BIOMES: An introductionBIOMES: An introduction

Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science

Ms. RustMs. Rust

We’ve talked about ecosystems…what is We’ve talked about ecosystems…what is a biome and how is it different?a biome and how is it different?

• An ECOSYSTEM is a collection of biotic (living) An ECOSYSTEM is a collection of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors which work and abiotic (non-living) factors which work together. Think of a pond. Algae, fish, cattails together. Think of a pond. Algae, fish, cattails (biotic) work together with the sun, rocks, water (biotic) work together with the sun, rocks, water (abiotic) to survive(abiotic) to survive

And a biome? And a biome?

• A biome is defined as an area that has A biome is defined as an area that has distinctive climate and organisms…distinctive climate and organisms…meaning climate and organisms that meaning climate and organisms that are different from other biomesare different from other biomes

• Examples: desert and rain forest…Examples: desert and rain forest…different climate, different organisms different climate, different organisms live therelive there

• A biome can contain many ecosystems!A biome can contain many ecosystems!

Back to the basicsBack to the basics

• What is climate? Climate is NOT the same as the What is climate? Climate is NOT the same as the daily weather. Climate = average temperature daily weather. Climate = average temperature and precipitation over a long period of timeand precipitation over a long period of time– Ex: The climate in a rain forest is very different than the Ex: The climate in a rain forest is very different than the

climate in a desert…how so? climate in a desert…how so? • Warm/humid with a lot of rain vs. dry/wet with very little Warm/humid with a lot of rain vs. dry/wet with very little

rainrain

Why do we care about Why do we care about biomes?biomes?

• Entire biomes are being destroyed by Entire biomes are being destroyed by human actionshuman actions

• How do you think the rain forest is How do you think the rain forest is being destroyed? The desert? being destroyed? The desert?

And the biggest factor…And the biggest factor…

Your task:Your task:

• We are going to embark on a project We are going to embark on a project that will help us learn more about that will help us learn more about each biome. By learning about the each biome. By learning about the biome, you will learn why it is biome, you will learn why it is important and why it NEEDS to be important and why it NEEDS to be protected. protected.