Biomes• Rainforests• Tropical & Temperal

• Tundra• Arctic & Alpine

• Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Boreal Coniferous Forest

Biomes• Grassland• Savannas & Temperate

• Desert

• Chaparral

• Marine

• Freshwater

What Biome is this?

http://www.ghirardelli.com/products/cocoa_unsweetened.aspx

http://www.chocolatebakeryblog.com/

http://corporateknightsforum.com/index.php/CKtemplates/CKcomments/4/

http://www.ikon-gallery.co.uk/online_shop/other/item/rubber_band_ball/

Rainforest

Rain Forest

• Two Types– Temperate Rainforest

– Tropical Rainforest

• Difference is in the location– Temperate: farther

from equator

– Tropical: close to equator

Photo source: http://www.destination360.com/asia/malaysia/borneo-rainforest

Borneo Rain ForestBorneo, Malaysia

Tropical Rain Forest

•Located near equator (between tropic of cancer & tropic of capricorn)•Found in Central and South America, southeast Asia, West Africa and the islands.

Equator

Tropic ofCancer (23.5 N)

Tropic ofCapricorn (23.5 S)

Amazon Rainforest

Tropical Rain Forest Climate• Uniformally warm, wet weather year-round• Annual rainfall is 125-660 cm (50-260 inches)

which is evenly distributed throughout the year• Both temperature and humidity are relatively

high throughout the year– Rarely hotter than 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees

Fahrenheit) or cooler than 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit)

– Average humidity is between 77-88%

Tropical Rainforest Climatograph

CLIMATOGRAM

Tropical Rain Forest Environment

• A majority of the precipitation the rain forest receives is mainly from water given off by the leaves of the canopy.

• Tree roots are often shallow, forming a thick mat on the surface of the soil.

• The nutrients of the rain forest are tied up within living materials. – Heat and humidity encourage decomposition by ants, termites,

fungi and other decomposers.

– Organic materials are broken down so quickly that humus (organic matter that has reached a point of stability) is never formed.

• The rapid decomposition, extreme chemical weathering and leaching (due to high rainfall) leave the soil acidic and nutrient poor

Tropical Rain Forest Flora

• Canopy is multilayered and continuous – allows little light penetration.

• Highly diverse: 1 km2 may contain 100 different tree species.

• Trees are 25-35 m tall

• Plants such as orchids, vines (lianas), ferns, mosses, and palms are present in tropical forests.

Photo Source: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/forests.php#tropical

Tropical Rain Forest Fauna

• Large animals like the gorillas and cougars are the ground dwellers of the rain forest.

• Most rain forest organisms live up in the trees rather than on floors the forest.

• Butterflies and all the other insects are by far the most numerous organisms in the rain forest.

Temperate rain forest

Temperate Rain Forest

Photo source: http://web.unbc.ca/~wetbelt/nz-rainforests.htm

Tropic ofCancer (23.5 N)

Tropic ofCapricorn (23.5 S)

OlympicRainforest

•Located away from equator (outside of tropic of cancer & tropic of capricorn)•found on western edge of north and south America

Coastal temperate Rainforest Conditions

• moist air from Pacific Ocean drops rain from 140 to 167 inches--12 to 14 feet--every year.

• The mountains to the east protect the coastal areas from severe weather extremes.

• Called “ocean born forests”

• Less diverse than tropical rainforest due to cool winters

Temperate Rain Forest Climate• Cooler than tropical rainforests

– Temperate: 0-20°C– Seasonal temperature variation– Temperature rarely drops below freezing or

above 80°F.

• Temperate rainforest precipitation comes in form of snow or rain• Mild, frost-free winters, high

precipitation (over 1500 mm per year) evenly distributed throughout the year

Temperate Rain Forest Environment• Similar to tropical rain forest, tree roots are shallow• Does not exhibit a rapid cycling of nutrients like the tropical

rainforest.  – Due to the colder conditions and the acidity released by decomposing

coniferous needles on the forest floor, decomposition is much slower.  – More of the nutrients are found in the soil– Like the tropical forest most of the nutrients are held in the plants and

animals themselves.• Nearly every bit of space is taken up with a living plant. Some

plants even live on others (called epiphyte). – Epiphyte: plants that do not come into contact with the earth, but also are

not parasites. They are partly responsible for giving the rain forest its "jungly" appearance.

