APES: Biomes

tundra climate

cold, dry, little precipitation

tundra soil

nutrient poor bc of permafrost (frozen soil)

tundra locations

near North and South Pole

tundra (3 plant species)

lichen, grass, arctic moss

tundra (3 animal species)

polar bear, arctic fox, caribou

tundra NPP

140 g/m^2/yr bc of permafrost and lack of ability to grow plants

tundra problems

oil drilling, climate change, air pollution

taiga climate

moderate to low levels of precipitation, subarctic

taiga soil

nutrient rich but acidic due to pine needles

taiga locations

south of tundras

taiga (3 plant species)

coniferous trees with needles (pine), lichen, ferns

taiga (3 animal species)

moose, red fox, coyotes,

taiga NPP

around the middle in comparison with other biomes; lower than savanna and forests but higher than tundra

taiga problems

trash pollution, climate change, deforestation

temperate deciduous forest climate

4 seasons, average amount of rain

temperate deciduous forest soil

nutrient rich due to high levels of organic matter specifically from dead leaves

temperate deciduous forest locations

mid-latitude areas: eastern US, Canada, Europe, China

temperate deciduous forest (3 plant species)

silver and sugar maple, hardwood trees, blackberry

temperate deciduous forest (3 animal species)

black bears, red and gray foxes, white tailed deer

temperate deciduous forest NPP

1200 g/m^2/yr; lower than tropical rainforest but higher than savanna

temperate deciduous forest problems

air pollution, deforestation, human development

grassland climate

light rainfall (between temperate deciduous forest and desert), distinct seasons

grassland soil

nutrient rich bc of deeprooted grass

grassland locations

Midwest US, Africa, Australia, southern South America

grassland (3 plant species)

western wheatgrass, cacti, kentucky bluegrass

grassland (3 animal species)

prairie dogs, bison, black-footed ferret

grassland NPP

600 g/m^2/yr; lower than tropical rainforest and higher than taiga

grassland problems

monocropping, urbanization, light pollution

desert climate

hot, dry, little precipitation

desert soil

poor bc of lack of water and nutrients/organic matter

desert locations

around the equator and Australia: northern Africa, southwest US, Middle East

desert (3 plant species)

cacti, sedges, sagebrush

desert (3 animal species)

coyote, rattlesnake, gazelle

desert NPP

90 g/m^2/yr; second lowest

desert problems

overpopulation, climate change, desertification

tropical rainforest climate

most precipitation, hot and humid year-round

tropical rainforest soil

nutrient poor due to acidity and heavy rainfall

tropical rainforest locations

Southern Hemisphere: Indonesia, Southeast Asia

tropical rainforest (3 plant species)

orchids, banana trees, fern

tropical rainforest (3 animal species)

monkeys, jaguars, fruit bats

tropical rainforest NPP

2200 g/m^2/yr; second highest

tropical rainforest problems

deforestation, invasive species, climate change

temperate rainforest climate

two distinct seasons, high precipitation

temperate rainforest soil

nutrient medium bc has large amount of dead organic matter but rainfall washes it aways

temperate rainforest locations

mountainous/coastal areas, far away from equator

temperate rainforest (3 plant species)

lichen, western hemlock, ferns

temperate rainforest (3 animal species)

jumping snails, elk, northern spotted owl

temperate rainforest NPP

1200 g/m^2/yr; lower than tropical rainforest and higher than grassland

temperate rainforest problems

loss of biodiversity, deforestation, urbanization