Ch 6 BIOMES

Ch 6-1 What is a Biome?

Biome: • similar ecosystems found throughout the

world.• Large region with a specific type of climate

and certain types of plants and animal communities.

Biomes are distributed across the Earth based primarily on climate. Therefore, in areas that are far apart, you will sometimes find similar plants and animals because the climate is similar.

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Biomes & Vegetation

• Biomes are described by their vegetation• Plants determine the other organisms that live in the biome.

Biomes & Vegetation

• Plants in each biome have adaptations that enable them to survive there

• Adaptations: size, shape, & color

• What is the adaptation• shown for rain forest • leaves?

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Biomes & Climate

• What determines what plants can live in a biome?

• Climate – weather conditions over a long period of time–Temperature, precipitation, humidity,

winds, amount of sunlight

Biomes & Climate

• Plants adapted to a narrow range of temperatures.

• Plants adapted to length of growing season• Precipitation : larger organisms need more

water–Biomes with smaller amounts of water are

dominated by small trees, shrubs, or grasses

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Latitude & Altitude

• Biomes & vegetation vary with latitude & altitude.– Latitude: distance north & south of equator

Climate gets colder as you move away from

the equator

Latitude & Altitude

• Altitude: height of object above sea level–Climate gets colder as altitude increases

Another factor affecting climate is elevation. The higher you go in elevation, the colder the temperature gets.

Between 30 & 60 degrees north & south latitudes is temperate zone. This is where most of the world’s food is grown.This zone is home to Temperate forests and Grasslands with moderateClimates and fertile soil

How many biomes are there?

• Tropical Rainforest Temperate Rainforest• Tropical Savanna• Desert• Chaparral• Grassland• Temperate Deciduous Forest• Temperate Boreal Forest• Tundra