Organisms and the Environment

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Organisms and the Environment
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Chapter Six Biomes

• 6.1 Climates and Biomes
• 6.2 Deserts and Grasslands
• 6.3 Temperate Forests and Rainforests
• 6.4 Taigas and Tundras

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Investigation 6A
Environments Around School

• What causes different microclimates within an
  ecosystem?

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6.2 Deserts

• A desert is a climate region that averages less
  than 35 cm. of rainfall per year.
• Due to a lack of clouds, deserts get more than
  twice as much incoming sunlight as other regions.

Why dont deserts have cloud cover?
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6.2 Rainshadow deserts

• One desert found in eastern Washington state, is
  the result of the rainshadow effect.
• Moist air rises as it travels up the western
  slope of the Cascade mountains range and cools,
  causing lots of rain.
• By the time the air reaches the eastern side,
  there is very little moisture left.

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6.2 Desert life

• Many different kinds of organisms have adapted to
  desert life.
• In fact, only the tropical rainforest biome
  contains a greater number of plant and animal
  species.

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6.2 Grasslands

• Grasslands are found on every continent except
  Antarctica.
• There are two types of grasslands
• savannas (tropical grasslands), and
• temperate grasslands.

Which type of grassland is found in South America?
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6.2 Grasslands

• Savannas are characterized by two seasons rainy
  and dry.
• During the rainy season, from 50 to 127 cm. of
  rain can fall.
• This season is followed by a drought, in which
  wildfires can occur.
• Fires and poor soil conditions prevent the growth
  of most trees.

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6.2 Grasslands

• In some areas, trees grow only on termite mounds.
• The isolated trees found in savannas have
  cork-like bark that protect against fire damage.

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6.2 Grasslands

• Many large mammals of the savanna, including
  wildebeest have long legs that enable them to
  outrun fires.

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6.2 Grasslands

• Around the world, grasslands go by different
  names.

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Which type of grassland is closest to where you
live?