– Mosses, lichens and ferns cover just about anything else. • Thick and protective vegetation provides habitats for the animals.

Photo Source: http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/temprain.htm

Temperate Rain Forest Flora

• Big coniferous trees dominate this habitat– include the Douglas fir and Western

red cedar, Mountain hemlock, Western hemlock, Sitka spruce, Lodgepole pine, big leaf maple, red alder, vine maple, and black cottonwood.

• A number of deciduous trees are found here, particularly in warmer spots. 

• Mosses and lichens are very common

Big Leaf Maple

Photo Source: http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/temprain.htm

Temperate rain forest moss

Temperate Rain Forest Fauna

• Mammals such as deer, bears, coyotes

• A diversity of slugs due to the high humidity. 

• Birds: Clark's Nutcracker and the Blue Grouse is a northwest endemic. 

Temperate Rainforest Trophic Pyramid

Canopy of Forest

Canopy receiveslots of light, butblocks the lightfrom areas Below.

understory

Tropical nurse log

Epiphyte – one plant that grows on another; non-parasitic relationship; nutrients obtained from dust, water, and air.

Nurse log lower left T.R.F.

Nutrient-rich soil because a lot of dead organic matter on the ground is slowly decayed by fungi, insects and bacteria. Possibly more biomass (Plant

material, vegetation, or agricultural waste) in this biome than in any other.

Other facts about tropical rainforests

• Produce about 40% of the Earth’s oxygen

• More than half the world’s plant and animal species is estimated to live there

• About ¼ of all medicines we use come from rainforest plants (ex. Curare, an anesthetic)

Canopy

Tropical Rainforest

• A few thousand years ago, rainforests covered approximately 14% of the Earth’s land surface. – Now lose approximately 93,000 square miles per year!

• 40% of the tropical rainforests in Latin America and Southeast Asia have already been lost

• Now cover less than six percent of Earth’s land surface (possible as low as 2%)

Some place to preserve

WHERE TO NEXT???

• My name comes from a Finnish word meaning “treeless plain”

• I am the closest terrestrial biome to the North Pole, and I am also at high altitudes

• I am the youngest and coldest biome

Tundra

Tundra

• Named from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning treeless plain.

• Two types of tundra: alpine and arctic

• Coldest and youngest of all biomes (formed about 10,000 years ago).

Tundra

• Alpine: Located on mountains throughout the world at high altitudes where trees cannot grow (above treeline)

• Arctic: Northern hemisphere encircling the north pole & south to coniferous forest

• 55-70 degrees North latitude• Arctic National Wildlife refuge, Alaska and Manitoba, Canada

Arctic Tundra Locations

Arctic Tundra Climate…Brrrrr!• Extremely Cold, desert-like conditions• Average winter temperature = -34°C (-

30 F)• Average summer temperature 3-12°C

(37-54F)• Rainfall may vary in different regions

of the arctic.• Yearly precipitation, including melting

snow, is 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches).• Very Windy! 30-60 mph

Photo Source: http://biology.usgs.gov/ecosystems/global_change/climate_tundra.html

Arctic Tundra Climatograph

Arctic Tundra Environment• Growing season is approximately 50-60

days. • Soil is formed slowly.

– A layer of permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost exists, (about 1 m below the surface) consisting mostly of gravel and finer material.

• Tundra is one of the major carbon dioxide sinks in the world. Plants take in carbon dioxide, then die but don’t decompose because of the permafrost. Carbon dioxide remains trapped in the permafrost!

