APES 1: Biomes

@@Tropical Rainforest@@

has the highest mean net productivity of any land biome
found in all continents except for Europe and Antarctica
characterized by tall trees and lots of rainfall, as well as a lot of biodiversity
climate has consistent rainfall and temperatures throughout the year

@@Savanna@@

moderate-high productivity, a lot of decomposition through termites occurs
found in all continents except for Antarctica, and most frequently located in South America and Africa
characterized by open grassland with scattered trees, high temperatures, and season drought

@@Desert@@

low productivity due to low decomposition rates
found in North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia - covers 20% of the Earth
characterized by a very dry climate (little rainfall) with little vegetation and constant high temperatures
animals and plants adapted to conserve water

@@Temperate Grassland@@

low productivity due to low temperatures in the winter and low levels of rainfall
found in Australia, North America, South America, Europe, and Asia
Characterized by relatively flat geography and large amounts of vegetation (think Midwestern U.S.)
climate characterized by a wide range of temperatures: warm summers and cold winters, rainfall in the summer months

@@Temperate Deciduous Forest@@

high productivity, nutritious soil that allows for tall trees
can be found in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia
has all four seasons, which causes temperatures to vary throughout the year
characterized by tall trees and moderate temperatures, as well as moderate, consistent rainfall throughout the year

@@Boreal Forest@@

low productivity due to its low temperatures and low rates of decomposition
located in North America and Asia: the biggest land biome in the world
composed of coniferous forests and freshwater bodies
characterized by low precipitation, species diversity, and temperatures (permafrost -10ºC to 10ºC)

@@Tundra@@

very low productivity due to the extremely low temperatures and harsh conditions
found in the Northern regions of Europe, Asia, North America, as well as Antarctica
very low biodiversity
characterized by low temperatures, frost, and low-growing plants such as mosses and grasses.

^^freshwater biomes^^

low salinity
streams & rivers * flowing water has fewer plants, so the energy inputs come from terrestrial biome organic matter
lakes & ponds * standing water * can be divided into depth zones (determined by how much light gets through) * littoral zone * algae + plants * most photosynthesis occurs * limnetic zone * open water * floating algae * profundal zone * no sunlight = no producers (low dissolved oxygen) * cannot support big organisms * benthic zone * muddy bottom
freshwater wetlands * shallow and submerged for some time throughout the year * recharge groundwater while filtering pollutants * decrease flooding (slowly releases stored water)

^^marine biomes^^

high salinity
oceans, coral reefs, marshland, estuaries
algae * supply a large portion of Earth’s oxygen and uptake CO2 * primary producers of the oceans
The distribution of marine natural resources, such as different types of fish, varies because of some combination of * salinity * depth * turbidity * nutrient availability * temperature