global biomes

• biomes 


  large scale ecosystems with distinctive vegetation

  the climate in an area determines what type of biome forms - different parts of the world have different biomes due to different climates
• biome distribution factors

  • altitude - high = cold, few plants, limited number of animals, not much organic matter so barely any soil
  • rock type - some rocks are easily weathered - rocks contain different minerals (affects how nutrient rich the soil is ) - permeable rocks
  • soil type - more nutrient rich = supports plants, acidity, drainage
  • drainage - poor = soil gets waterlogged - only adapted plants can live their, very wet = aquatic species of plants and animals
• Coniferous forests - boreal forests

  • cold and dry
  • climate - short summers (10'C per day), long winters (-20'C per day) - precipitation is low, less then 500mm per year (snow) - lots of daylight in the summer, next to none in the winter
  • characteristics - plants = evergreen trees, trees = pine, fir - animals = few species - lack of food, animals need to be adapted (black bears, wolves, elk, eagles) - soil = thin, nutrient poor, acidic - decomposition is slow due to cold climate
• Temperate forests

  • mild and wet
  • climate - 4 distinct seasons, summer = warm, winter = cold - rainfall = high - 1500mm per year - days = sort in winter, long in summer
  • characteristics - plants = broadleaved trees, shrubs, undergrowth - animals = range of plants = food and habitats for mammals, birds, insects - soil = thick and nutritious
• coral reefs

  • climate - warm, shallow, clear, salt water
  • characteristics - plants = few, tiny algae -> underwater - animals = coral is an animal, around 25% of marine species live in coral reefs
• tropical grasslands

  • climate - low rainfall (800-900 mm per year), wet and dry seasons - highest temperature = 35'C, lowest = 15'C, found around the equator = lots of sunshine
  • characteristics - mostly grass, scrub and small plants, few trees - animals = insects, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebra's, antelope - soil = thin, nutrient rich but nutrients wash away in wet seasons
• temperate grasslands

  • climate - hot in the summer (40'C), cold in winters (-40'C), receive around 200-500 mm of precipitation per year
  • characteristics - grass, small plants, few trees - few animals = bison, wild horses, mole rats - soil = thick and nutrient rich