p. 262. biomes are large regions of the world with distinctive climates, wildlife and vegetation....
TRANSCRIPT
p. 262
• Biomes are large regions of the world with distinctive climates, wildlife and vegetation.
• There are terrestrial and aquatic biomes
• Terrestrial Biomes– Latitude– Altitude– Temperature– Precipitation– Soil Type– Solar Energy– Winds– Proximity to Water
• Aquatic Biomes– Salinity– Clarity– Temperature– Current– Oxygen, CO2 for
photosynthesis– Solar Energy– Nutrients– Depth
• Mainly determined by temperature and precipitation
• Tropical Forests– Lie along either side
of the equator, mainly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
– Average Temperature is between 20 and 34 degrees C.
• Seasonal or Evergreen (rain forests)
• Occupy less than 10% or earth, but house between 50% and 80% of terrestrial plant and animal species.
• At risk because millions of hectares have been destroyed in the last 30 years. – Burnt or cut down for
farm land.
• Rain forests important in regulating the Earth’s climate.
• Represent slightly more than ¼ or all the forests in the world.
• Canada and Northern Russia
• Composed of conifers and forest floor covered with moss and lichen.
• Many lakes and marshes.
• Lots of sunlight in summer, so trees can thrive despite poor soil.
• Diverse wildlife
• Southern Canada, USA, Europe and some parts of Asia.
• Mixture of conifers and deciduous trees although more southern, mostly deciduous.
• Nutrient-rich soil because of decomposing leaves
• Leaves fall in autumn, and then grow back in spring.
• Also called Prairies
• Grasses can survive fire, drought and mowing because they spend a lot of their resources developing their root system.
• Temperate
• Savannas
• Derived grasslands
• North of the boreal forests
• Forms a ring of vegetation around the North Pole
• Canadian far north is Arctic Tundra
• Long, cold winters, and very short summer allow only stunted vegetation
• Animals such as the caribou, arctic fox and lemming have adapted to the harsh arctic biome
• 1/3 of Earth’s continental land mass
• Less than 25 cm of annual precipitation
• Very high or low temperatures
• Only a few species of animals can survive.
• With no clouds or air humidity, heat escapes the hot, arid deserts at night and they can get below freezing temperatures.
• Defined by altitude rather than latitude
• Found almost everywhere in the world
• Higher the altitude, lower the temperature
• Submontane zone
• Montane zone
• Subalpine zone
• Alpine zone
• Nival zone