APES 1.2 - Terrestrial Biomes

biome

an area that shares a combination of average yearly temperature and precipitation (climate)

latitude

(distance from equator) determines temperature and precipitation which is why biomes exist in predictable patterns on earth

nutrient availability

plants need soil nutrients to grow, so those nutrients determine which plants can survive in a biome

shifting biomes

biomes may shift in location on earth as climate changes

biome charts

predict where on earth biomes are found

tundra and boreal

higher latitude (60 degrees+)

temperate

mid-latitudes (30-60 degrees)

tropical

closer to the equator

climate diagrams (climatograms)

illustrate patterns of annual temperature and precipitation

display monthly temp. and precipitation values which help determine the productivity of a biome

taiga (boreal forest)

forest biome made up primarily of coniferous trees that can tolerate cold winters and short growing seasons

found between 50 degrees and 60 degrees N in Russia and North America

very cold climate and plant growth is more constrained by temperature than by precipitation

temperate rainforest

a coastal biome typified by moderate temperatures and high precipitation

can support growth of very large trees

found along west coast of North America from northern California to Alaska

nearby ocean currents moderate temperature fluctuations and provide a source of water vapor

has nearly a 12-month growing season with rainy winters and foggy summers

temperate seasonal (deciduous) forest

warm summers and cold winters over 1m (39 in) of precipitation annually

moderate mean annual temperatures and moderate amounts of precipitation that support broadleaf deciduous trees (such as beech, maple, oak, and hickory)

encompasses eastern US, Japan, China, Europe, Chile, and eastern Australia

warmer summer temperatures favor decomposition; soils generally contain more nutrients than those of boreal forests due to leaf litter and relatively fast decomposition rates

temperate grassland/cold desert

cold, harsh winters and hot, dry summers

lowest average annual precipitation of any temperate biome

found in Great Plains of North America, in South America, and in central Asia and eastern Europe

plant growth constrained by both insufficient precipitation in summer and cold temperatures in winter

plants include grasses and non-woody flowering plants that are well-adapted to wildfires and frequent grazing by animals

tundra

a cold, treeless biome with low-growing vegetation

soil completely frozen in winter

underlying subsoil called permafrost

4 month growing season during summer

woodland/shrubland/chaparral

hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters

found on coast of southern California, southern Australia, southern Africa, and in the area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea

12-month growing season, plant growth is constrained by low precipitation in summer and relatively low temperatures in winter

wildfires are common, so plants here are well-adapted to both fire and drought

tropical rainforest

warm, wet biome found between 20 degrees N and 20 degrees S of the equator

little seasonal temperature variation and frequent, high precipitation (avg. annual temperatures exceed 20 degrees C [68 degrees F])

found in Central and South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and northeastern Australia

contains more biodiversity per hectare than any other terrestrial biome

contains up to 2/3s of earth's terrestrial species

highly productive with several distinctive layers of vegetation

tropical seasonal forest/savanna

warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons

common in much of Central America, on the Atlantic coast of South America, in southern Asia, in northwestern Australia, and in sub-Saharan Africa

soil is fairly fertile and can be farmed due to high decomposition rates, but low amount of precipitation restricts plants from using the soil nutrient that are released

grasses and scattered deciduous trees are common

subtropical desert

30 degrees N and 30 degrees S with hot temperatures, extremely dry conditions, and sparse vegetation

Mojave Desert in southwestern US, the Sahara in Africa, the Arabian Desert of the Middle East and the Great Victoria Desert of Australia are all subtropical deserts

cacti, euphorbs, and succulent plants are well-adapted to this biome