UNIT 1.

2 – TERRESTRIAL
BIOMES
CHAPTER 4 – MODULE 12
 CLIMATE: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
• WEATHER IS THE SHORT-TERM PHYSICAL
CONDITIONS IN A LOCAL AREA SUCH AS
TEMPERATURE, WIND SPEED, CLOUD COVER,
PRECIPITATION, AND HUMIDITY.
• CLIMATE IS A REGION’S AVERAGE WEATHER
CONDITIONS OVER A LONG TIME PERIOD.
• TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION ARE THE TWO
MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN THE CLIMATE.
• LATITUDE AND ELEVATION HELP CAN DETERMINE
CLIMATE.
 TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

• THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS THAT DETERMINE A

BIOME ARE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE AND ANNUAL
PRECIPITATION.
 BIOMES

• BIOMES – LARGE TERRESTRIAL REGIONS

CHARACTERIZED BY SIMILAR CLIMATE, SOIL,
PLANTS, AND ANIMALS.
• DIFFERENT CLIMATES LEAD TO DIFFERENT SPECIES
OF ORGANISMS, INCLUDING PLANTS AND
ANIMALS.
• EACH BIOME CONTAINS MANY ECOSYSTEMS
WHOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE ADAPTED TO THE
BIOME’S CLIMATE, SOIL, AND OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.
 BIOMES
• 9 TERRESTRIAL BIOMES (POLAR ICE CAP IS NOT A BIOME)

Figure 12.3
 CLIMATE DIAGRAMS/CLIMATOGRAMS
• CLIMATE DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATE PATTERNS OF ANNUAL TEMPERATURE
AND PRECIPITATION, WHICH HELP DETERMINE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF
THE BIOME.
 TERRESTRIAL BIOMES

• COLD BIOMES
• TUNDRA
• BOREAL FOREST/TAIGA

• TEMPERATE BIOMES
• TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
• TEMPERATE SEASONAL FOREST/TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST
• WOODLAND/SHRUBLAND/CHAPPARAL
• TEMPERATE GRASSLAND/COLD DESERT

• TROPICAL BIOMES
• TROPICAL RAIN FOREST
• TROPICAL SEASONAL FOREST/SAVANNA
• SUBTROPICAL DESERT
 TUNDRA
• TUNDRA - A COLD AND TREELESS BIOME WITH LOW-GROWING
VEGETATION.
• IN WINTER, THE SOIL IS COMPLETELY FROZEN.
• THE TUNDRA'S GROWING SEASON IS VERY SHORT, USUALLY ONLY
ABOUT 4 MONTHS DURING SUMMER.
• THE UNDERLYING SUBSOIL IS KNOWN AS PERMAFROST.
• PERMAFROST - AN IMPERMEABLE, PERMANENTLY FROZEN LAYER OF SOIL
WHICH PREVENTS DEEP ROOTED TREES FROM GROWING.

• CHEMICAL REACTIONS OCCUR SLOWING, AS A RESULT, DEAD

ORGANISMS DECOMPOSE SLOWLY LEADING TO LOW LEVELS OF
NUTRIENTS IN SOIL.
 TUNDRA

• ARTIC TUNDRA FOUND IN

NORTHERNMOST REGIONS OF
ALASKA, RUSSIA, SCANDINAVIA AND
CANADA.
• ALPINE TUNDRA FOUND IN HIGH
MOUNTAINS WITH HIGH WIND AND
LOW TEMPERATURES.
• ORGANISMS INCLUDE ARTIC FOX,
POLAR BEARS AND MUSKOXEN
• HUMAN IMPACT – GLOBAL
WARMING MELTING PERMAFROST

