Biomes

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Chapter 4

• Biomes

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Biomes

• Biome a group of ecosystems that have the same
  climate and dominant communities of organisms.
• Species are able to adapt in order to live in
  different biomes. EX Desert Kangaroo Rats have
  kidney adaptations that allow them to conserve
  water
• Microclimate The climate in a small area differs
  from the climate around it.
• EX Certain streets in San Francisco are often
  blanketed in fog while sun shines brightly just a
  few blocks away

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The Major Biomes

• Tropical Rain Forest
• Tropical Dry Forest
• Tropical Savannah
• Desert
• Temperate Grassland
• Temperate Woodland and Shrubland
• Temperate Forest
• Northwestern Coniferous Forest
• Boreal Forest
• Tundra

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Tropical Rain Forest

• Hot wet year round
• Orchids, ferns, vines, climbing plants
• Sloths, jaguars, anteaters, monkeys, toucans,
  parrots, butterflies, boa constrictors, anacondas
• Found in South Central America, Southeast Asia,
  parts of Africa, Southern India, Northeastern
  Austraila
• EX Belem, Brazil

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Tropical Dry Forest

• Rainfall is seasonal and NOT year round
• Generally warm year round, alternating wet and
  dry seasons
• Tall, deciduous trees, aloes and succulents
• Tigers, monkeys, elephants, rhinoceroses, hogs,
  deer, snakes, lizards
• Parts of Africa, South Central America, Mexico,
  India, Australia
• EX Chennai, India

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Tropical Savannah

• Receives more rainfall than deserts but less than
  tropical dry forests
• Mainly grasslands with isolated trees
• Warm temperature, seasonal rainfall
• Tall perennial grasses, drought tolerant shrubs
• Lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, elephants,
  giraffes, baboons, zebras
• Large parts of Africa, Southern Brazil, Northern
  Australia
• EX Mombasa, Kenya

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Desert

• Low precipitation, variable temperatures
• Cacti and succulents
• Mountain lions, gray fox, bobcats, mule deer,
  bighorn sheep, tortoises, rattlesnakes, lizards
• Africa, Asia, Middle East, United States, South
  America, Australia
• EX Yuma, AZ

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Temperate Grasslands

• Warm to hot summers, cold winters, moderate
  precipitation
• Perennial grasses and herbs
• Coyotes and badgers, wolves, grizzly bear,
  rabbits, prairie dogs, hawks, owls, snakes
• Central Asia, N. America, Australia, Central
  Europe
• EX Dallas, TX

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Temperate Woodland Shrubland

• Hot, dry summers, cool, moist winters
• Woody evergreen shrubs
• Coyotes, fox, bobcats, mountain lions, deer,
  rabbits, squirrels, lizards, snakes
• West coast of N. and S. America, Mediterranean
  Sea area, South Africa, Australia
• EX Los Angeles, CA

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Temperate Forest

• Cold winters, warm summers, fertile soil,
• Deciduous trees, some conifers, mosses and fern
• Deer, black bear, bobcats, squirrels, raccoons,
  skunks, songbirds
• Eastern US, SE Canada, most of Europe, Parts of
  Japan, China Australia
• EX Philadelphia, PA

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Northwestern Coniferous Forest

• Mild temperatures, precipitation during fall,
  winter, spring, rocky acidic soils
• Douglas Fir, spruce, redwoods
• Bear, elk, deer, beavers, owls, bobcats, weasels
• Pacific coast of northwestern US and Canada from
  northern California to Alaska
• EX Seattle, WA

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Boreal Forest

• Long, cold winters, short, mild summers, high
  humidity
• Needleleaf conifers such as spruce and fir,
  berry-bearing shrubs
• Timber wolves, lynxes, moose, beavers
• North America, Asia, and northern Europe
• EX Fairbanks, Alaska

13
Tundra

• Strong winds, low precipitation, short summers,
  long cold winters, permafrost
• Mosses, lichens, short grasses
• A few birds and mammals that can stand harsh
  conditions, artic fox, caribou
• Northern North America, Asia, Europe
• EX Barrow, Alaska