module 2

• Each biome contains many ecosystems whose communities have adapted to differences in climate, soil, and other environmental factors
• Deserts have evaporation greater than precipitation (usually less than 25 cm) and cover 30% of the earth
• Taiga (evergreen coniferous forest) is just south of the tundra, covers 11% of the earth's land, has long, dry & cold winters, and short, mild summers
• Tropical rainforests near the equator have warm temperatures, high humidity, heavy rainfall, and a rich diversity of species
• Variations in annual temperature and precipitation in forests

  • tropical, temperate, and polar forests
• Biome type is determined by precipitation, temperature, and soil type
• Biomes


  • Large terrestrial regions characterized by similar climate, soil, plants, and animals
• Variations in annual temperature and precipitation in deserts

  • tropical, temperate, and cold deserts
• Evergreen coniferous forests consist mostly of cone-bearing evergreen trees that keep their needles year-round to survive long and cold winters
• Tropical rainforests have year-round warm temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rainfall, filling niches to enable species to avoid or minimize
• Forests have enough precipitation to support stands of trees and are found in tropical, temperate, and polar regions
• Mountain biomes (Taiga) are high-elevation islands of biodiversity that often have snow-covered peaks reflecting solar radiation and gradually releasing water to lower-elevation streams and ecosystems
• Chaparral (temperate grassland)


  • Coastal areas
  • Mild and wet winters, long hot and dry summers
• Grassland


  • Rainfall is erratic, fires are common
  • Good for grazing animals
• Tundra (polar grasslands)


  • Covers 10% of earth's land
  • Treeless plains bitterly cold with ice and snow most of the year
  • 6 to 8 week summer with nearly 24 hours of sunlight a day
• Temperate Deciduous Forest


  • Moderate temperatures, long warm summers, cold winters, lots of rain
  • Trees include oaks, hickory, maple, and beech
• Temperate Rain Forests

  • Coastal areas support huge cone-bearing evergreen trees such as redwoods and Douglas fir in a cool moist environment
• Polar Grasslands


  • Covered with ice and snow except during a brief summer
• Chaparral


  • Moderate climate
  • Dense thickets of spiny shrubs subject to periodic fires
• Savanna


  • Tropical and subtropical grassland
  • Warm all year long with alternating wet and dry seasons
• Tropical Rain Forest


  • Heavy rainfall and rich diversity of species
  • Found near the equator
  • Year-round warm temperatures and high humidity
• Temperate Grasslands


  • Cold winters and hot dry summers
  • Deep and fertile soil ideal for growing crops and grazing cattle
• Temperate Deciduous Forest


  Trees survive winter by dropping their leaves, which decay and produce a nutrient-rich soil
• GRASSLANDS AND CHAPARRAL BIOMES


  • Variations in annual temperature (red) and precipitation (blue)
• Filling niches in Tropical Rain Forests enables species to avoid or minimize competition and coexist