•Wide variety of plants•Shallow root systems• Plants are adapted to sweeping winds and disturbances of the soil.• Plants are short and group together to resist the cold temperatures and are protected by the snow during the winter.

Arctic Tundra Flora

Photo Source: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra_plant_page.htm

Arctic Moss

Arctic Tundra Flora

• Contains a few species of dwarf shrubs, a few grass species, moss (ex. Reindeer Moss), liverworts & grasses

• Examples shown are Arctic poppies and Reindeer Moss

tradewindsphoto.ca

swisseduc.ch

•Animals are well-adapted to the cold climate•Species diversity in the tundra is relatively small•Herbivores are caribou, musk ox, arctic hare•Carnivores include the arctic fox, snow owl and polar bear.

Arctic Tundra Fauna

Arctic Fox

Arctic Tundra Fauna

•Reptiles and amphibians are essentially absent due to the cold temperatures.

•Large population oscillations because of constant immigration & emigration

arcticanimallearningzone.com

coldtundra.blogspot.com

Alpine Tundra

Typically located at an altitude higher than 10,000 feet

Alpine Tundra Climate• Cold Climate due to high altitude

• Cold, snowy windy – comparable to winter weather in New England

• Summer: -12 to 10°C

• Winter: below freezing

• Average precipitation is low at 30cm/year

• Night time temperature usually below freezing

Photo Source: http://biology.usgs.gov/ecosystems/global_change/climate_tundra.html

Alpine Tundra Environment• Main seasons are winter

& summer

• Growing seasons is 180 days

• Soil is well drained.

• Rain runs off rather than collecting in the soil, making the ground very dry.

http://gallery.maiman.net/v/terragen/arctic.png.html

•Located at high altitudes above treeline

•Only about 200 species of plants

•Tussock grasses, dwarf trees, small-leafed shrubs, and heaths

•Trees are short

Alpine Tundra Flora

Photo Source: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine_plant_page.htm

•Animals are well-adapted to the cold climate•Species diversity in the tundra is relatively small•Mammals include marmots, sheep, elk, & mountain goats

Alpine Tundra FaunaLlama

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/alpine_animal_page.htm

Characteristics of The Arctic & Alpine Tundra

• Extremely cold climate

• Low biotic diversity

• Simple vegetation structure

• Short season of growth and reproduction

• Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material

Arctic Tundra•The arctic covers about 20% of the Earth’s surface

•Antarctica does not have true tundra because it is always covered with snow and ice

•Video on adaptation

And now on to ….

• Lots of people live where I am

• I have four distinct seasons

• My name means “shedding leaves annually”

Temperate deciduous forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

• “deciduous” means falling off at maturity or tending to fall off; typically used to refer to trees or plants that shed their leaves after growing season

• High human population density

Temperate Deciduous Forest Locations

• Found in eastern North America, northeastern Asia, and western and central Europe (lower middle latitudes in the Northern hemisphere)• Mainly located in middle latitudes of northern hemisphere (30°-60°N)

Temperate Deciduous Forest Climate

• Temperature varies from -30 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius.

• Average annual temperature of 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).

• Precipitation is distributed evenly throughout the year and ranges from 75-150 cm (30-60 inches) per year.

Photo Source: http://mac122.icu.ac.jp/gen-ed/biomes.html

Deciduous Forest Climatograph

Temperate Deciduous Forest Environment

• Soil is fertile and rich with decayed leaf litter. Soil is brown with a thin litter layer due to rapid decomposition.

• Growing season is 140-200 days with 4-6 months frost free

• Clearly defined seasons, with a distinct winter

Deciduous Forest Flora

• broad-leaved trees like maple, beech, oak, and hickory.

• Leaves are lost annually.

Photo Source: http://www-markinfo.slu.se/eng/vegeta/trslag/lovs1.html

Deciduous Forest Fauna

• Many types of herbivores and carnivores, some reptiles and amphibians.

