Terrestrial BiomesTerrestrial Biomes

Terrestrial Biome Determining Terrestrial Biome Determining FactorsFactors

• Geography- biome’s location on earth, latitude and altitude

• Climate- precipitation and temperature

• Soil type• Flora- vegetation types• Fauna- animal types

Tropical DesertsTropical Deserts

• Near the equator.

• Hottest and driest.

• Lowest species diversity.

• Sahara, Namib in Africa.

Temperate DesertsTemperate Deserts

• Defined season, hot summers, cold winters.

• More species diversity.

• Mojave, Sonoran in U.S.

Cold DesertsCold Deserts

•Higher elevation.

•Cold winters, warm or hot summers.

•Gobi in China

SemidesertsSemideserts• Zone between deserts and grasslands.

• Long dry season, short, intense wet season.

• Scrub trees, shrubs, grasses.

Tropical GrasslandsTropical Grasslands

•Near equator. Hot, dry summers, short wet season. Too little rain to support tree growth.

•Savannas of Africa.

Temperate GrasslandsTemperate Grasslands• Very cold winters, hot, dry

summers with drought.• Fire and grazing.• Prairies of U.S., Pampas of

S. America, Steppes of Europe and Asia.

Polar Grasslands(tundra)Polar Grasslands(tundra)

• Far north. Year round cold, permafrost.

• Short summer thaw allows growth of mosses, lichens, grasses. Grazers and their pred.

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest

• Near equator, warm and wet year round.

• Evergreen, broadleaf trees. Poor soil.

• Most diverse biome.

Tropical Deciduous ForestTropical Deciduous Forest

•Warm year round, wet and dry seasons.

•Trees lose their leaves during drought.

Tropical Scrub ForestTropical Scrub Forest

•Shorter wet season with trees that can survive more severe drought.

Temperate Deciduous Temperate Deciduous ForestForest

•Marked seasons. Abundant precipitation.

•Deciduous, broadleaf trees.

Evergreen Coniferous Evergreen Coniferous Forest(boreal, taiga)Forest(boreal, taiga)

• Just south of tundra. Drought and cold in winter.

• Cone and needle bearing trees. Pine, spruce, fur.