Ecology Biomes

Tropical Forest (Location)

Equatorial and subequatorial regions. (around the equator)

Tropical Rain Forest (Precipitation)

Rainfall is relatively constant, about 200-400 cm annually.

Tropical Forest (Temperature)

Little seasonal variation in temperature with averages year-round of 25-29 degrees celsius.

Tropical Forest (Layers of Plants)

Plant layers consist of emergent trees that grow above a closed canopy, the canopy trees, one or two layers of subcanopy trees, and layers of shrubs and herbs.

Tropical Forest (Dominant Plants)

Broadleaf evergreen trees are dominant, many drop leaves

Tropical Forest (Common Plants)

Epiphytes, such as bromeliads and orchids, generally cover this

Tropical Forest (Animals)

Home to 5-30 million still undescribed species of insects, spiders, and other arthropods. Animal diversity is higher here than in any other terrestrial biome. Amphibians, birds, reptiles, mammals, and arthropods are adapted to the vertically layered environment and are often inconspicuous.

Desert (Location)

Occur in bands near 30 degrees north and south latitude or in the interior of continents.

Desert (Precipitation)

Precipitation is low and highly variable, usually less than 30 cm per year.

Desert (Temperature)

Variable seasonally and daily. Max air temperature can exceed 50 degrees celsius; and may fall below -30 degrees celsius.

Desert (Plants)

succulents such as cacti or euphorbs, deeply rooted shrubs, and herbs that grow during the infrequent moist periods.

Desert (Animals)

Common animals include snakes, lizards, scorpions, ants, beetles, migratory and resident birds, and seed-eating rodents. Most are nocturnal.

Savanna (Location)

Equatorial and subequatorial regions. (around the equator)

Savanna (Precipitation)

Seasonal rainfall, averages 30-50 cm per year. The dry season can last up to 8 or 9 months.

Savanna (Temperature)

Warm year-round, averaging 24-29 degrees celsius. More seasonal variation than in tropical forests though.

Savanna (Plants)

Scattered trees found here are thorny and have small leaves, adaptation to dry conditions. Grasses and small non-woody plants called forbs, make up most of the ground cover.

Savanna (Plant Adaptations)

Fires are common in the dry season. Dominant plant species are fire-adapted and tolerant of seasonal drought. Grasses grow rapidly in response to seasonal rains and tolerant to grazing of large mammals and herbivores.

Savanna (Animals)

Large plant-eating mammals, wildebeests, zebras, and predators, lions, hyenas are common. dominant herbivores are actually insects, especially termites.

Chaparral (Locations)

Midlatitude coastal regions on several continents.

Chaparral (Precipitation)

Highly seasonal, with rainy winters and dry summers. Annual precipitation falls around 30-50 cm.

Chaparral (Temperature)

Fall, winter, and spring are cool with an average temperature of 10-12 degrees celsius. Summers can reach 30 degrees celsius and daytime max temperature can exceed 40 degrees celsius.

Chaparral (Plants)

Dominated by shrubs and small trees, along with many kinds of grasses and herbs. High plant diversity with many species confined to a specific geographic area.

Chaparral (Animals)

Mammals include browsers (deer and goats) which feed on twigs and woody vegetation. High diversity of small mammals. many species of amphibians, birds, reptiles, and insects.

Temperate Grassland (Location)

South Africa, pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, steppes of Russia, and plains and prairies of central North America.

Temperate Grassland (Precipitation)

Highly seasonal with relatively dry winters and wet summers. Annual precipitation falls between 30-100 cm. Periodic drought is common.

Temperate Grassland (Temperature)

Winters are generally cold, with average temperatures well below -10 degrees celsius. Summers are hot with average temperatures approaching 30 degrees celsius.

Temperate Grassland (Plants)

Dominant plants are grasses and forbs that can grow to be 2 meters in height.

Temperate Grassland (Animals)

Large grazers such as bison and wild horses. Also inhabited by a variety of burrowing mammals like prairie dogs in North America.

Northern Coniferous Forest (Location)

Northern North America and Eurasia to the edge of the arctic Tundra. Also called taiga, and is the largest terrestrial biome on Earth.

Northern Coniferous Forest (Precipitation)

Annual precipitation ranges from 30-70 cm and periodic droughts are common.

Northern Coniferous Forest (Temperature)

Winters are cold and temperatures can range from -50 degrees celsius to 20 degrees celsius in the summer.

Northern Coniferous Forest (Plants)

Dominated by cone-bearing trees like pine, spruce, fir, and hemlock which depend on fire to regenerate. Diversity of plants in shrub and herb layers of these forests is lower than temperate broadleaf forests.

Northern Coniferous Forest (Animals)

Many migratory birds nest here while other species reside year-round. mammals include moose, brown bears, and Siberian tigers. Periodic outbreaks of insects that feed on dominant trees kill car tracts of trees.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Location)

Mainly at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Precipitation)

Averages about 70-200 cm annually. Significant amounts fall during all seasons including summer rain and winter snow.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Temperature)

Winter temperatures average around 0 degrees celsius with summers having maximum temperatures near 35 degrees celsius. Summers are hot and humid.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Plant Layers)

Has distinct vertical layers including a closed canopy, one or two strata of understory trees, a shrub layer, and an herb layer.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Plants)

Few epiphytes. Dominant plants are deciduous trees which drop their leaves before winter. In Australia, evergreen eucalyptus trees dominate these forests.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Animals)

Many mammals hibernate in winter, while many bird species migrate to warmer climates. Mammals, birds, and insects make use of all the vertical layers.

Tundra (Location)

Covers expansive areas of the Arctic, amounting to 20% of Earth's land surface. Alpine tundras are found on very high mountaintops at all latitudes, even the tropics.

Tundra (Precipitation)

Precipitation averages from 20 to 60 cm annually in arctic tundra but may exceed 100 cm in alpine tundra.

Tundra (Temperature)

Winters are cold, with averages below -30 degrees celsius. Summer temperatures generally average less than 10 degrees celsius.

Tundra (Plants)

Mostly herbaceous vegetation consisting of a mixture of mosses, grasses, forms, dwarf shrubs, trees, and lichens. A permanently frozen layer of soil called permafrost restricts the growth of plant roots.

Tundra (Animals)

Large grazing musk oxen are resident, while caribou and reindeer are migratory. Predators include bears, wolves, and foxes. Many bird species migrate to the tundra for summer nesting.