• Includes rabbits, squirrels, skunks, deer, fox, and black bear. Photo Source:

http://www.schools.utah.gov/curr/science/core/4th/4thsciber/enviro/html/decid.htm

Deciduous Forest

• Once occupied much of eastern half of the U.S, central Europe, Korea, and China, but extensively affected by human activity.

• Many lost due to farms and towns.

• One of the most altered biomes on the planet

• High human population density

Temperate deciduous forest

And now we travel to ….

• The plants and animals that live where I am must be able to survive in cold weather

• I am the largest terrestrial biome!!!!

• Moose and bear call me home

Boreal Coniferous Forest (Temperate Boreal Forest)

Boreal Coniferous Forest

• Also known as taiga or temperate boreal forest

• taiga comes from the Russian word for “forest”

• “Coniferous forest” gets its name because the main vegetation type are conifers, such as pine trees

Photo source: http://www.naturalhistoryonthenet.com/Continents/north_america.htm

Boreal Coniferous Forest Location

• Located mainly between the 45th and 57th North latitudes – south of the tundra & north of temperate grasslands & temperate deciduous forest

• Found in Eurasia, North America, Siberia, Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada

Boreal Coniferous Forest Climate

• Precipitation is greater than the tundra; primarily in form of snow, 40-100 cm annually.

• Temperatures are cool to cold

• Average temperature is below freezing for six months of year.

Boreal Coniferous Forest Environment

• Seasons include short, moist, somewhat warm summers, and long, cold, dry winters

• Growing season is only 130 days

• The boreal forest soils have a deep litter layer and slow decomposition. – The soils are acidic and mineral deficient

because water moves rapidly through the soil.

Boreal Forest Flora

• Needle-leaf evergreen tree species such as white spruce, balsam fir, and many species of pine.

• All must be cold-tolerant.

• Fewer vegetation varieties than temperate forests

Boreal Forest Fauna

• Animals common to the forest are moose, bear, deer, wolf, chipmunks and bats.

• Reptiles are rare due to the cold temperatures.

Boreal Forest

• Extensive logging is threatening boreal forests

• Largest of the terrestrial land types

Who am I?

• There are two types of me – one that is tropical, and one that is temperate

• I am very fertile and nutrient-rich

• You can see for miles where I am!!

• I am home to many grazing animals

Grassland

Photo Source: http://www.eco-pros.com/grasslands.htm

Grassland

• Two types– Savannas (tropical grassland)– Temperate grassland

Savanna Grasslands Locations

Savannas found in Africa, Australia, South America and India

Savannas Grassland Climate

• Found in warm or hot climates

• Rainfall concentrated in 6-8 month period (summer); followed by long periods of drought when fires can occur (winter).

• Annual rainfall of 50-127 cm per year. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm

Savannas Grassland Environment

• Porous soil with rapid water drainage

• Thin layer of humus provides nutrients for vegetation

Savannas Flora

• Flora consists of different grasses and forbs (small broad-leaved plants that grow with grasses)

• Deciduous trees and shrubs scattered about open landscape.

• Drought-resistant individual trees.

• Leaves shed in the dry season to reduce water loss from the plant.

Photo Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/525656/47/Vegetation-profile-of-a-savanna

Savannas Fauna• Might include giraffes, zebras,

kangaroos, buffaloes, mice, snakes, lions, and elephants.

• Support the richest diversity of grazing mammals in the world (ex. Serengeti Plains of Tanzania)

• Environmental concerns include poaching, overgrazing, and clearing land for crops.

Photo Source: http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/16cm05/1116/16biomes.htm

Savanna Grasslands•Seasonal fires in Savannas play a key role in its biodiversity

•Do not devastate the community; only insects with short life spans are killed

Temperate Grasslands Locations

• Temperate grasslands located in central North America (prairies – have tall grasses), Europe and Asia (steppes – short grasses), and South America (Pampas).

Equator

Prairies (TG)

Pampas

Steppes (TG)

Temperate Grassland Climate

• Temperatures vary more summer to winter– Hot summers (as high as 38°C

(100F), cold winters (as low as -40°C (-40°F)

• Precipitation is erratic; enough to support grasses but not many trees.