Figure 12.5
 BOREAL FOREST/TIAGA

• BOREAL FOREST BIOME IS MADE UP PRIMARILY OF CONIFEROUS

EVERGREEN TREES THAT CAN TOLERATE COLD WINTERS. GROWING
SEASON IS SHORT. DECIDUOUS TREES CAN ALSO BE FOUND HERE.
• THIS SUBARCTIC BIOME HAS A VERY COLD CLIMATE, AND PLANT
GROWTH IS MORE CONSTRAINED BY TEMPERATURE THAN
PRECIPITATION.
• THE SOIL IS NUTRIENT-POOR DUE TO SLOW DECOMPOSITION OF
DEAD ORGANISMS. ALSO PINE NEEDLES CONTAINS COMPOUNDS
THAT MAKE THEM RESISTANT TO DECOMPOSITION.
 BOREAL FOREST/TIAGA
• BOREAL FORESTS ARE FOUND
BETWEEN ABOUT 50˚ AND 60˚ N
IN EUROPE, RUSSIA, AND NORTH
AMERICA.
• ANIMALS INCLUDE BEAVERS,
BROWN BEARS AND
WOLVERINES.
• HUMAN IMPACT – LOGGED
HEAVILY – SOURCE OF TREES
FOR PULP, PAPER AND BUILDING
MATERIALS. OTHER THREATS
INCLUDE MINING AND
EXTRACTION OF OIL AND GAS.
Figure 12.6
 TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
• TEMPERATE RAINFOREST - A COASTAL BIOME TYPIFIED BY MODERATE
TEMPERATURES AND HIGH PRECIPITATION.
• OCEAN CURRENTS MODERATE TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS AND PROVIDE
A SOURCE OF WATER VAPOR.
• NEARLY 12-MONTH GROWING SEASON WHERE WINTERS ARE RAINY AND
SUMMERS ARE FOGGY.
• MILD TEMPERATURES AND HIGH PRECIPITATION SUPPORT GROWTH OF
VERY LARGE TREES.
• TREE SPECIES INCLUDE SPRUCE, FIRS, HEMLOCKS AND REDWOODS.
• DECOMPOSITION IS SLOW SO SOIL IS NUTRIENT POOR.
• NUTRIENTS IN SOIL IS RAPIDLY TAKEN UP BY TREES OR LEACHED BY LARGE
AMOUNT OF RAINFALL..
• FERNS AND MOSSES WHICH CAN GROW IN NUTRIENT POOR SOIL ARE FOUND
ON THE FOREST FLOOR.
 TEMPERATE RAINFOREST

• FOUND ALONG THE MID-LATITUDES –

THE WEST COAST OF NORTH
AMERICA FROM NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA TO ALASKA, AND
SOUTHERN CHILE.
• SPECIES INCLUDE BLACK-TAILED
DEAR, PACIFIC GIANT SALAMANDER
AND PACIFIC TREE FROG.
• HUMAN IMPACT – LOGGING FOR
LUMBER.

Figure 12.7
 TEMPERATE SEASONAL
FOREST/TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS
FOREST
• TEMPERATE SEASONAL FOREST - A BIOME WITH WARM SUMMERS
AND COLD WINTERS WITH OVER 1 M (39 INCHES) OF PRECIPITATION
ANNUALLY.
• DOMINATED BY BROADLEAF DECIDUOUS TREES SUCH AS BEECH,
MAPLE, OAK, AND HICKORY. CONIFEROUS TREES MAY BE FOUND.
• WARMER SUMMER TEMPERATURES FAVOR DECOMPOSITION; SOILS
GENERALLY CONTAIN MORE NUTRIENTS THAN THOSE OF BOREAL
FORESTS.
• LONGER GROWING SEASON AND HIGH SOIL FERTILITY MEANS THAT
THIS BIOME HAS GREATER PLANT PRODUCTIVITY THAN BOREAL FOREST.
 TEMPERATE SEASONAL
FOREST/TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS
FOREST
• FOUND IN THE EASTERN UNITED
STATES, JAPAN, CHINA, EUROPE,
CHILE, EASTERN AUSTRALIA, ON THE
WEST COAST OF NEW ZEALAND,
AND ON THE ISLAND OF TASMANIA.
• SPECIES INCLUDE WHITE-TAILED DEER,
RED FOXES AND GREY SQUIRRELS.
• HUMAN IMPACT – THEIR HIGH
PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRIENT RICH
SOIL MEANS THAT THEY CAN BE USED
AS AGRICULTURE LAND.

Figure 12.8
WOODLAND/SHRUBLAND/CHAPARRAL

• WOODLAND/SHRUBLAND - A BIOME CHARACTERIZED BY HOT, DRY

SUMMERS AND MILD, RAINY WINTERS.
• THERE IS A 12-MONTH GROWING SEASON, BUT PLANT GROWTH IS
CONSTRAINED BY LOW PRECIPITATION IN SUMMER AND BY
RELATIVELY LOW TEMPERATURES IN WINTER.
• TEMPERATURES ARE HIGH IN THE SUMMER AND PRECIPITATION IS HIGH
IN THE WINTERS.
• WILDFIRES ARE COMMON DUE TO HOT, DRY SUMMERS. PLANTS OF
THIS BIOME ARE WELL ADAPTED TO BOTH FIRE AND DROUGHT.
• MANY PLANTS QUICKLY RE-SPROUT AFTER A FIRE AND OTHERS PRODUCE
SEEDS THAT OPEN ONLY UPON EXPOSURE TO INTENSE HEAT OF FIRE.
• PLANTS INCLUDE DROUGHT RESISTANT SHRUBS LIKE YUCCA, SHRUB
OAK, AND SAGEBRUSH.

• SOILS ARE LOW IN NUTRIENTS DUE TO LEACHING BY WINTER RAINS.

