Which Biome do you live in?

What is a Biome?

• An region characterized by the major organisms that live there and its climate.– Can you name one?

Where are they?

What are the Biomes?

• Rainforest

• Tundra

• Taiga

• Deciduous

• Grassland

• Desert

• Ocean

• Can be Tropical or Temperate

• Tropical rainforest receives 80-400 inches of rainfall/year. (High Rainfall)

• Most Diversity of Organisms

• Temperate rainforest receive about 100 inches/year

Tropical vs. TemperateTropical Temperate

Temperatures warm cool

Number of tree species

many (hundreds) few (10-20)

Types of leaves

broadleaf needles

Age of trees 50-100 years500-1000 years

Epiphyteslots of different kinds including orchids and bromeliads

mostly mosses and ferns

Decomposition rate

rapid slow

FUN FACTS! To be a rainforest it must:

• Lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. 

• Receive rainfall regularly throughout the year (80-400 inches per year).

• Remain warm and frost free all year long (mean temperatures are between 70° and 85°F) with very little daily fluctuation.

Rainforest organisms

• Figs Gorilla

• Ferns Cobras

• Mangroves Flowering vines

• Tapir Orangutan

• Chimpanzee

• Tree squirrels

• Insects/butterflies/spiders

• Covers a fifth of the earth's surface. • Located in the North Pole.• Permafrost – Permanently frozen layer of earth.• The average annual temperature is only 10 to 20F • Water is unavailable during most of the year. • Low rainfall, usually less than 10 inches • Plants in the tundra are small and grow close to

the ground. • Lichens grow in this area on exposed rock.

This plant grows in the tundra…Why the red leaves?

Common Animals in the TundraArtic Fox Tundra Swan

Caribou Musk Ox

Polar Bear Snow Bunting

Snow Owl Rock Ptarmigan

• Canada, Europe and Asia• Evergreen/Coniferous trees• Very Cold Winters, but Warm summers as

well.• Moderate rainfall (12-22 inches mostly in

the summer)• Long nights in the winter and long days in

the summer.

Common Taiga Organisms

• Pine trees• Fir trees• Aspen trees• Hawk Owl• Lynx• Beaver• Moose• Snowshoe Rabbit• TONS OF INSECTS!!

• North Africa, U.S., Antarctica, Australia• Extremes: VERY Dry, VERY Hot, VERY Cold• Deserts come in hot or cold variety VERY Hot over

100 degrees during the day• Nights in the 40’s• VERY little rain(less than 10 inches a year)* (Until

rainy season and then flooding can occur).• Why does the weather fluctuate like this in the

desert but not here?– Lack of humidity to trap heat.

Common Desert organisms• Saguaro Cactus• Joshua Trees• Barrel Cactus• Prickly Pear• Aloe• Dingo• Great Jeroba• Gila Monster• Bats• Vultures• Wasps

• United States, Canada, Europe, parts of

Russia, China, and Japan. 

• Has four seasons: Winter, fall, spring, and summer

• Heavy rain fall 30-60 inches a year.

• Moderate warm summers and cold winters

• What causes seasons?

Common Deciduous Organisms• Dogwood• Sumac• Ginkgo• Oaks• Black Bear• Gray Squirrel• Raccoon• White-tailed Deer• Wild Hogs• Cardinal• Turkey

• U.S. and Canada• Very few trees except near rivers• Moderate to low rainfall 10 to 30 inches.• Very fertile soil lots of seeds.• Farm land located in these areas• Cattle, Bison,and Prong Horn graze these fields.• Temperate and Tropical Grasslands

– Tropical –Near the equator warm all year– Temperate – Have hot summers and harsh winters

Grassland Organisms• Coneflowers• Monarch Butterfly• Red Bud Tree• Bison• Deer• Zebra• African Elephant• Black Rhinoceros• Hyena• Giraffe• Lion• Prairie Dog

• Cover ¾ of the earths surface

• Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Artic and the Southern

• Very Salty

• Lots of Diversity

• At the deepest point it’s 7 miles deep.

90 % of marine life lives here

No photosynthesis. lantern fish, hatchet fish, viperfish, and mid-water jellyfish.

90 % of the ocean is in this zone. Bacteria, angler fish, tripod fish, sea cucumber, and vampire squid live here.

Marine Organisms• Salmon• Plankton• Dolphins• Turtles• Sharks• Coral• Crustaceans• Echinoderms• Sponges

Daily Knowledge

• Which biome receives the least rainfall?

• Which biome has the coldest winters?

• Which biome has the most diversity?

• Which biome do we live in here in Kingsland?