Biomes There are 2 types:

Terrestrial Biomes (on land)

Aquatic Biomes (in the water)

Terrestrial Biomes

Forest Biomes:

Tropical rain forest Temperate rain forest Temperate deciduous

forest Taiga

Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes:

Savanna Temperate grassland Chaparral Desert Tundra

Chapter 6 Section 2 Forest Biomes

Objectives List three characteristics of tropical rain forests.

Name and describe the main layers of a tropical rain forest.

Describe one plant in a temperate deciduous forest and an adaptation that helps the plant survive.

Describe one adaptation that may help an animal survive in the taiga.

Name two threats to the world’s forest biomes.

Chapter 6 Section 2 Forest Biomes

Key Terms

Tropical rain forest

Temperate rain forest

Temperate deciduous forest

Taiga

Emergent layer

Canopy

Understory

Epiphyte

Biomes of the World

Forest Biomes Of all biomes, forest biomes

are the most widespread and the most diverse.

Large trees need lots of precipitation – plentiful rainfall.

Temperatures range from mild to hot.

Tropical

Rain

Forest

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest Typically near the equator

Help regulate world climate and play vital role in C, N, and O cycles

Receive more than 200 cm of rain annually

Temperatures relatively constant: between 20oC and 25oC for the entire year

Tropical Rain Forest Nutrient cycles Rapid decay of organisms

so soil is thin.

Forest floor typically not

covered with plants.

Soil nutrients quickly

absorbed by plants.

Runoff very clean due to rapid absorption of nutrients by plants.

Tropical Rain Forest Layers of Rain Forest Emergent layer (top) – tallest trees (60-70 m),

receive direct sunlight

Canopy (middle) – trees greater than 30 m tall, absorb 95% of sunlight, abundant flowers and fruits, epiphytes

Understory (lower level) – very little light, shorter plants (3.5 m) adapted to shade

Emergent Layer

Upper Canopy Layer

Lower Canopy Layer

Understory Layer

Bright Light

Filtered Light

Dense Shade

Tropical Rain Forest Layers

Tropical Rain Forest

Species Diversity Greatest in tropical rain

forests.

More than half of the world's plant and animal species.

Only seven percent of the earth's surface.

Tropical Rain Forest

Threats Formerly covered 20% of

earth’s surface.

Cleared for logging, agriculture, and oil exploration.

Not only plants and animals at risk – native people are at risk.

Exotic plant (medicinal?) and animal (pets) trade.

Temperate Forest There are two types of temperate forests: 1. temperate rain forest 2. temperate deciduous forest

Temperate rain forests Have high precipitation, high humidity, and moderate

temperatures. Are found in the Pacific Northwest (North America),

Australia, and New Zealand. The temperate rain forest of the Pacific Northwest has trees

90 m tall including Sitka Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Giant Redwoods.

Temperate Rain Forest

Temperate

Deciduous

Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Found between 30o and 50o N latitude

Moderate climate with change of seasons

Temperatures range between 30oC and – 30oC

Averages from 75 to 125 cm of precipitation

Vegetation Canopy of taller trees such as maples and oaks

Well-developed understory of small trees and shrubs

Forest floor home to ferns, mosses, herbs

Rich, deep soil

Most trees lose their leaves in the winter, plants become dormant

4-6 month growing season

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Taiga

Taiga

Taiga Also known as northern

coniferous forest or boreal forest

Between 45o and 60o N latitude (just below Arctic circle)

Average temperature below freezing

Winters last 6-10 months

High precipitation (including snow)

Taiga Taiga means "marshy pine forest" in

Russian

Found in northern hemisphere

One of the most fragile biomes

Growing season very short

Nearly constant daylight in summer

Many lakes and swamps

Taiga Vegetation Conifers (seeds in cones) that don’t shed leaves

(needles)

Pointed shape of trees sheds snow

Needles are acidic so soil

is acidic

Few plants on dark forest

floor

Soil forms slowly because of climate and acidity

Decomposition is slow

Taiga Animals Many lakes and swamps attract birds and

insects in the summer

Shrews and rodents live year-round – burrow underground

Moose and snowshoe hares

Credits Text:

http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9k.html

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html

Pictures:

http://www.worldbiomes.com/

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/index.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/

PowerPoint:

Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2005