Intro to Biomes

TROPICAL RAIN FOREST SAVANNATEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST TAIGATEMPERATE GRASSLANDS DESERTTUNDRA

Tropical Rain Forest

Home to more species than all other biomes combined

Located in parts of South and Central America, Southeast Asia, parts of Africa, Southern India, and Northeastern Australia

Tropical Rain Forest OrganismsDominant Plants Rainforest OrchidBroad leaved evergreen

treesFernsLarge woody vinesClimbing plantsOrchidsBromeliads

Tropical Rainforest OrganismsDominant WildlifeInsects

ButterfliesAntsBeetles

Freshwater fishesPiranhas

ReptilesCaymansBoa constrictorsanacondas

Herbivores Sloths Tapirs Capybaras

Predators Jaguars Anteaters Monkeys Birds

Toucans Parrots Parakeets

SavannaCharacterized by a cover of grasses, isolated trees, small groves of shrubs

Compact soils, frequent fires, and large animal action

Located in large parts of eastern Africa, southern Brazil, and northern Australia

Savanna OrganismsDominant Plants CycasTall, perennial grassesTrees or shrubs

Drought-tolerantFire-resistant

Savanna OrganismsDominant WildlifePredators

LionsLeopardsCheetahsHyenas Jackals

AardvarksBaboonsInsects

termites

HerbivoresElephantsGiraffesAntelopesZebras

BirdsEaglesOstrichesWeaver birdsStorks

Temperate Deciduous ForestCold winters halt plant growth for several months

Trees shed their leaves in Autumn

Spring new plants grow

Fertile soils rich in humus

Eastern U.S. southeastern Canada, most of Europe, parts of Japan, China, and Australia

Temperate Deciduous ForestOrganismsDominant Plants Maple LeavesBroadleaf deciduous

treesSome conifersFlowering shrubsHerbsGround layer

Mosses ferns

Temperate Deciduous Forest OrganismsDominant WildlifeDeerBlack bearsBobcatsNut and acorn feeders

SquirrelsOmnivores

RaccoonsSkunks

Numerous songbirdsTurkeys

Taiga

Largest biome in the world

Winters very cold with snow

Summer warm, rainy, humid

Coniferous trees

a.k.a. boreal forest

Eurasia and North America

Taiga OrganismsDominant Plants Fir TreeNeedle-leaf coniferous

treesSpruceFir

Broadleaf deciduous trees

Berry-bearing shrubs

Taiga OrganismsDominate WildlifePredators

LynxesTimber wolvesWeasels

Small herbivorous mammals

Large herbivoresMoose

BeaversSongbirdsMigratory birds

Temperate Grasslands

Mix of grasses & fertile soils

Plains, prairies

Periodic fires

Heavy herbivore grazing

Central Asia, North America, Australia, Central Europe

Temperate Grassland OrganismsDominant Plants Perennial GrassesLushPerennial grasses and

herbsResistant to

Drought Fire cold

Temperate Grassland OrganismsDominant WildlifePredators

CoyotesBadgers

WolvesGrizzly bearsHerbivores

Mule deerPronghorn antelopesRabbitsPrairie dogscattle

BisonBirds

HawksOwlsBobwhitesPrairie chickensMountain plovers

ReptilesSnakes

InsectsAntsgrasshoppers

Desert

Dry

Precipitation less than 25cm

Extreme temperature change during course of day

Africa, Asia, the Middle East, U.S., Mexico, South America, Australia

Desert OrganismsDominant Plants CactiCactiSucculentsCreosote bushPlants with short growth

cycles

Desert OrganismsDominant WildlifePredators

Mountain lionsGray foxesBobcats

HerbivoresMule deerPronghorn antelopesDesert bighorn sheepKangaroo rats

Bats

BirdsOwlsHawksRoadrunners

InsectsAntsBeetlesWasps

ReptilesTortoisesRattlesnakes lizards

Tundra

Characterized by permafrost

Short cool summers, soggy wet ground, winter topsoil freezes

Cold temperatures, high winds, short growing season

Northern North America, Asia, Europe

Tundra OrganismsDominant Plants LichensGround hugging plants

MossesLichensSedgesShort grasses

Tundra OrganismsDominant WildlifeCan withstand harsh

conditions Birds Mammals

Migratory waterfowlShore birdsMusk oxArctic foxesCaribouLemmingsSmall rodents