World Biomes

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World Biomes

• Follow along with your note packet to add/modify
  any notes you took as you read the chapter.

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Tropical Rainforest
Location Found near equatorlittle variation in
temperatures. No distinct seasonal changes.
Earth's most complex land biome

• http//www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/
  

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• Tropical Rainforest
• Abiotic factors
• both hot and moist
• lt1 cm of topsoil
• About 100 in/yr of rainfall
• Biotic Factors
• high biodiversity and biomass
• ideal for bacteria and other microorganisms they
  quickly decompose matter on the forest floor
  allowing nutrients to be recycled.

http//www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysfl
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Bougainvillea
Tropical Rainforest Plant adaptations

• Sunlight is a major limiting factor
• Plants grow in layers (canopy receives most
  light)
• Shallow, wide roots since soil is so thin and
  poor in nutrients
• Little sun reaches the floor

Bangul Bamboo
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Silvery Gibbon
Tropical Rainforest Animal Adaptations Many
animals are specialists and require special
habitat components to survive Camouflage is
common
Waglers pit viper

• Many symbiotic relationships
• Live in different levels of canopy

Slender Loris
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page
.htm
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Threats to the Tropical Rainforest

• Humans strip the rainforests for uses including
  logging and cattle ranching.
• In addition to the plants and animals that are
  displaced by this destruction, entire
  civilizations of people are also without a home.
  
• You can help by promoting sustainable use of the
  rainforests products

http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_animal_page
.htm
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http//www.runet.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/bio
mes/tbdf/tbdf.html

• Temperate Forests
• Location
• found in temperate zone (about 480 North lat)
  east U.S., southeast Canada, most of Europe,
  parts of Japan, China, Australia
• Much of the human population lives in this biome
• Climate - Moderate winters, warm summers

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http//www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/
taiga.html
Temperate Forests

• Biotic Factors
• Characterized by an abundance of deciduous (leaf
  bearing) trees
• Characterized by 4 seasons

• Abiotic Factors
• Soils Deep soil layers, rich in nutrients
• Precipitation 30100 in/yr in all forms (snow,
  rain, hail, fog, etc.)

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More diversity in the deciduous forest vs. the
coniferous forest due to increased
sunlight.Trees adapt to varied climate by
becoming dormant in winter
Lady Fern
Temperate forest Plant adaptations
White Birch Birchhttp//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/d
eciduous_plant_page.htm
Deciduous forests grow in layers More sunlight
reaches the ground compared to a rainforest so
you will find more ground dwelling plants.
Geulder Rose
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Bald Eagle
Temperate ForestAnimal Adaptations

• Lose Winter Coat
• Adapt to many seasons
• Eat from different layers of the forest

Least Weasel
Fat Dormouse
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/deciduous_animal_p
age.htm
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Threats to Temperate Forests
Many forests are cleared to provide housing for
humans. Careful use of the resource can provide a
renewable system if we dont take too much
habitat away.
http//www.runet.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/bio
mes/tbdf/tbdf.html
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Boreal Forest or Taigaaka Northern Coniferous
Forest
Location Found only in Northern
Hemisphere Climate cold winters, mild summers
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• Taiga
• Abiotic factors
• Averages 100 in/yr precipitationmostly snow
• Soil poor in nutrients and very acidic
• Growing season is very short
• High humidity
• Biotic factors
• Dense forests
• Evergreen coniferous trees

http//www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/ritter/geog101/mod
ules/ ecosystems_biomes/biomes_northern_forest.htm
l
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Balsam Fir
Taiga Plant adaptations
Fireweed

• Roots long to anchor trees
• Needles long, thin and waxy
• Low sunlight and poor soil keeps plants from
  growing on forest floor
• http//www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/conifer
  ous/plants.htm

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Moose
Animal Adaptations of the Taiga

• Adapt for cold winters
• Burrow, hibernate, warm coat, insulation, etc.
• http//www.inchinapinch.com/hab_pgs/terres/conifer
  ous/animals.htm

