BIOME BOOKLET DEFINITIONS: Biome: regional or global community of organisms characterized by the climate conditions and plant communities that thrive there Adaptation: any structural or behavioural variation that increases an organisms chance for survival in that environment Biotic Factor: living things, such as plants, animals, fungi and bacteria Abiotic Factor: nonliving factor in an ecosystem, such as moisture, temperature, wind, sunlight, soil and minerals Temperate Forest American Beech White oak Bald Eagle Squirrel Black Bear Biotic Factors of the Temperate Forest Trees Flowers Shrubs Squirrels Deer Wild Boar Possum Lizards Where is the Temperate Forest? Climate of the Temperate Forest One thing that is interesting about this biome and its climate is that it has four distinct seasons; spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Most deciduous forests have mild summers averaging about 70 F. Summer months usually begin in early June and end in late August. Winter months don't begin until December. Winter temperatures are fairly cool with an average temperature of a little below freezing. Almost all of the world's deciduous forest is located by an ocean. Climate is a mix of temperature and precipitation. Deciduous forests have almost 14 inches of rain in the winter months and more than 18 inches of rain in the summer. Geographic Features of the Temperate Forest The temperate forests are known for fertile soil which leads to the abundance of plant life. Adaptations of the Red Squirrel It is thought that the long tai l helps the squirrel to keep its balance and steer when it is jumping from tree to tree, it may also keep the animal warm whilst it sleeps. Tundra Arctic Moss Caribou (Reindeer) Moss Arctic Fox Polar BearSnowy Owl Biotic Factors of the Tundra Mosses Lichen Arctic Willow Snowy Owls Polar Bears Arctic Fox Caribou Where is the Tundra? Climate of the Tundra The tundra is a bleak and treeless place. It is cold through all months of the year Summer is a brief period of milder climates when the sun shines almost 24 hours a day. The short summer lasts only 6 to 10 weeks. It never gets any warmer than 45 or 50 F. During the long winter months the sun barely rises and it is dark for most of the day. Bitter cold winds scud across the barren snowscape, exposing high plateaus to barren ground. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20 F and average -20 to -30F. The tundra is an unusually cold and dry climate. Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain a year, which includes melted snow. This is almost as little as the world's driest deserts. The tundra seems like a wet and soggy place because the precipitation that falls evaporates slowly, and because of the poor drainage caused by the permafrost. Geographic Features of the Tundra The soil is called permafrost because it stays frozen Mountains Flat swampy areas Adaptations of the Polar Bear Some physical adaptations that help polar bears survive include : FUR : their thick fur keeps them warm in frigid air and water WHITE FUR: actually transparent, for camouflage in ice and snow. Also reflects the heat lost through the skin, back into it's body. SKIN: their skin is black to absorb heat from the sun's rays to help keep them warm BIG PAWS : spread body weight on ice, and are broad for use in swimming Desert Barrel cactus Crimson Hedgehog Cactus Tortoise Javelina Lizards Biotic Factors of the Desert Cacti Brittle bush Shrubs Snakes Lizards Birds Bobcart Toads Camels Tarantulas Where is the Desert? Climate of the Desert Temperatures have been as low as 8F in January and as high as 119F in August. In May the temperature will begin to climb in excess of 100F and continue into October. The night temperatures in July and August can at times be in the low to mid 90s. Approximately 1 in. (.25 cm) of rain falls in dry deserts per year. Geographic Features of the Desert Sand Dunes Dust Storms Rocks and Clay Adaptations of the Cactus The adaptations of the cactus includes small and spiky leaves that reduce evaporation of water. It also prevents loss of water. The cactus has also a thick and juicy stem that stores water. Temperate Grasslands Tumbleweed AntelopeGerbilLynx Sagebrush Grass Stinging Nettle Milkweed Sunflower Badger Bobcat Bubble Bee Prarie Dog Wild Turkey Falcon Biotic Factors of the Grassland Where are the Grasslands? Cimate of the Grasslands The climate