• Less rainfall than in savannas – Annual average is 51-90 cm

(20-35 inches).

Temperate Grasslands Environment

• Tall grass prairie soil is rich in organics and dark.

• Black chernozemic soils are common and such soil is among the richest in nutrients. – Soils are among the most fertile

in the world.

– Nutrient-rich from growth and decay of deep, branched grass roots

Steppes

Temperate Grassland Flora

• Dominant vegetation is different species of grasses– Some flowering herbs & many kinds of legumes

• Trees and large shrubs are absent

• tall grasses found where it is more humid and wet

• short grasses are found in areas where it is dry, with hotter summers and colder winters.

Temperate Grasslands Fauna

• Dominated by smaller burrowing herbivores – prairie dogs, jack rabbits,

squirrels, gophers

• Larger running herbivores– bison, antelope, elk, zebra

• Carnivores such as badger, coyote, wolf, and cougar

Temperate Grasslands•Drought and fire prevent large forests from growing.•In temperate grasslands, the rich soil in the prairies are now cultivated to grow grain crops.

•Some species of fauna on verge of destruction due to habitat destruction as more regions turned into farms or grazing land.

Where am I?

• I can be very hot by day, but I can also get cold at night

• My major locations are:– Chihuahuan– Sonaran– Mojave– Great Basin

Desert

• Deserts cover about 1/5th of the Earth’s surface

• Four major types of deserts– hot and dry– semiarid– Coastal– cold

Pictured: Sahara Desert

Desert Locations

•Major hot and dry deserts are located between 25 and 40 degrees North and South latitude in the interiors of continents

•Four major deserts of North America include the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave, and Great Basin

Desert Climate

• Occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/yr (20 in/yr)– precipitation is limited by descending air currents.

Some areas have less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation annually

• Hot, Dry Desert – temperatures range from 20-25° Celsius (68-77° F)

on average annually.– Extremes can go from -18° Celsius at night (-6 F),

to 49° Celsius (120 F) during the day!

Desert Climatograph

Hot, Dry Desert Environment

• soil is limited in organic nutrients and salts are concentrated by high evaporation

Photo Source: http://www.hickerphoto.com/desert-environment-8879-pictures.htm

Desert Flora

• Water storing succulents like cactus and short-lived annuals.

• some drought resistant shrubs.

• Can be empty of vegetation if the precipitation is very low.

Photo Source: http://ponderosascenery.homestead.com/files/davis.html

Desert Fauna

• Few large mammals due to intense heat and lack of water

• Mammals tend to be nocturnal to avoid high temperatures

• Rich lizard and snake fauna– high temperatures promote

success of cold blooded life forms

• Fauna limited to small nocturnal carnivores, insects, reptiles, and birds.

Photo Source: http://www.atacamaphoto.com/atacama-fauna/desert-animals27.htm

Desert Biome video

Other Types of Desert • Semi-arid: found in Utah, Montana, Greenland,

Russia, Europe, and northern Asia– Moderately long and dry summers– winters bring low amounts of rainfall like the hot

deserts

• Coastal: found in Chile – Cool winters followed by moderately long, warm

summers.

• Cold: found in Antarctic and Greenland

What Biome is this?http://en.wikivisual.com/index.php/Ficus

http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/29/scientists-say-olive-stones-can-be-used-as-fuel/

http://poesia-design.blogspot.com/2008/08/style-with-tiles.html

http://www.meijer.com/

http://www.bensorensen.com/druidsgarden/sage.html

Chaparral

•Name is derived from Spanish word Chaparro, which means small and dwarf evergreen oak

Chaparral Locations

• Located in narrow zone between 32 and 40 degrees latitude North and South on the west coasts of continents

Chaparral Climate

• Mediterranean type climate– dry summers and wet winters

– Hot

• subtropical temperatures– ranges from 30-100°F

• Precipitation is light, ranging from 300 to 750 mm (12-30 in) annually.– Most rain falls within a 2-4

month period, mainly in the winter

Chaparral Environment

• Dry climate slows leaf decomposition in the soil.– As a result, the plants do

not have nutrients available for uptake to make new leaves when the wet season begins.

