Understanding BiomesBryn ZippHonors BiologyMrs. Gottshall

What is a Biome?

An ecosystem of specific plants and animals.

The plants and animals exist there due to the favorable climate/conditions.

Classified in broad terms and listed as five biomes.

Five Biomes1. Aquatic biome2. Desert biome3. Forest biome4. Grassland biome5. Tundra biome

Aquatic BiomeWater makes up 75 percent of the earth.

Two regions :1. Freshwater and2. Marine biomes

Freshwater RegionsPonds and lakes

Streams and rivers

Wetlands

Differences in types of Freshwater Regions

Water temperatureWater in motionDepth of waterAnd salt concentration

Freshwater Species

Plants Algae Aquatic plants Hydrophytes Pond lilies Cattails Cypress

Animals Floating snails Clams Amphibians Insects Fish Snakes Ducks

Marine RegionsOceansCoral reefs

Estuaries

Differences in types of Marine Regions

Water temperatureWater depthsSalt concentrations

Marine SpeciesPlants

SeaweedAlgaeMarsh grasses

Animals Snails and crabs Many Fish species Sponges and

starfish Oysters and

worms Mammals –

whales and dolphin

Desert BiomeTypes

1. Hot and dry2. Semiarid3. Coastal4. Cold

Hot and Dry Desert

Climate

Average temperature is 120 degrees

Can be rainless for up to a year

Plants and Animals

Ground shrubs, short trees, like cacti, yuccas, and prickly pears

Burrowers, reptiles, birds, and insects

Semiarid Desert

Climate Temperatures

range from 100 degrees during the day and 50 degrees at night

Receives 2 inches of rainfall a year

Plants and Animals

Plants such as cat claw, brittle bushes, and jujube

Jack rabbits, skunks, grasshoppers, lizards, and burrowing owls

Coastal Desert

Climate Temperatures can

range from 66 F in the Summer and 41 F or below in the Winter

Average rainfall around 4 inches a year

Plants and Animals

Plants such as salt bush, rice grass, and sage

Toads, coyotes, badgers, great horned owls, and eagles

Cold Deserts

Climate Average

Summer temperatures 73 degrees F and Winter is 32 degrees F

Heavy rain in the Spring months

Plants and Animals

Plants are everywhere and cover 10 to 85 % of the ground

Kangaroo, antelope, kit fox, and coyotes

Forest Biome

1. Tropical2. Temperat

e3. Boreal

Tropical Forest

Climate Average

temperature is 77 degrees through all seasons

Annual rainfall exceeds 78 inches

Plants and Animals

Mostly all evergreen trees, orchids, vines, ferns, mosses, and palm trees

Small mammals, bats, and insects

Temperate Forest

Climate Temperature

ranges from negative 22 to 86 degrees

A distinct winter and half the year experiences frost

Plants and Animals

Oak, Hickory, Maple, Elm, and Willow trees

Squirrels, rabbits, deer, mountain lions, bobcats, and even black bear

Boreal Forest

Climate Seasons are a

short warm summer and cold long winter

Most precipitation is mostly snowfall, up to 40 inches a year

Plants and Animals

Pine, Fur, and Spruce trees

Woodpeckers, hawks, moose, bear, weasels, and chipmunks

Grassland Biomes

1. Savanna-

2. Temperate-

Savanna Grassland

Climate It is always hot

and the rainfall is approximately 50 inches a year

Rain only occurs 6 to 8 months a year, other months are very dry

Plants and Animals

Most vegetation is big leafed plants and variety of shrubs

Giraffe, buffalo, kangaroo, moles, and snakes

Temperate Grassland

Climate Summer

temperatures around 100 degrees F to -40 degrees F

Rainfall is less than 20 inches a year

Plants and Animals

Covered with grasses, sunflowers, and clovers

Gazelles, zebras, horses, lions, prairie dogs, and rhinoceroses

Tundra Biome

1. Arctic-

2. Alpine-

Arctic Tundra

Climate Precipitation

including melting snow is around 10 inches a year

Found near the North Pole, making it very cold

Plants and Animals

Short seasons of growth for plants

Animals have adapted such as: polar bears, arctic foxes, arctic hares, and many types of fish

Alpine Tundra

ClimateTemperatures

stay below freezing

Approximately 180 days of the growing season

Plants and Animals

Tussock grasses, and small trees

Marmots, mountain goats, sheep, elk, and grouse like birds

More About Biomes Biomes can move as the

environment changes. If the species cannot adapt they

become extinct and new forms grow and flourish.

The biomes are continuously harmed by oil spills, chemical waste pollution, forest fires, removal of trees for lumber, and damaging the ozone layer.