World Biomes
Dec 26, 2015
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