Introduction to Biomes

1
(No Transcript)
2
(No Transcript)
3
Taiga/Coniferous Forest/Boreal Forest
4
Taiga Forest or Boreal Forest

• Stretches across much of Canada, N. Europe, and
  Asia
• Climatic conditions harsh, with long, severe
  winters and short, mild summers
• Primarily fir and spruce trees
• Lynx predator, feeds on snowshoe hare as
  primary food source
• Adaptation Snowshoe Hare grows a thick, white
  winter coat that includes extra hair on its feet
  for warmth

5
Coniferous Forest
6
Tropical Rain Forest
7
Tropical Rain Forest

• Home to more species of organisms than any other
  place on Earth
• Warm temp. (near equator), wet weather(200
  cm/yr) and lots of plant growth
• Environmental Issue being destroyed by human
  activities (ex. Farmers clear land to grow
  crops) logging is prohibitied in some areas

8
Tundra
9
Tundra

• Treeless land with long summer days and short
  periods of winter sunlight
• Temps. never rise above freezing for long
• Temp. only allows the topmost layer of soil to
  thaw during the summer underneath is permafrost
• Topsoil only able to support shallow-rooted
  grasses and small plants
• Because all food chains depend on producers,
  short growing season is limiting factor for life
  in the tundra

10
Temperate Deciduous Forest
11
Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Dominated by broad-leaved hardwood trees that
  lost their foliage annually
• Animals include squirrels, mice, rabbits, deer
  and bears
• Typical trees include birch, hickory, oak, and
  maple

12
Grasslands
13
Grasslands

• Large communities covered with grasses and
  similar small plants
• Experience a dry season where insufficent water
  exists to support forests
• Called prairies in US, Australia and Canada
• Ex in US Yellowstone National Park
• Occupies more area than any other terrestrial
  biome

14
Deserts
15
Deserts

• Arid region with sparse to almost nonexistent
  plant life
• Less than 25 cm of precipitation annually
• Worlds driest place Atacama Desert in Chile
  receives an annual rainfall of zero

16
Polar Ecosystems

• Includes the Arctic and Antarctic regions
• Characterized by ice and snow and year-round cold
  temperatures.

17
Freshwater Ecosystem

• Shallow waters allow plants to be highly
  productive
• Includes fish, algae, protists, insect larvae,
  tadpoles, and crayfish
• As you move to the center of a lake or pond, more
  species of plants appear

18
Coral Reefs