BIOMES Summary of the 8 Terrestrial Biomes. BOREAL FOREST (Largest Biome in the World)

BIOMESBIOMESSummary of the 8 Terrestrial Biomes

BOREAL BOREAL FOREST FOREST (Largest Biome in the World)(Largest Biome in the World)

BOREAL FORESTBOREAL FOREST


WHERE?◦Northern Hemisphere (45 – 65° N)

FEATURES:◦Very cold winters◦Rainy, humid summers (short)◦Rough terrain

CLIMATE◦Precipitation = 30 to 85 cm/yr

(snow)◦Temp = freezing ½ the year

(lows -40°C) Russian Boreal Forest


WHO LIVES HERE? Animals are able to adapt for warm summers and cool winters; thick fur, change from brown to winter white, reptiles are rare.

◦ Insect-eating birds (finch), chipmunk, shrew, moose, black and grizzly bears, wolverine

PLANT LIFE:◦ Coniferous trees (evergreens)Waxy needles (resist water loss, snow slides off).

TEMPERATE TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS DECIDUOUS FORESTFOREST

TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FORESTTEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST


WHERE?◦Eastern Canada/US, ◦Western Europe

FEATURES:◦4 distinct seasons◦Long growing season◦Rich soil (fallen leaves)

CLIMATE◦Precipitation = even throughout year (75 -180 cm)◦Temp = -30 to 30°C


WHO LIVES HERE? A large variety due to the abundance of various habitats. Some hibernate, others migrate during winter.

◦ Rabbits, squirrels, skunks, cougars, deer, wolves, bears...

PLANT LIFE:◦ Four to five layers (mosses -> berries -> shrubs ->

short trees -> deciduous trees)Deciduous trees(Maple, Oak, Birch) – lose leaves in fall.

TEMPERATE TEMPERATE RAINFORESTRAINFOREST

TEMPERATE RAINFORESTTEMPERATE RAINFOREST

Temperate RainforestTemperate Rainforest

WHERE?◦Coastal BC, New Zealand, Australia, coast of Chile

FEATURES:◦Along coastlines, backed by mountains◦Very tall trees (up to 60m)

CLIMATE◦Heavy rainfall (>200 cm/yr)◦Coastal fog◦Temp = 5 to 25°C

Temperate RainforestTemperate Rainforest

WHO LIVES HERE? Many animals live on forest floor where they are protected from wind and rain. Eat seeds and insects.

◦ Small mammals (chipmunks), birds (eagle), amphibians, bears...

PLANT LIFE:◦ Tall, large evergreens (due to rain)◦ Mosses and lichens on tree trunks to

reach light. Mosses, fungi on forestfloor

TROPICAL TROPICAL RAINFORESTRAINFOREST

TROPICAL RAINFORESTTROPICAL RAINFOREST

Tropical RainforestTropical Rainforest

WHERE?◦Along the equator: Northern South America, Central Africa, Southeast Asia, Central America

FEATURES:◦Poor soil (heavy rains wash

nutrients away)◦Dark forest floor

CLIMATE◦Heavy rainfall (>250 cm/yr)◦Warm temp = 20 to 25 °C


WHO LIVES HERE? Large diversity but not many large mammals. Most animals live in trees as little vegetation on ground. Most are specialists to decrease competition. Some secrete poison.

◦ Small animals, few large mammals, birds (toucan, parrots), insects...

Poison arrow frog

This biome has the greatest diversity of animals on Earth


PLANT LIFE:◦This biome also has the greatest plant diversity

Leaves have narrow tips so rain runs off Tall trees form a canopy and block the light Some plants grow on the tall trees to reach the

sunlight (vines and orchids) Shrubs adapted to low light can grow in the forest

floor

Bengal BambooJambu

GRASSLANDSGRASSLANDS


WHERE?◦Temperate (Prairies, Russia)◦Tropical (Africa, S America, N

Australia)FEATURES:

◦Flat, rich fertile soil◦Rain followed by long dry periods◦Grass fires can occur

CLIMATE◦Rainfall = 25 to 100 cm/yr (Temp)

50 to 130 cm/yr (Trop)◦Temp = -10 to 30°C (Temp) 20 to 30°C (Trop)


WHO LIVES HERE? Grazing and scavenging animals – lots of grass

◦ Large grazing animals (antelope, giraffes, zebras, wolves, coyotes, rabbits, snakes, lions, cheetahs...)

PLANT LIFE:◦ Grasses (adapted for drought; well developed roots – collect

water, grow after fire); flexible stalks don’t break in wind). Some grasses are sharp & taste bad.

◦ Few trees

DESERTDESERT

DESERTDESERT

WHERE?◦Kalahari and Sahara of Africa,◦Simpson of Australia...Cold

deserts in North America (Great Basin Desert), Argentina (Patagonian Desert)

FEATURES:◦Hot, dry◦Salty soil (minerals don’t get

washed away)CLIMATE

◦Rainfall = < 25 cm/yr◦Temp = hot days, cold nights

DESERTDESERT

WHO LIVES HERE? Thick skin and scales to prevent water loss. Large adapted excretory systems (to preserve water). Large extremities. Not active during day (heat) , busy at night (cold) -- some burrow.

◦ Reptiles, scorpions, desert spadefoot toads, lizards, foxes, coyotes, jackrabbits...

PLANT LIFE: few species◦ Cacti, sagebrush◦ Long roots help absorb water◦ Spines/ chemicals help protect from being eaten

THE TUNDRATHE TUNDRA

TUNDRATUNDRA

TUNDRATUNDRA

WHERE?◦Upper Northern Hemisphere (60

– 70° N)FEATURES:

◦Cold and dark ◦Short Summers (24 hrs of

daylight)◦Layer of permanently frozen soil

(permafrost)CLIMATE

◦Precipitation = less than 25 cm/yr

◦Summer temp = 3 to 12 °C◦Winter temp = -20 to - 30 °C

TUNDRATUNDRA

WHO LIVES HERE? For animals to prevent heat loss, they have small bodies and shorter legs and ears (less space to lose heat from the body). They grow slowly and reproduce infrequently (less energy). Some turn white for camoflauge. Lots migrate away during winter.

◦ Foxes, caribou, snowy owl, seals, walrus, polar bear, walrus, beluga whale...

PLANT LIFE:◦ No trees (short summer, permafrost)◦ Plants grow close to ground: mosses, lichens, grasses.

Teachers' Domain: Arctic Tundra

PERMANENT PERMANENT ICE (POLAR)ICE (POLAR)

PERMANENT ICE (POLAR)PERMANENT ICE (POLAR)

Permanent IcePermanent Ice

WHERE?◦Polar ice caps of Arctic,

Greenland, AntarcticaFEATURES:

◦Strong winds, little soil◦Most freshwater is frozen in ice

◦ CLIMATE◦Precipitation = <50 cm/yr (snow)◦Summer temp = up to 14 °C

(Arctic summer)◦Winter temp = down to -30 °C (As low as -89 °C in Antarctica)

Permanent IcePermanent Ice

WHO LIVES HERE? Large terrestrial and marine mammals with lots of fat layers and tightly packed feathers to prevent heat loss. Some have fur and some lie close together (walrus/seal)

◦ Polar bears, walruses, seals, arctic foxes, penguins, leopard seals.

PLANT LIFE:◦ Lichens (fungi + algae)◦ Moss◦ 100 species of flowering plants in Arctic

BIOMES Summary of the 8 Terrestrial Biomes. BOREAL FOREST (Largest Biome in the World)

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