Biomes and Ecosystems
Biomes and Ecosystems
AND
ECOSYSTEMS
What is a biome?
• A biome is a group of land ecosystems
with similar climates and organisms
There are 6 major land biomes and
2 major water ecosystems?
• “Temperate”= having
moderate temperatures.
• Northwestern coast of U.S.
is a temperate rain forest.
• Receives more than 300 cm
of rain per year.
• Huge trees: Cedars,
Redwoods, Douglas Firs.
TROPICAL RAIN FORESTS
• Found in regions
close to the equator
• Warm and humid all
year long.
• Lots of precipitation.
• Diverse plant
growth.
• Trees in the rain
forest form several
layers…
Understory: A second
layer of shorter trees
and vines.
• Understory plants grow well in the shade
formed by the canopy, but the forest floor
is nearly dark and only a few plants live
there.
DESERTS
• Desert = An area that receives less than 25 cm
of rain per year.
• Some deserts receive NO precipitation at all
during one year.
• Deserts often undergo large shifts in
temperature during the course of a day.
The scorching Namib desert in Africa cools
rapidly after the sun goes down.
PERMAFROST
o Because rainwater cannot soak into the
permafrost, there are many shallow ponds and
marshy areas of the tundra during the summer
Tundra Plants and Animals
POLAR BEAR
WOLF
REINDEER
ARCTIC
FOX ARCTIC HARE
FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
• Freshwater ecosystems include streams,
rivers, ponds and lakes.
Rivers and Streams
– Animals adapt to the
stream/river’s current
(hooks and suckers to cling
to rocks, streamline
bodies).
– Few -plants or algae can
grow because of the strong
currents.
– Animals rely on seeds and
leaves to fall in the water
as food.
River/Stream Organisms
Ponds and Lakes
SURFACE
DEEP