Biomes of the Biomes of the WorldWorld

A journey across the A journey across the Earth in 30 minutes…Earth in 30 minutes…

What in the world is a What in the world is a biome?!biome?!

•Scientists have developed the term Biome to

describe areas on the earth with similar climate,

plants, and animals.

How is a biome different than How is a biome different than an ecosystem or a habitat?an ecosystem or a habitat?

• Ecosystem: a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms with their physical environment.

• Habitat: the area or environment where an organism or ecological community normally lives or occurs

What biomes are on What biomes are on Earth?Earth?• Scientists can’t agree on exactly how

many biomes Earth has!! One scientist pictures the biomes like this:

The North The North WesternWestern HemisphereHemisphere• Let’s take a closer look at where we live…

Another way to look at Another way to look at it…it…

Let’s take a closer Let’s take a closer look at some specific look at some specific

biomes…biomes…

Aquatic Biomes:Aquatic Biomes:

• Water: Submerged• Temperature: Varies• Soil: None• Plants: Aquatic Plants (seaweed)• Animals: Fish, Shelled fish,

invertebrates (animals with out backbones), select mammals.

Aquatic BiomeAquatic Biome

RainforestRainforest

• Water: Very wet• Temperature: Very warm• Soil: Poor, thin soil• Plants: Many plants (trees, flowers,

shrubs, etc.)• Animals: Many animals (birds,

mammals, reptiles, insects, etc.)

RainforestsRainforests

TundraTundra

• Water: Dry• Temperature: Cold• Soil: Permafrost (frozen soil)• Plants: Lichens and mosses • Animals: Migrating animals, and

small rodents

TundraTundra

TaigaTaiga

• Water: Adequate • Temperature: Cool (year round)• Soil: Poor, rocky soil• Plants: Conifers (pines)• Animals: Many mammals, birds,

insects, arachnids, etc.

TaigaTaiga

GrasslandGrassland

• Water: Wet season, dry season• Temperature: Warm to hot (but

often has a cold season)• Soil: Fertile soil• Plants: Grasses (few or no trees)• Animals: Many mammals, birds,

insects, arachnids, etc.

GrasslandGrassland

Temperate ForestTemperate Forest

• Water: Adequate • Temperature: Cool season and

warm season• Soil: Fertile soil• Plants: Deciduous trees, shrubs,

ground cover• Animals: Many mammals, birds,

reptiles, insects, arachnids, etc.

Temperate ForestTemperate Forest

DesertDesert

• Water: Dry (almost none)• Temperature: Hot or Cold (one or

the other)• Soil: Poor (sandy)• Plants: Sparse - succulents (like

cactus), sage brush • Animals: Sparse - insects, arachnids,

reptiles and birds (often nocturnal)

DesertDesert

SummarySummary

• What is a biome?

• Name some of the world’s biomes…

• What might location in the world (latitude and longitude) have to do with a biome?