biomes

• Biome


  A large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat
• Tropical rainforest


  A type of tropical moist broadleaf forest characterized by consistent high temperatures and substantial annual rainfall
• Tropical rainforest


  • Is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species
  • A forest that grows in an area with a high rainfall, over 2,000 mm (80 in.) of rain per year
• Latitude of tropical rainforests

  • Mainly located between the latitudes of 23.5° N (tropic of Cancer) and 23.5° S (tropic of Capricorn)
  • Found in Central and South America, western and central Africa, western India, Southeast Asia, and the island of New Guinea, and Australia
• Climate of tropical rainforests

  • Remains warm all year and must stay frost-free
  • The average daily temperature ranges from 20°C (68°F) to 25°C (77°F)
• Temperature of tropical rainforests

  • Mean temperature is between 20°C and 29°C (68°F and 84°F)
  • In no month the mean temperature is below 18°C (64°F)
  • In wet tropics temperature fall by about 0.5°C(0.9°F)
• Precipitation of tropical rainforests

  • Receive the most rain of all the biomes in a year
  • 2,000 to 10,000 millimeters (79 to 394 inches) of rain per year
• Vegetation of tropical rainforests

  • Incredibly diverse and includes a canopy layer of tall trees, an understory layer of small trees and shrubs, forest floor with fallen leaves and sparse plants
• Layers of tropical rainforest

  • Forest floor
  • Understory layer
  • Canopy layer
  • Emergent layer
• Types of tropical rainforest

  • Lowland rainforest
  • Montane rainforest
• Characteristics of tropical rainforests

  • Dense vegetation
  • Biodiversity
  • High rainfall
  • Warm climate
• Savanna


  A hot, dry woodland ecosystem with an open tree canopy above a continuous tall grass understory, characterized by scattered tress
• Climate of savannas


  • Has a wet/dry climate
  • There is a distinct dry season, which is in winter
  • Get all their rain in the summer months
  • Temperature ranges from 68° to 78°F (20° - 30°C) in winter, and 78° to 86° F (25° - 30°C) in summer
• Precipitation of savannas


  • Mean annual precipitation is generally 80 – 150 cm (31 – 59 inches)
• Vegetation of savannas


  • Sometimes classified as forest
  • Predominant vegetation consists of grasses and forbs (small broad-leaved plants that grow with grasses)
• Latitude and Elevation of savannas

  • 10° – 20° south
  • The altitude is about 2000 meters above sea level
  • The soil of the savanna is porous with rapid drainage of water
• Characteristics of savannas


  • Warm temperature
  • Moderate rainfall
  • Fires
  • Seasonal droughts
  • Coarse grasses
  • Diverse animals
• Desert


  The driest of all the biomes
• Latitude of deserts


  • Cover around 20% of the earth
  • 15° - 30° in both North and South
• Elevation of deserts


  • Between 2400 meters – 6000 meters
• Vegetation of deserts


  • Usually thorny and fleshy to adapt to the hot dry climate of the area
• Precipitation of deserts


  • Are typically low, less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) of rain per year
• Temperature and Climate of deserts

  • Typically have hot temperatures during the day and cooler temperatures at night due to low humidity
  • Low precipitation, less than 250 millimeters (10 inches) annually, and high evaporation rates, leading to arid conditions
• Types of desert


  • Subtropical desert
  • Coastal desert
  • Rain shadow desert
  • Interior desert
  • Polar desert
• Characteristics of deserts


  • ARID ENVIRONMENT - Characterized by extremely low precipitation levels and high temperatures, resulting in sparse vegetation and limited biodiversity
  • EXTREME TEMPERATURES - A common occurrence due to their unique climate conditions
  • HIGH WIND VELOCITY - Are common due to the relatively flat terrain and lack of significant vegetation to impede airflow
  • SPARSITY OF CLOUD COVER - Is typically high due to the arid climate conditions characterized by low humidity levels and minimal precipitation
  • ABSENCE OF WATER VAPOUR IN AIR - This aridity results from low humidity levels due to limited moisture sources and high temperatures, causing rapid evaporation
• Grassland


  Flat lands with pretty much grass, plants, animals, and other living organisms
• Latitude of grasslands


  • 30° - 60°
  • Has moderate rainfall
• Climate of grasslands


  • -20°C to 30°C
• Precipitation of grasslands


  • 500 – 900 millimeters (20 – 35 inches) of rain per year
• Vegetation of grasslands


  • Typically consists of various species of grasses, along with herbs and sometimes scattered shrubs or trees
  • Adopted to semi-arid to sub-humid climates and are found on every continent except Antarctica
  • Support diverse wildlife, including large herbivores like bison, antelope, and kangaroos, as well as predators like wolves and lions
• Types of grassland biome

  • Tropical grassland (also known as savannas, are found in tropical regions with distinct wet and dry seasons)
  • Temperate grassland (are vast, open areas characterized by grasses and herbs, with few trees)
• Characteristics of grassland biome


  • Vegetation structure that is dominated by grasses
  • Semi-arid climate
  • Rainfall and soils insufficient to support significant tree growth
  • Most common and mid-latitudes and near the interiors of continents
  • Are often exploited for agriculture use
• Temperate deciduous forest


  Are in the mid-latitude areas which means that they are found between the polar regions and the tropics
• Vegetation of temperate deciduous forests

  • Common tree species include oak, birch, beech, and hickory
  • These trees provide a habitat for a variety of other plants, including shrubs, wildflowers, and ferns
• Precipitation level of temperate deciduous forests

  • Have a moderate amount of precipitation, typically ranging from 750 – 1,500 millimeters (30 – 59 inches) annually
• Temperature of temperate deciduous forests

  • Average annual temperature: 10°C (50°F)
  • Summer temperatures: mid-20°C (70°F) to the low 30°C (high 80°F)
  • Winter temperatures: can drop below freezing, reaching -30°C (-22°F)
• Latitude and Longitude of temperate deciduous forests

  • Are found in mid-latitude zones, typically between 30° and 50° north and south of the equator
  • Longitude itself doesn't directly influence the characteristics of a temperate deciduous forest, but it does play a role in determining the specific climate patterns within this biome
• Temperate rainforest


  Are coniferous or broadleaf forests that occur in the temperate zone and receive high rainfall
• Vegetation of temperate rainforests

  • Many plant lineages that were unable to adapt to new conditions became extinct, but others evolved in response to the climatic changes, eventually dominating the new temperate forests
  • Typically, a mix of broad-leaved or coniferous
• Latitude of temperate rainforests

  • Occurs in the middle latitudes, mostly between approximately 40° and 60° in both northern and southern hemispheres
  • Characterized by abundant moisture present throughout the year