BIOMES Chapter 34

Biotic and abiotic factors

Biotic factors are living things that affect an organism (predators)

Abiotic factors are non-living components in an environment like water, sunlight, temperature, and soil.

Disturbances can occur like fire, storms, and droughts

Rain Forests

Location: South and Central America, Africa, S. East Asia

Climate: As much as 350 cm rain per year, hot and humid climate

Most diverse biome Are cut down and burned for farming .

Slash and burn agriculture Soil is weak and nutrient poor

Savanna

North Africa Warm climate with alternating wet and

dry seasons Grassland with scattered trees, lots of

grazing animals Periodic fires, poaching

Deserts

American Southwest, Africa, Middle east Less than 30 cm of rain per year,

temperatures may be hot during the day and very cold at night

Plants that store water like cacti , Animals tend to be light colored so they don’t absorb heat , and have adaptations to conserve water

Desertification- development of new deserts due to environmental problems

Chapparal California and Mediterranean coast Mild rainy winter and hot dry summers Dense spiny shrubs, reptiles, small

mammals Periodic fires

Temperate Grassland

American Midwest Colder winters than savanna, Four

distinct seasons, Not enough rain for trees

Grasses, grazing animals, insects, birds Periodic fire and drought, rich soil for

farming

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Northeast US, Europe, China Four distinct seasons Deciduous trees lose their leaves like oak,

hickory, maple We live in this biome, lots of development

Coniferous Forest

Maine, Washington, Oregon, Canada Cold temperatures, shorter growing

seasons and long snowy winters Trees with needles and cones like pine,

spruce and fir, moose, bears, beavers Also called taiga, trees used for lumber

and paper

Tundra

Near North and South Pole, Alaska Cold long snowy winter, short cool

summer, Frozen soil – permafrost (poor drainage)

Mosses, lichens – few large plants Rich in natural resources, important

fishing industry

Fresh/salt water Vocab

Photic zone

Aphotic zone

Phytoplankton

Benthic zone

Estuaries

Places where salt and fresh water mix

Very diverse

Ocean Vocab

Pelagic zone/Oceanic zone Abyssal zone Intertidal zone Neritic zone Zooplankton Coral reef Hydrothermal vents