, bobcats, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, turkeys
Northwestern Coniferous Forest
Abiotic Factors: mild temp, lots of precipitation-fall, winter, spring, cool dry summer, rocky acidic soil
Dominant Plants: Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, Redwood
Dominant Wildlife: bears, elk, deer, beavers, owls, weasels
Location: North California- Alaska (Northwest)
Boreal Forest/Taiga
Abiotic Factors: Long cold winters, short, mild summers, moderate precipitation, high humidity, acidic, nutrient poor soil
Dominant Plants: spruce, fir, small berry shrubs
Dominant Wildlife: lynx, timber wolf, moose, beavers, and song birds
Tundra
Abiotic Factors: Strong winds, low precipitation, short soggy summers, long, cold, and dark winters, permafrost, bad soil
Dominant Plants: mosses, lichens, sedges, and short grasses,
Dominant Wildlife: musk ox, artic foxes, caribous, lemmins (small rodents)
Biomes
• Heavily modified by human activity• Example: US grasslands barely exist.• Mostly has been taken over byagriculture.• So Biomes defined by potential, notactual plants & animals• Defined by climate of region- Combination of temperature & rainfall most
important factors.