APES_1.2

biome

an area that shares a combination of average, yearly temperature, and precipitation (climate); the plants and animals that live in that biome are uniquely adapted to live there (ex. cacti have water preserving traits)

latitude

distance from equator; determines temperature & precipitation, which is why biomes exist in predictable pattern on earth

tundra & boreal

higher latitude; 60+ degrees

temperate

mid lat.;30-60 degrees

tropical

closer to the equator

Tropical RF

nutrient-poor soil (high competition from so many different plant species)

boreal forest

nutrient-poor soil (low temperature & low decomposition - rate of dead organism matter)t

temperate forest

nutrient-rich soil (lots of dead organism matter - leaves & warm temperature/moisture for decomposition)

shifting biomes

biomes shift in location as climate changes (ex. warming climate will shift boreal forests further north as tundra permafrost soil melts & lower latitudes become too warm for aspen & spruce)