for grasslands is basically dry. Precipitation usually does not exceed 100 cm per year, with a minimum near 20 cm per year. Also, grasslands tend to be in temperate to subtropical areas, often with cold winters and hot summers. Geographic Features of the Grasslands Open and Flat Deep and Fertile Soil Fires help maintain grasslands Adaptations of the Antelope It has smaller hooves so it can easily balance itself on uneven surfaces such as rocks and hills. Smaller antlers allow them to hide easier in their environment as well as their brown oat fur allows them to camouflage in tall grasses Tropical Rainforest Bamboo Strangler FigsToucan Sloth Orangutan Biotic Factors of the Rainforest Trees with canopies Vines Ferns Monkeys Sloths Ants Frogs Butterflies Where is the Rainforest? Climate of the Rainforest In an average year in a tropical rain forest, the climate is very humid because of all the rainfall, which amounts to about 250 cm per year. The rain forest has lots of rain because it is very hot and wet. This climate is found near the equator. Adaptations of the Sloth They are built perfectly for life in the trees (arboreal) with arms longer than their legs and curved feet for grasping branches. They move slowly, but this helps them stay unseen by predators. They also grow algae in their rough fur that camouflages them further. They have three extra cervical vertebrae (neck bones) that allows them to turn their heads 270 (three-quarters of the way around) to look all the way over each shoulder. This is a very useful adaptation in a world where predators can be above or below them. Geographic Features of the Tropical Rain Forest Waterfalls Hills Rocky Soil Savanna Umbrella Thorn Acacia Boabab Tree Elephant ZebraLion Biotic Factors of the Savanna Grasses Acacia Trees Boabab Trees Giraffes Zebras Elephants Cheetas Hyenas Where is the Savanna? Climate of the Savanna In the savanna climate there is a distinct dry season, which is in the winter. Savannas get all their rain in the summer months. It is usually cooler during the dry season by a few degrees. Because it is in the tropical latitudes that is still hot enough. The savanna climate has a temperature range of 68 to 86 F (20 - 30 C). In the winter, it is usually about 68 to 78 F (20 - 25 C). In the summer the temperature ranges from 78 to 86 F (25 - 30 C). In a Savanna the temperature does not change a lot. When it does, its very gradual and not drastic. Adaptations of the Elephant Elephant ears are about one sixth the size of its entire body and primarily function as a cooling mechanism. The ears contain extensive networks of tiny blood vessels, which are visible at the outer margins, where the skin is only about one to two mm (0.04 0.08 in.) thick. The warm blood cools as it circulates through the vessels in the ear, due to the thin layer of skin that separates it from the outside air. The cooler blood then circulates back into the body, helping reduce the overall body temperature of the elephant. Geographic Features of the Savanna Flat, small hills Plains Frequent fires from lightening Taiga White Fir Pine trees Grizzly Bear Grey Wolf Otters Biotic Factors of the Taiga Conifers Shrubs Moose Elk Wolves Bears Beavers Where is the Taiga? Climate of the Taiga The taiga climate is for the most part dominated by cold arctic air. Exceptionally cold winds bring bitterly cold air from the Arctic Circle Winter, with it's freezing cold temperatures, lasts for six to seven months. Summer is a rainy, hot and short season in the taiga. Fall is the shortest season for taiga. Spring brings flowers, the frozen ponds melt, and the animals come out from hibernation. Geographic Features of the Taiga Lakes from melting glaciers Mountains Poor nutrients in the soil Adaptations of the River Otter One of the major differences in the River Otter, and other land mammals of a similar size and weight, is the River Otter has a metabolic rate that is 50% higher, which helps them produce extra body heat, this helps them maintain their body temperature in the worst of the cold water, and weather they face on a regular basis. Also their coat is a combination of two different types of fur, an outer layer of "guard hairs", designed to protect the short dense second layer of fur, called the "under, or inner" coat. This double layer system insulates the River Otter from the cold weather, and helps them to float, and shed water.