Great Grey Owl
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Threats to the Taiga
Mining operations can irreparably damage this
fragile ecosystem. Pollution left behind can also
put animals and plants at risk.
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm
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• Tropical Savannas
• Contain the greatest number of grazing animals
  on Earth.
• Location Found in the tropicsnear equator
• Amount of precipitation supports tall grasses
  but only occasional trees.
• Climate warm, seasonal rainfall
• http//www.runet.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/bio
  mes/savanna/savanna.html

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• Abiotic Factors
• Rainy and dry season
• 25-150 in/yr precipitation
• Fire plays a large role in this ecosystem

Biotic Factors Covered in grasses, isolated trees
and shrubs
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Whistling Thorn
Tropical SavannaPlant Adaptations

• Umbrella Thorn Acacia

• Grows in Tufts
• Resistance to Drought
• Many plants have thorns and sharp leaves to
  protect against predation.

Kangaroos Paws
Baobab
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_plant_page
.htm
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Chacma Baboon
Tropical SavannaAnimal Adaptations
Zebras

• Reproduce during rainy seasonensures more young
  survive
• http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_animal_pag
  e.htm

• Adapt for short rainy seasonmigrate as necessary
• Limited food leads to vertical feeding

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Threats to the Tropical Savanna

• Invasive species
• Changes in fire management

Elephant

• Because of their low elevation, some savannas are
  threatened by minor rises in sea level associated
  with global climate change

Koala
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna_animal_pag
e.htm
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http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/steppe.htm

• Temperate Grassland AKA Prairie
• Location Central Asia, North America,
  Australia, Central Europe, parts of South America
• Climate hot summers, cold winters, high Winds
• 50-75 cm/yr

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Sod-forming grasses that wont dry out or blow
away in wind.
Prairie Plant Adaptations

• Fleabane
• http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/prairie_plants_pag
  e.htm

Buffalo Grass
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Many adaptations to survive extremes
Prairie Animal Adaptations
Bobcat
Geoffreys cat
Prairie dog
http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/pampas_animal_page
.htm
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Desert Ecosystems

• Climate arid, alternate between hot and cold

• Location - Depending on type of desert, you will
  find them in various locations.

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• Desert Abiotic factors
• lt10 in/yr of rain
• Little to no topsoil due to high winds.
• Minerals not deep in soil.
• Too dry for decay
• http//www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/
  taiga.html

• Biotic Factors
• few organisms

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Joshua Tree http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert
_plant_page.htm
Barrel Cactus

• Desert Plant Adaptations
• Spines
• Succulents
• Thick, waxy cuticle
• Shallow, broad roots

• Ocotollio

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• Bob Cat

• Desert Animal Adaptations
• Get water from food
• Thick outer coat
• Burrow during day
• Large ears
• Smaller animals
• less surface area
• http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_animal_page
  .htm

Armadillo Lizard
Javelina
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http//www.blueplanetbiomes.org/world_biomes.htm
Threats to the Desert
Residential development Off road recreational
activities destroy habitat for plants and
animals. Some plants are removed by collectors,
endangering the population.
Dry Desert
Sonoran Desert
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Tundra
Climate cold dark winters and cool summers
Location - Found north of the Arctic Circle

• http//www.runet.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/bio
  mes/tundra/tundra.html

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• Tundra Abiotic Factors
• lt25 in/year
• Temp rarely higher than 100C
• Permafrost layer
• Short growing season

• Biotic Factors
• Small stunted plants
• Few birds and mammals

• http//www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/
  taiga.html

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Reindeer lichen

• Tundra Plant Adaptations
• Growing close to the ground
• Having shallow roots to absorb the limited water
  resources.
• Trees grow less than 1 m high!

cottongrass
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Perennials

• Woody shrubs

Heaths
Examples of Tundra Plants

• http//www.runet.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/bio
  mes/tundra/tundra.html

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snowy owl
Arctic fox

• Small ears
• Insulation, thick coat

Tundra Animal Adaptations

• Many visitors, migration
• Few predators
• Little Competition

Grizzly Bear
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Threats to the Tundra
One of the most fragile biomes on the planet
Tufted Saxifrage
Polar Bear
Oil drilling is proposed in Alaska and other
areas!
The tundra is slow to recover from damage.