Unit 1 Terrestrial Biomes Flashcards

tundra

General :

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: cold and treeless with low growing vegetation, soil completely frozen during winter, standing water: mosquitoes/insects

Location: 90 degrees North and South

Climate: cold temperature and low precipitation ( less than taiga )

Soil: Nutrient poor

Relative Productivity: Low

boreal forest

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

Different Names:

General : forests made up primarily of coniferous (cone-bearing) evergreen trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons, low precipitation, infertile

Location: around 50 degrees north and south. Taiga in the southern hemisphere is small. Taiga is mostly in the northern hemisphere .

Climate: Cold temperature and high precipitation

Relative Productivity: Low/medium relative Productivity

Soil: Nutrient poor because of slow decomposition rate

Different Names: Taiga, Coniferous forest, evergreen

temperate rainforest

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: temperate climate, infertile, large trees, coastal

Location: Coastal , Mid Latitudes , found on western sides, 30 degrees north ish ( mostly in northern hemisphere )

Climate: Warm temperature, high precipitation

Soil: Low nutrient levels ( rapid plant growth )

Relative Productivity: High

temperate seasonal forest ( Deciduous forest )

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: high fertility, broadleaf deciduous trees

Location: Eastern SIdes , 30-45 degrees north ( mostly In northern hemispheres)

Climate : warm temperature and moderate precipitation

Soil: High nutrient levels ( rapid decomposition rates )

Relative Productivity: High relative Productivity

shrubland/chaparral

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: infertile but plants well adapted to drought

Location: Argentina, Baja California, Mediterranean ( coastal )

Climate: Hot, dry summers + mild, rainy winters

Soil: Low nutrient levels ( leaching from winter rain )

Relative Productivity : low

temperate grassland/cold desert

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: mostly grasses, cold harsh winters and hot dry summers, fertile

Location: 30-40 degrees north and south ( mostly in north ) , mid continent

Climate : warm temperature, moderate precipitations

Soil: fertile upper layers

Relative Productivity: Medium ( fires, long growth season, decomposition )

tropical rainforests

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: equator, warm and wet, little temperature variation, fertile

Location: Equator

Climate: Hot temperature , very high precipitation

Soil: Low nutrients ( because of rapid plant growth )

Relative Productivity : Very High

tropical seasonal forests and savannahs

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: warm and wet, distinct wet/dry seasons, grasslands & trees

Location: Transition from desert to forest ( between 0 and 30 degrees north and south )

Climate: Warm temperature , wet summers and dry winters

Soil: fertile soil ( high decomposition )

Relative Productivity: Low/Medium

subtropical deserts

General:

Location:

Climate:

Soil:

Relative Productivity:

General: hot deserts, little rain, plants like cacti/succulents with small leaves

Location: 30 degrees north and south

Climate: Hot temperature, Very low precipitation

Soil: Nutrient poor soil

Relative Productivity: Lowest