3.2 Terrestrial Biomes3.2 Terrestrial Biomes

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

Objective #1: Relate latitude and Objective #1: Relate latitude and the three major climate zonesthe three major climate zones

Objective #2: Describe the major Objective #2: Describe the major abiotic factors that determine the abiotic factors that determine the location of a terrestrial biomelocation of a terrestrial biome

Objective #3: Distinguish among Objective #3: Distinguish among terrestrial biomes based on climate terrestrial biomes based on climate and biotic factorsand biotic factors

Effects of Latitude and Effects of Latitude and ClimateClimate

Regardless of where you live, you are Regardless of where you live, you are affected by weather and climateaffected by weather and climate Give examplesGive examples

WeatherWeather The condition of the atmosphere at a specific The condition of the atmosphere at a specific

place and timeplace and time Latitude and climate are importantLatitude and climate are important

LatitudeLatitude

LatitudeLatitude The distance of any point on the surface The distance of any point on the surface

of Earth north or south from the equatorof Earth north or south from the equator Spans from 0 degrees at equator to 90 Spans from 0 degrees at equator to 90

degrees at the poles: Bellbrook is degrees at the poles: Bellbrook is 39.635N 39.635N

LatitudeLatitude

What is the Earth’s primary source of What is the Earth’s primary source of heat?heat? radiation from the sun-solar radiationradiation from the sun-solar radiation

Because Earth is a sphere, different Because Earth is a sphere, different levels of solar radiation reach levels of solar radiation reach different parts of its curved surface different parts of its curved surface

LatitudeLatitude

What determines the climate What determines the climate (different seasons)(different seasons) Earth’s tiltEarth’s tilt

ClimateClimate

ClimateClimate The average weather conditions in an The average weather conditions in an

area, including temperature and area, including temperature and precipitationprecipitation

Latitude has a large effect on climateLatitude has a large effect on climate Also greatly effected by elevation, Also greatly effected by elevation,

continental landmasses, ocean currents, continental landmasses, ocean currents, and windand wind

BiomeBiome A large group of similar ecosystems A large group of similar ecosystems

containing distinctive types of plants containing distinctive types of plants and other organisms; determined by and other organisms; determined by climateclimate

Many regions of the world do have Many regions of the world do have similar climate conditionssimilar climate conditions

For the Test…For the Test…

Make sure you know the tan boxes Make sure you know the tan boxes containing information about each containing information about each biomebiome

Know the following defining Know the following defining characteristicscharacteristics

TundraTundra

Exhibits a layer of permanently Exhibits a layer of permanently frozen soil below the surface called frozen soil below the surface called permafrostpermafrost May thaw up to a couple of centimeters May thaw up to a couple of centimeters

during the summerduring the summer

Boreal ForestBoreal Forest

Dense evergreen forestDense evergreen forest

Still cold, but summers are longer Still cold, but summers are longer and somewhat warmer than the and somewhat warmer than the Tundra’sTundra’s

Temperate ForestTemperate Forest

Composed mostly of broad-leaved, Composed mostly of broad-leaved, deciduous trees- trees that shed their deciduous trees- trees that shed their leaves in autumnleaves in autumn

Winters are cold, while spring is Winters are cold, while spring is warm with plenty of rain to restart warm with plenty of rain to restart the growth cycles of plants and treesthe growth cycles of plants and trees

Temperate Woodland and Temperate Woodland and ShrublandShrubland

Found in areas with less annual Found in areas with less annual rainfall than in temperate forestrainfall than in temperate forest

Areas dominated by shrubs are Areas dominated by shrubs are called Chaparralcalled Chaparral

Temperate GrasslandTemperate Grassland

Contain fertile soil that are able to Contain fertile soil that are able to support a thick cover of grassessupport a thick cover of grasses Underground stems and buds are Underground stems and buds are

protected from firesprotected from fires Drought, grazing animals, and fires Drought, grazing animals, and fires

prevent the creation of forestsprevent the creation of forests

DesertDesert

Rate of evaporation exceeds the rate Rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of precipitationof precipitation

Tropical SavannaTropical Savanna

Contains grasses and scattered trees Contains grasses and scattered trees in climates that receive less in climates that receive less precipitation that some other tropical precipitation that some other tropical areasareas

Tropical Seasonal ForestTropical Seasonal Forest

Like temperate deciduous forests, Like temperate deciduous forests, during the dry season almost all the during the dry season almost all the trees drop their leaves to conserve trees drop their leaves to conserve waterwater Much warmer thoughMuch warmer though

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Warm temperatures and large Warm temperatures and large amounts of rainfallamounts of rainfall

Most diverse speciesMost diverse species

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Tall, broad-leaved trees with Tall, broad-leaved trees with branches heavy with mosses, ferns, branches heavy with mosses, ferns, and orchids make up the canopyand orchids make up the canopy

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

Shorter trees, shrubs, and plants Shorter trees, shrubs, and plants make up another layer called the make up another layer called the understoryunderstory

Other Terrestrial AreasOther Terrestrial Areas

Polar regions are not considered true Polar regions are not considered true biomes they are ice masses and are not biomes they are ice masses and are not true land areas with soiltrue land areas with soil

Mountains do not fit the Mountains do not fit the definition of a biomedefinition of a biome

Animals/Plants depend on Animals/Plants depend on elevationelevation

MountainsMountains

Biotic communities change with Biotic communities change with increasing elevationincreasing elevation Due to different temperatures and Due to different temperatures and

amounts of precipitationamounts of precipitation

Polar RegionsPolar Regions

Cold all yearCold all year Average winter temperature of -30 Average winter temperature of -30

degrees Celsiusdegrees Celsius

Inhabited by colonies of penguins, Inhabited by colonies of penguins, polar bears, arctic foxespolar bears, arctic foxes