BiomesBiomes

Standards 6a & 6bStandards 6a & 6b

Standards 6a & 6bStandards 6a & 6b

6a: Students know biodiversity is the sum 6a: Students know biodiversity is the sum total of different kinds of organisms and is total of different kinds of organisms and is affected by alterations of habitats.affected by alterations of habitats.

6b: Students know how to analyze 6b: Students know how to analyze changes in an ecosystem resulting from changes in an ecosystem resulting from changes in climate, human activity, changes in climate, human activity, introduction of non-native species, or introduction of non-native species, or changes in population size.changes in population size.

What affects climate?What affects climate?

Climate in an area is affected by two Climate in an area is affected by two main thingsmain things• Direct sunlight (heat)Direct sunlight (heat)• PrecipitationPrecipitation

Climate directly affects the type of Climate directly affects the type of biome biome • BiomeBiome is an environment with specific is an environment with specific

vegetation and organismsvegetation and organisms• If it is cold, you have organisms that are If it is cold, you have organisms that are

suitable to the ____suitable to the ____

BiomesBiomes

Because of these two factors Because of these two factors combined, we get specific biomes at combined, we get specific biomes at specific areas.specific areas.

For example, For example, at the equator, there is at the equator, there is a lot of sunlight, and a lot of a lot of sunlight, and a lot of precipitation, so there is a tropical precipitation, so there is a tropical rainforest.rainforest.

At 30°, there is a lot of sunlight, but At 30°, there is a lot of sunlight, but little or no precipitation, so there is a little or no precipitation, so there is a desert.desert.

OverviewOverview

Sunlight and precipitation affect the Sunlight and precipitation affect the climateclimate

Climate over an environment Climate over an environment produces a biomeproduces a biome

A biome has organisms suited to the A biome has organisms suited to the climateclimate

Biomes generally occur on the same Biomes generally occur on the same latitudeslatitudes

BiomesBiomes

There are two main types of biomesThere are two main types of biomes• LandLand• Aquatic (water)Aquatic (water)

We will cover both todayWe will cover both today

Land BiomesLand Biomes

Most land biomes are named after Most land biomes are named after their climax community.their climax community.

Some of the land biomesSome of the land biomes• TundraTundra• Taiga (TIGH-guh)Taiga (TIGH-guh)• Temperate deciduous forestTemperate deciduous forest• GrasslandGrassland• Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest• DesertDesert

Tropical rain forest

Tropical dry forest

Tropical savanna Temperate woodlandand shrubland

Desert

Temperate grassland

Boreal forest(Taiga)

Northwesternconiferous forest

Temperate forest

Mountains andice caps

Tundra

Aquatic biomesAquatic biomes

There are 3 main types of aquatic There are 3 main types of aquatic biomes.biomes.

The amount of salt determines the The amount of salt determines the type of biome.type of biome.

The 3 main types of aquatic biomesThe 3 main types of aquatic biomes• FreshwaterFreshwater• Marine (saltwater)Marine (saltwater)• EstuariesEstuaries

TundraTundra

TundraTundra• Located near the polesLocated near the poles• Treeless biome covered by moss, Treeless biome covered by moss,

lichens, and grasseslichens, and grasses• Permafrost – a layer of permanently Permafrost – a layer of permanently

frozen subsoilfrozen subsoil

Taiga (Boreal Forest)Taiga (Boreal Forest)

TaigaTaiga• Covered by coniferous (cone bearing) Covered by coniferous (cone bearing)

trees. trees. • Bears, wolves, moose, elk are some of Bears, wolves, moose, elk are some of

the typical animalsthe typical animals Coniferous ForestConiferous Forest

Temperate BiomesTemperate Biomes

Temperate climates characterized by Temperate climates characterized by cold winters and hot summerscold winters and hot summers• Plants change during the seasonsPlants change during the seasons

(leaves change color)(leaves change color) Deciduous Forest, Woodland & Deciduous Forest, Woodland &

Shrubland, GrasslandShrubland, Grassland

GrasslandsGrasslands

GrasslandsGrasslands• Most of the rainfall occurs in one part of Most of the rainfall occurs in one part of

the seasonthe season• Hot summers, cold wintersHot summers, cold winters

Tropical Rain/Dry ForestTropical Rain/Dry Forest

Tropical rain forestTropical rain forest• Located at equatorLocated at equator• Receive 200-400 centimeters of rain a Receive 200-400 centimeters of rain a

yearyear• Constant temperature. Constant temperature. • Home of the most types of animals than Home of the most types of animals than

any other biome. Many colorfulany other biome. Many colorful Dry forest: less precipitationDry forest: less precipitation

DesertsDeserts

DesertsDeserts• Located at 30° latitudeLocated at 30° latitude• Less than 25 cm of rain falls a yearLess than 25 cm of rain falls a year• Both plants and animals must be able to Both plants and animals must be able to

retain moisture. retain moisture. • Birds, lizards, snakes, insects are typicalBirds, lizards, snakes, insects are typical• Cactus and sagebrush sparsely cover Cactus and sagebrush sparsely cover

the areathe area

Freshwater biomesFreshwater biomes

Rivers, streams, and lakesRivers, streams, and lakes

Marine BiomesMarine Biomes

Includes all of the oceanIncludes all of the ocean Marine biomes are divided into 4 Marine biomes are divided into 4

subcategoriessubcategories• Intertidal zoneIntertidal zone• Neritic zoneNeritic zone• Open-sea zoneOpen-sea zone• Deep-sea zoneDeep-sea zone

EstuariesEstuaries

Estuaries are the boundaries Estuaries are the boundaries between freshwater and saltwaterbetween freshwater and saltwater..

Since it is a mix of the two, a variety Since it is a mix of the two, a variety of organisms can be supported.of organisms can be supported.

Examples of estuariesExamples of estuaries• Delta, swamp, lagoonDelta, swamp, lagoon

Biome ProjectBiome Project

In groups of 3-4, create a biome presentationIn groups of 3-4, create a biome presentation Give information about the biome, including:Give information about the biome, including:

• Temperature range (graph)Temperature range (graph)• Precipitation (graph)Precipitation (graph)• Location (latitudes/areas)Location (latitudes/areas)• Plants (vegetation)Plants (vegetation)• AnimalsAnimals• Interesting Facts Interesting Facts

Posterboard or Powerpoint acceptablePosterboard or Powerpoint acceptable More visuals, the betterMore visuals, the better 500000000 points500000000 points Due in two weeks!Due in two weeks!

To help you out…To help you out…

A Biology TextbookA Biology Textbook http://http://mbgnet.mobot.orgmbgnet.mobot.org// http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/

Laboratory/Biome/Laboratory/Biome/

Preplan…Preplan…

What kind of presentation will you What kind of presentation will you do? Powerpoint? Posterboard?do? Powerpoint? Posterboard?

Who is doing what? Research? Who is doing what? Research? Picture finding? Who’s good with Picture finding? Who’s good with computers? Who’s bringing computers? Who’s bringing materials?materials?

When do you want to meet up? When do you want to meet up? Contact info? Contact info?

Anything else you can think of…Anything else you can think of…