Ecosystems

Ch.21

(21-1) Terrestrial Biomes

• Biomes: large terrestrial ecosystems that contain smaller ecosystems w/in them

• 7 major biomes

7 Major Biomes

Tundra

• Very cold

• Little precipitation

• Permafrost– Nutrient poor soil

• Plants: mosses, no big trees

• Animals: caribou, snowy owls, arctic foxes

Taiga

• Cold

• Little precipitation

• Nutrient poor soil

• Plants: evergreen trees – Needles

• Animals: moose, bears, wolves– Hibernation

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Temperate weather

• Avg. precipitation

• Moderate soil nutrients

• Plants: leaf trees

• Animals: deer, raccoons, squirrels

Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

• Temperate weather

• Avg. precipitation

• Nutrient rich soil (topsoil)

• Plants: tall dense grasses

• Animals: bison (grazing)

• Endangered biome– Farming

Desert

• Cold or hot

• Little precipitation

• Dry, sandy, nutrient poor soil

• Plants: cacti (conserve water)

• Animals: lizards, snakes

Savanna (Chaparral)

• Moderate temp.’s

• Wet season & dry season

• Nutrient poor soil

• Plants: tall grasses

• Animals: zebras, giraffes, leopards

Tropical Rain Forest

• Warm temp.’s

• High precipitation

• Nutrient poor soil

• Plants: leafy trees– Canopy (little light to ground)

• Animals: parrots, monkeys, snakes– Most world’s species