By: Natalie Palmer

May 14th 2009

5th grade

Climate and Biomes

Climate

• The general or average weather conditions of a certain region, including temperature, rainfall, and wind. On Earth, climate is most affected by latitude, the tilt of the Earth's axis, the movements of the Earth's wind belts, the difference in temperatures of land and sea, and topography.

Why is Climate important?

Climate is important to all organisms because different organisms are only able to survive in certain climates and environments. Different species of animals and plants have optimal environments in which they can thrive and grow.

Climate Factors

• There are two major aspects that change climate : Precipitation and temperature.

Temperature

• Determined mainly by location. More specifically Longitude and Latitude.

• Elevation also effects temperature.

Precipitation Factors

• Mountain Ranges • Prevailing Winds

Biome

• Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell 1996).

Biome Development

• As the earth has aged different biomes have developed.

• Climate is a primary factor in the different characteristics of a given biome.

Different Biomes

• Freshwater

• Chapparal

• Desert

• Marine

• Taiga

• Tundra

• Grassland

• Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Rainforest

Freshwater• Has low salt concentration- plants and

animals wouldn’t be able to survive in high concentration

• Ponds and Lakes (temp. varies seasonally)• Streams and Rivers• Wetlands

Plants Animals

AlgaeCattailsBrine-SpikeSwampfrondTamarackDeerflowerMyrtleFalse Ivy

Flagellates and WrigglersDiatomsLeechesRiver rats, Muskrats, Otters and Minks.Sunfish and BassBowfinCatfish speciesHendrickson TurtlePainted turtle

• Characterized as being very hot and dry.

• Flat plains, rocky hills and mountain slopes.

• Mild and moist• Summers are hot and

dry

Plants Animals

Blue oakCoyote brushSagebrushFairy dusterFrench broomKing proteaLebanon cedarManzanitaMahoganyTorrey pineOlive tree

AardwolfJackrabbitCactus wrenGolden jackalGrey foxPumaKit foxSpotted skunkWild goatcoyote

Chapparal

Desert• There are hot and

cold deserts• Cover 1/5 of the

lands surface• Mostly dry and hot

with very little rainfall. About 1 inch of rainfall each year!

Plants Animals

Brittle brushCactusJumping chollaCreosote bushPalo verdeSaguaro cactusSoaptree yuccaMojave asterchainfruit

Armadillo lizardBobcatJavelinaThorny devilCactus wrenKangaroo ratDesert tortoise

Marine

• Oceans, coral reefs, estuaries• Cover about ¾ of earth surface

and is the largest of the biomes. • Provides rainwater for land• Gets warmer as you get closer to

the equator-colder closer to the poles

• Affects coastal areas by the winds, depending upon the temperature of the water, the winds usually match that temperature.

Plants Animals

Green AlgaeRed Coralline Algae

Tropical FishSea TurtleHumpback WhaleMoray Eel

Taiga

• Biome of the needle leaf forest.

• Main seasons in the taiga are winter and summer.

• Consists of cold arctic air

Plants Animals

Balsam FirBlack spruceDouglas-firRed cedarJack pinePaper birchWhite firWhite popularWhite spruce

Black bearBald eagleBobcatCanadian lynxGray wolfGrizzly bearRed foxLong eared owl river otterWolverineSnowshoe rabbit

Tundra

• World's youngest biome• Coldest region in the

world.• Main seasons are

Winter and Summer-with Summer being short

• Usually Cold and dry climate

Plants Animals

Arctic mossBearberryArctic willowCaribou mossLabrador teaPasque flowerTufted saxifrage

Arctic foxCaribouErmineGrizzly bearHarleguin duckMusk oxPolar bearSnowy owl

Grasslands

• Large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs

• Annual precipitation is great enough to support grasses

• Some are dry and others are tropical

Plants Animals

SunflowerBuffalo grassCrazy weed AstersCloverBlazing stars

BisonCricketsDung beetlesPrairie chicken Canadian geeseWild turkeyGrey wolf

Temperate deciduous forests

• During the winter months the trees lose their leaves

• Plants have adapted to the forests by leaning toward the sun

• Climate has four distinct seasons

• Mostly located near the ocean. Ocean and wind play a big part in the temp. and climate

Plants Animals

Common LimeLady FernPecanWhite BerchWhite OakCarpet Moss

CoyoteAmerican Black BearAmerican Bald Eagle White-tailed Deer

Rainforests

• Cover less than 6% of Earth's land surface

• Produce 40% of earths oxygen

• More kinds of trees than any other forest in the world

• Tropical moist climate• Humid climate• Lots of rainfall

Plants Animals

Bengal BambooKapok TreeCoconut treeJambuDurianMangrove forestsStrangler figs

African elephantBengal tigerChimpanzeeDawn batOrangutanHarpy eagleVampire batKing cobraSlothPit vipers

Example of where some of the Biomes are located

ACTIVITY!!!

• We are going to play a FUN Biome game!

• Oh and the best part…there is a prize at the end!

Biome GameGoal is to identify which animal lives in which Biome. Winner is the

team that gets the most animals in the right Biome box.

• Class forms 4 teams - 8 team members per team

• Each team will be assigned a team color – red, blue, green or black

• Teacher Hands out 9 animal pictures to each team (one animal for each Biome)

• Each team will assign one team member per animal

• Each team will have a total of 4 minutes to match each animal with right Biome

• Teams determine which animal belongs in what Biome

• A clue is on the back of each animal to help select correct Biome

• Team must work together to figure out which animal lives in what Biome

• Mark the back of each animal with the appropriate Biome name

• Once team has determined what animal goes in which Biome & has written the Biome name on back, the team member folds the animal in half and places it in the appropriate Biome box

• The team with the most correct animal/Biome selections is declared the winner!

• Prize is given for winning team

Work Cited

• Information • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate• http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/bi

omes/index.php• http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/marine4/m

arine4.html• http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_p

lant_page.htm• http://www.weatherwizkids.com/

climate.htm

• Photos• http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/biomes/• http://www.hickerphoto.com/rainforest-biome-3368-

pictures.htm• http://www.kruger2canyons.com/images/

grassland_biome.jpg• http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/hherms/herms/

METEOROLOGY/climates/sub_arctic.htm• http://www.ericksonscience.com/Biomes/Student

%20Websites/Period%202/10_2_Ramtin/10ramtinoceanpic.jpg

• http://www.hickerphoto.com/data/media/172/desert_biome_t2237.jpg