Biomes

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Biomes

• Wildlife Conservation
• Photos Courtesy of worldbiomes.com

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Biomes of the World
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Tundra Biome

• Frozen northern regions
• Low evaporation rates make water unable to
  penetrate soil - leads to spongy, wet ground
  during summer growing season
• Grasses, mosses, lichens, sedges, shrubs, trees
• Caribou, reindeer, birds, insects, musk ox,
  rodents, lynx, fox, bears, wolves, moose, many
  migratory birds and mammals

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Tundra Biome

• Temperatures well below freezing most of the year
• Soil is permanently frozen (permafrost)
  underneath the surface
• Less than 10 inches of precipitation
• Sun shines most of the time
• Snowfall is limited

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Tundra Biome
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Grassland Biome

• Often referred to as prairie
• Characterized by lack of trees
• Largest biome in North America
• Many plants besides grass found
• Periodic burning is necessary for new plant
  growth
• Sedges, shrubs, grasses, flowers
• Bison, prairie dogs, mice, snakes, rabbits,
  pronghorn antelope, coyotes, birds, insects, many
  domestic cattle and sheep graze on grasslands

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Grassland Biome

• Moderate to hot summers
• Freezing winters
• Severe droughts occur from time to time
• Lightning fires prevent trees from growing
• Deep root systems of plants collect deep soil
  moisture and protect plants from fire damage

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Grassland Biome
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Coniferous Forest Biome

• Evergreen forest
• Provides much of lumber used for construction
• Important renewable resource
• Pine spruce fir hemlock other conifers very
  few shrubs, grasses, or other plants needles
  conserve moisture, flexible branches allow heavy
  snow to fall to the ground without breaking the
  branch

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Coniferous Forest Biome

• Elk, moose, deer, caribou, bear, wolverines,
  lynx, birds, wolves, fox, hawks, owls, squirrels,
  rabbits, porcupines, mice
• Precipitation is mostly in the form of snow
• 15-40 inches of precipitation per year
• Long, cold winters
• Moderate summer temperatures with cool nights

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Coniferous Forest Biome
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Temperate Forest Biome

• Identified by broadleaf trees (deciduous)
• Several layers of vegetation, strata, are found
• Canopy is highest level
• Smaller trees are understory
• Bushes are shrub layer
• Shortest plants are herb layer
• Forest floor is decaying plant material

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Temperate Forest Biome

• Oak, maple, cherry, hickory, beech, shrubs,
  ferns, grasses, flowering plants, other deciduous
  trees
• Squirrels, birds, deer, opossums, skunks, fox,
  owls, snakes, mice, turkeys, bear other birds of
  prey, rodents, and reptiles
• Precipitation usually in excess of 30 inches per
  year
• Four distinct seasons
• spring - new growth, cool temperatures
• summer - warm to hot temperatures
• fall - dying back, cool temperatures
• winter - dormancy, cold temperatures

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Temperate Forest Biome
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Marine Biome

• Largest biome in the world
• Oceans, bays, estuaries
• 71 of Earths surface area
• Salinity is salt concentration
• 3 - 3.7
• Very diverse
• Three important zones
• intertidal - near shore
• neritic - extends to edge of continental shelf
• oceanic - begins at outer edge of continental
  shelf and extends to deep ocean waters

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Marine Biome

• Phytoplankton, algae, kelp, seaweed
• Zooplankton, mammals, fish, sharks, eels,
  reptiles, anemones, crustaceans, snails, birds,
  coral
• Hot southern zones
• Cold arctic regions
• Water pressure increases as depth increases -
  encourages organisms to live in shallower areas
• Light is only present for about 200 yards
• Deep-ocean volcanic vents provide warmth and
  energy for organisms

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Marine Biome
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Freshwater Biome

• Water that is not salt
• Can be stagnant, muddy, or heavily polluted
• May be hot, cold, or loaded with dissolved
  materials
• Some organisms have become so specialized that
  they can not survive anywhere else
• Phytoplankton, reeds, algae, lilies, trees
• Zooplankton, fish, birds, mammals, reptiles,
  amphibians

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Freshwater Biome

• Can be very hot, hot, warm, cool, cold, or very
  cold
• Thermal stratification is the difference between
  water temperatures based on water depth
• Water near surface tends to be warmer
• Deep water tends to be cooler

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Freshwater Biome
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Desert Biome

• Very dry
• Nearly 35 of Earths land area
• Only supports specially-adapted plants and
  animals
• Succulents (plants that have fleshy tissues that
  conserve moisture, like cactus, aloe, prickly
  pear), develop deep taproots that draw moisture
  from deep in the soil, short growing seasons,
  visible growth during rain periods

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Desert Biome

• Small rodents, birds, lizards, snakes, insects,
  hares, coyotes, antelope
• Many survive with small amounts of water gained
  from plants or prey animals they eat
• Others drink at water holes
• Precipitation is usually less than 10 inches per
  year
• Very hot during the day
• Very cold at night

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Desert Biome