BiomeBiome

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Biomes and climateBiomes and climate

BiomeBiome: large area with certain soils : large area with certain soils and climate to which communities and climate to which communities are adapted.are adapted.

ToleranceTolerance: the ability to survive : the ability to survive conditions less than optimal.conditions less than optimal.

Climate and microclimateClimate and microclimate help help determine what lives in each biome.determine what lives in each biome.

Tropical Tropical rainforestrainforest

Trees make a Trees make a canopy 80m high, canopy 80m high, understory belowunderstory below

Poor soils, hot and Poor soils, hot and wet year roundwet year round

Equatorial areasEquatorial areas

Amazonian rainforest

SavannaSavanna

Cycles of rainfall, then droughtCycles of rainfall, then drought Compact soil, fires Compact soil, fires Grasslands, large herbivores and predatorsGrasslands, large herbivores and predators E Africa, S Brazil, Aus.E Africa, S Brazil, Aus.

DesertDesert

Less than 25 “ Less than 25 “ rain yr.rain yr.

Extremes of temp. Extremes of temp. day/night and day/night and summer/wintersummer/winter

Soils rich in Soils rich in minerals, low in minerals, low in organicsorganics

Joshua trees, CA Sahara Desert

Temperate Temperate woodlandwoodland

Hot, dry summersHot, dry summers Cool, moist wintersCool, moist winters Fire adaptedFire adapted Grassland, brush, Grassland, brush,

woodlandswoodlands

Boreal forestBoreal forest:: conifers, long winters, conifers, long winters, mild summersmild summers

TundraTundra:: long winters, permafrost. All long winters, permafrost. All plants are stuntedplants are stunted

Mountain rangesMountain ranges Biomes Biomes

change with change with elevation gain.elevation gain.

Mtns. mimic Mtns. mimic latitudelatitude: going : going upup is like is like going going NorthNorth..

How many biomes are in this picture? Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland