Terrestrial biomes

Tropical forest distribution

equatorial and subequatorial regions

Tropical forest precipitation - tropical rain forests

rainfall is relatively constant

Tropical forest precipitation - tropical dry forests

seasonal, long dry season

Tropical forest temperature

high year round with little season variation

Tropical forest plants - Tropical rain forest

broadleaf, evergreen trees, vertically layered

Tropical forest plants - tropical dry forest

deciduous trees

Tropical forest animals

high diversity in tropical

Desert distribution

bands near 30* N and S of equator and in the interior of continents

Desert precipitation

low and highly variable

Desert temperature

varies seasonally and daily, extremely hot or extremely cold

Desert plants

adapted for heat and desiccation tolerance, water storage, and reduces leaf SA

physical defense like spines

chemical defense like toxins

Desert animals

nocturnal and adaptation for water conservation

Savanna distribution

occurs in equatorial and subequatorial region

Savanna precipitation

season with dry seasons lasting 8 - 9 months

Savanna temperature

warm year round but seasonally variable

Savanna plants

grasses, forbs, fire adapted and tolerant of seasonal drought

Savanna animals

large herbivores, wildebeests, zebras, insects

Chaparral distribution

occurs in midlatitude coastal regions on several continents

Chaparral precipitation

highly seasonal with rainy winters and dry summers

Chaparral temperature

summer is hot

fall, winter, spring are cool

Chaparral plants

shrubs, small trees, grasses, herbs, adapted to fire and drought

Chaparral animals

amphibians, birds, reptiles, insects, browsing mammals, diverse small mammals

Temperate grassland distribution

found on many continents

Temperate grassland precipitation

highly seasonal with dry winters and wet summers, periodic drought

Temperate grassland temperature

winters are cold, summers are hot

Temperate grassland plants

grasses, frobs, adapted to droughts and fires

Temperate grassland animals

grazers, bison, wild horses, small burrowers, prairie dogs

Northern coniferous forest distribution

spans northern N. America and Eurasia, largest terrestrial biome

Northern coniferous forest precipitation

periodic drought is common

Northern coniferous forest temperature

winters are cold, summers hot

Northern coniferous forest plants

evergreen, conifers, pine, spruce, fir, hemlock

Northern coniferous forest animals

migratory and resident birds, large mammals, moose, brown bears, and Siberian tigers

Temperate broadleaf forest distribution

midlatitudes in the N. hemisphere, chile, S. africa, australia, new zealand

Temperate broadleaf forest precipitation

a lot falls during all seasons as rain or snow

Temperate broadleaf forest temperatures

winters cold and summer are hot/humid

Temperate broadleaf forest plants

vertical layers, closed canopy, understory trees, shrub layer, herb layer

N. hemisphere have deciduous trees and evergreen eucalyptus in australia

Temperate broadleaf forest animals

mammals, birds, insects

Tundra distribution

cover areas of the Arcitc

alpine - on high mountaintops

Tundra precipitation

lower in arctic tundra

Tundra temperature

winters are cold, summers are also cool

Tundra plants

herbaceous, mosses, grasses, forbs, dwarf shrubs and trees, lichens

Tundra animals

musk oxen, caribou, reindeer, bears, wolves, foxes, migratory birds