Chapter 6 - BiomesSection 1: What is a biome?

Section 2: Forest Biomes

Section 3: Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes

Chapter 6, Section 1 What is a Biome?

Objectives: Describe how plants determine the name of a biome. Explain how temperature and precipitation

determine which plants grow in an area. Explain how latitude and altitude affect which plants

grow in an area.Key Terms: Biome Climate Latitude Altitude

A biome is a large geographic region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal communities.

Each biome is made up of many individual ecosystems.

What is a Biome?

Biome vs. Ecosystem

The biosphere is divided into biomes which are divided into smaller ecosystems.

Biomes and VegetationEcosystems of the world are

grouped into regions called biomes. Biomes are named for the vegetation that grows there.

Biomes are described by their vegetation because plants that grow in an area determine the other organisms that can live there.

Biomes of the World

Biomes and ClimateClimate refers to the weather conditions such as temperature, precipitation, humidity, and winds in an area over a long period of time.

Biomes and ClimateThe climate of a biome is

determined by average temperature and precipitation.

Most organisms are adapted to live within a particular range of temperatures.

Precipitation limits the organisms that are found in a biome.

Biomes and Climate

Biomes and ClimateBiomes, climate, and vegetation vary

with latitude and altitude.

Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator and is measured in degrees.

Altitude is the height of an object above sea level.

Biomes and ClimateLatitude vs. Altitude

Latitude and Altitude affect climate Gets colder the higher up you go

(altitude)Gets colder the farther north/south

of the equator you go (latitude)Most food on Earth is grown

between 30-60 degrees north and south of the equator

Biomes and ClimateLatitude vs. Altitude

ClimatogramsShow average monthly values for

temperature and precipitation.

Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius and is plotted as a smooth curve.

Precipitation values are given in centimeters and are plotted as a histogram.

Climatogram

Types of Terrestrial BiomesMountainsTundraDesertChaparralTemperate GrasslandTropical savannaTaigaTemperate forestTropical rainforestPolar ice

Is the temperature of each biome hot, moderate, or cold?

Mountains -Tundra -Desert -Chaparral -Temperate Grassland -Tropical savanna -Taiga -Temperate forest -Tropical rainforest -Polar ice -

Is the temperature of each biome hot, moderate, or cold?

Mountains - ModerateTundra - ColdDesert - HotChaparral - ModerateTemperate Grassland -

ModerateTropical savanna - HotTaiga - ColdTemperate forest -

ModerateTropical rainforest - HotPolar ice - Cold