4.4 Biomes

What do you need to know?- General characteristics

(climate, soil type, plant/animal life)

-EX: What 2 biomes have the least amount of rainfall?

Organizing your notes

• 1st set of notes – in your workbook p.59– Biomes # 1 – 6

• 2nd set of notes – in your notebook– Biomes # 7 – 10

• So in your workbook…

Here you go, Kylin…• Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now

they cover a mere 6% and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.

• Nearly HALF of the world's species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.

• Experts estimate that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year. As the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources.

• More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST• Climate -

hot & humid year round

• Soil - thin, poor soil

• Animal life: lots of camouflage– Canopy = top – Understory = below

canopy 

• Adaptations for climbing, jumping, and/or flight

• Plants – very abundant; tall trees, vines

Tropical Dry Forest

• Climate/Soil – warm year-round with alternating wet and dry seasons; rich soil

• Plant life – tall, deciduous (drop

their leaves), succulent

• Animal life– undergo estivation

(to spend a hot, dry season in an inactive, dormant state) or migration

Temperate Grassland

• Climate/Soil – warm to hot summers, cold winters; fertile soil - agriculture

• Animal/Plant life– Plants – tall

grasses, prairies– Animals –

Camouflage and burrowing are 2 common protective adaptations

Tundra

• Climate/Soil:• Cold, dark winters

and short, soggy summers

• Permafrost – layer of permanently frozen subsoil

• Plants: low to the ground

• Animals: must be able to tolerate harsh conditions

Boreal Forest (Taiga)

• Climate – long, cold winters; short, mild summers; moderate precipitation

• Soil – acidic, nutrient-poor

• Plants – conifers (cone-bearing)

• Animals – most with extra insulation, some migrate during winter

Desert

• Climate– Low precipitation– Variable temps– Soil - Rich in

nutrients, but poor in organic materials

• Plants– Short growth cycles– Cacti – waxy coating

to prevent water-loss

• Animals– Adaptations to

regulate body temp if need to lose heat quickly

Now, in your notebook

• BIOMES – See wkbk pg. 59 for biomes 1 – 6

• 7. Start notes here…

Tropical Grassland/Savanna/ Shrubland

• Climate – More rain than

deserts, but less than tropical dry forest

• Soil – Compacted soils,

frequent fires

• Plants– Similar to tropical

dry forest

• Animals– Lions, zebra,

wildebeests– Large animal

herds

TEMPERATE WOODLAND & SHRUBLAND

• Climate/soil– Hot, dry summers

and cool moist winters

– Nutrient poor soil

• Chaparral= dominated by shrubs

• Frequent fires• Animals

– Mainly browsers

Temperate Forest

• Climate/Soil– Cold/moderate

winters, warm summers

– Year-round precip– Fertile soil

• Plant life– Deciduous trees

and conifers

• Animal life– Cope with weather– Migrate– Hibernate – Camouflage

Northwestern Coniferous Forest

• Climate/soil– Mild

temperatures, much precip in fall, winter, spring

– Rocky, acidic soil

• Plant life– Conifers, shrubs,

moss– Lush vegetation

• Animal life– Adapt to seasons– Camouflage– Many browsers

Assignment

• Finish section 4.4 in your workbook

• You will also have 4.5 (due by Fri) so plan your time accordingly