– To adapt to such conditions, the plants do not drop their leaves.

Chaparral Flora

• Due to the dry conditions, plants of the chaparral develop small hard evergreen leaves that will hold moisture

• Common flora includes eucalyptus, acacia, olive, shrub and live oak.

• Lots of shrubs!

http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/communities/chaparral

Chaparral Fauna

• Adapted to environment – do not need a lot of water to survive

– Nocturnal & small

• Rattlesnake, red fox, scorpions, chipmunks, wallabys & roadrunners

http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/sep/papr/road.html

Roadrunner

Characteristics of Chaparral

• One chaparral is located in wine country in California

• Fires occur naturally every 30-150 years

California Chaparral

Where am I now?

• I am BIG!

• Like the rainforest, I too take in a lot of carbon dioxide and produce oxygen

• There are three types of me: estuaries, oceans, coral reefs

Marine Biome

• Oceans cover more than 71% of the earth’s surface

• Include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries.

Marine

Marine Climate

• Climate does not affect this biome.

– Warmer as you get closer to the equator; colder as you get closer to the poles.

• The marine affects the terrestrial climate

– The marines affect the coastal areas due to wind

– depending upon the temperature of the water, the winds usually match that temperature.

Marine Environment

• Evaporation of seawater provides rainwater for the land.

• Marine algae provide much of the world’s oxygen supply and take in a huge amount of carbon dioxide.

• Oceans are the largest of all ecosystems within the biome.

Marine Flora & Fauna

• The shores are populated by algae, clams, shells, and oysters

• Contain plankton, large and small marine animals

Mussels, worms, spidercrab Sea fan & brain coral Atlantic amberjack

Photo Source: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/marine.php

Commensalism in Marine

Marine Types

• Reef– widely distributed in warm

shallow waters

– Can be found as barriers along continents fringing islands, and atolls.

• Estuaries– Occur when fresh water flows

into the sea (as in Long Island Sound)

Photo Source: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/marine.php

Marine Biome

The Final Destination…

• There are three types of me as well!

• I contain very little salt

Freshwater Biome

• Freshwater is defined as having a low salt concentration, usually less than one percent.

• Includes:– ponds and lakes– streams and rivers– wetlands

Freshwater Biome• Ponds & lakes are holes where water collects

– range in size from a few square meters to thousands of kilometers

– some ponds are seasonal (sessile pools)

• Streams & rivers are bodies of flowing water moving in one direction– can be found everywhere

• Wetlands are areas of standing water that support aquatic plants– Includes marshes, bogs, and swamps.

FreshwaterPonds & Lakes

Streams & Rivers

Wetlands

Photo Source: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/freshwater.php

Freshwater Climate• Ponds & Lakes

– Temperatures vary seasonally. • Summer: Warmer near top (from 22° C) than the bottom

(from 4° C)

• Winter: Cooler at top (0° C-ice) than bottom (4° C).

• Spring & fall seasons: More uniform temperature due to wind (about 4° C)

• Streams & Rivers: Temperature is cooler at the source than it is at the mouth.

• Wetlands: Moist & humid conditions

Freshwater Flora & Fauna• Ponds & Lakes

– Fairly diverse community: algae, rooted & floating plants, clams, insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, planktons.

• Streams & Rivers– More diverse at source than middle & mouth: includes

fish such as trout, algae, aquatic green plants

• Wetlands– Most diverse ecosystem within biome: include pond lilies,

cattails, sedges, tamarack, and black spruce.

Freshwater Biome

• 90% of the world’s ice is found in the Antarctic

• 2-3% of water on earth is freshwater

• Majority of the freshwater is found in polar ice caps and glaciers