Terrestrial Biomes

A biome: a community of plants and animals living in, and adapted to, a particular climate

Terrestrial: land-based

• Heavily influenced by temperature and precipitation

Tropical Rainforests:

• Found at latitudes near the equator

• Temp and precipitation are high throughout the year

• A warm, wet climate allows for high biodiversity

Temperate forests:

• Found in latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees north and south of the equator

• Well-defined seasons, with a distinct period of winter

• Temperate seasonal forests:

  • Cold, dry winter - hot, humid summers

• Temperate rainforests:

  • Mild, frost-free winters - rainfall evenly throughout the year

Taigas

• latitudes between 50 and 60 north of the equator

• short, warm, moist summers

• long, cold, dry winters

Deserts

• 30-degree latitudes

• north and south of the equator

• low precipitation

• warmer when near the equator

• Special plants in deserts know how to conserve water

Grasslands

• any latitude

• seasonal drought

• occasional fire

• grazing by herbivores

• Savannahs

  • warmer grasslands with scattered trees

• temperate grasslands

  • milder grassland with few trees

  • include prairies and steppes

Scrublands

• latitudes of 30 and 40 degrees north and south of the equator

• little rain - more than deserts and grasslands

• dominated by shrubs and short trees

Tundra

• located in the Arctic

• cold and dry

• permafrost - a short layer of frozen soil

• low in biodiversity