 WOODLAND/SHRUBLAND/CHAPARRAL
• FOUND ON THE COAST OF SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA,
SOUTHERN AFRICA, AND IN THE AREA
SURROUNDING THE MEDITERRANEAN
SEA.
• ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDE QUAIL, BLACK-
TAILED JACKRABBITS, AND THE SAN
JOAQUIN FOX.
• HUMAN IMPACT – AGRICULTURE USE FOR
GRAZING ANIMAL AND GROWING
DROUGHT RESISTANT PLANTS LIKE
GRAPES. ALSO, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
INCREASES FREQUENCY OF FIRES.
Figure 12.9
 TEMPERATE GRASSLAND/COLD DESERT
• TEMPERATE GRASSLAND/COLD DESERT - A BIOME CHARACTERIZED BY
COLD, HARSH WINTERS, AND HOT, DRY SUMMERS.
• LOWEST AVERAGE ANNUAL PRECIPITATION OF ANY TEMPERATE BIOME.
• PLANT GROWTH CONSTRAINED BY BOTH INSUFFICIENT PRECIPITATION
IN SUMMER AND COLD TEMPERATURES IN WINTER.
• PLANTS INCLUDE GRASSES AND NON-WOODY FLOWERING PLANTS
WELL-ADAPTED TO WILDFIRES AND FREQUENT GRAZING BY ANIMALS.
• PLANTS HAVE DEEP ROOTS THAT STORE ENERGY AND ENABLE QUICK
REGROWTH.

• FIRES ARE COMMON DUE TO DRY, WINDY CONDITIONS THAT CAN FAN
FLAMES IGNITED BY LIGHTNING.
• SOIL IS RICH IN NUTRIENTS DUE TO LONG GROWING SEASON AND
RAPID DECOMPOSITION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS.
 TEMPERATE GRASSLAND/COLD DESERT

• FOUND IN THE GREAT PLAINS OF

NORTH AMERICA (PRAIRIES), IN
SOUTH AMERICA (PAMPAS), AND IN
CENTRAL ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE
(STEPPES).
• ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDE BISON,
PRAIRIE CHICKENS, AND THE PRAIRIE
KING SNAKE.
• HUMAN IMPACT – DUE TO NUTRIENT
RICH SOLID, 98% OF PRAIRIES IN US
HAVE BEEN CONVERT TO
AGRICULTURE LAND.

Figure 12.10
 TROPICAL RAINFOREST

• TROPICAL RAINFOREST - A WARM AND WET BIOME FOUND

BETWEEN 20°N AND 20°S OF THE EQUATOR, WITH LITTLE SEASONAL
TEMPERATURE VARIATION AND HIGH PRECIPITATION.
• AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURES EXCEED 20˚C.
• TROPICAL RAINFORESTS CONTAIN MORE BIODIVERSITY PER HECTARE
THAN ANY OTHER TERRESTRIAL BIOME; CONTAIN UP TO TWO-THIRDS
OF EARTH'S TERRESTRIAL SPECIES.
• RESOURCE PARTITIONING ALLOWS ORGANISMS TO MINIMIZE
COMPETITION

• HIGH RAINFALL AND WARM TEMPERATURE CAUSES DECOMPOSITION

OF ORGANISMS TO OCCUR QUICKLY. HOWEVER, PLANTS TAKE UP
NUTRIENTS QUICKLY SO SOIL IS RELATIVELY INFERTILE/NUTRIENT
POOR.
 TROPICAL RAINFOREST

• FOUND IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH

AMERICA, AFRICA, SOUTHEAST ASIA,
AND NORTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA.
• ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDE JAGUARS,
ORANGUTANS, AND RED-EYED TREE
FROGS.
• HUMAN IMPACT – DEFORESTATION DUE
TO EXPANDING FORESTRY AND
AGRICULTURE.

Figure 12.11
 TROPICAL SEASONAL
FOREST/SAVANNA
• TROPICAL SEASONAL FOREST/SAVANNA - A BIOME MARKED BY
WARM TEMPERATURES AND DISTINCT WET AND DRY SEASONS.
• WET SEASON OCCURS IN THE SUMMER.

• SOIL IN THIS BIOME IS FAIRLY FERTILE DUE TO WARM TEMPERATURES.

WARM TEMPERATURES PROMOTE DECOMPOSITION OF DEAD ANIMAL
AND PLANTS. LOW PRECIPITATION RESTRICT PLANT GROWTH.
• GRASSES, SHRUBS, AND SCATTERED DECIDUOUS TREES ARE
COMMON. SOME TREE SPECIES INCLUDE ACACIA TREES AND BAOBAB
TREES.
 TROPICAL SEASONAL FOREST/SAVANNA
• TROPICAL SEASONAL FORESTS ARE
COMMON IN MUCH OF CENTRAL
AMERICA, ON THE ATLANTIC COAST OF
SOUTH AMERICA, IN SOUTHERN ASIA,
IN NORTHWESTERN AUSTRALIA, AND IN
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.
• ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDE GAZELLES,
ZEBRAS, LIONS AND CHEETAHS.
• HUMAN IMPACT – LARGE PERCENTAGE
OF THIS BIOME HAVE BEEN CONVERTED
TO FARMLANDS FOR GRAZING AND
GROWING CROPS.

Figure 12.12
 SUBTROPICAL DESSERT

• SUBTROPICAL DESERT - A BIOME PREVAILING AT APPROXIMATELY

30°N AND 30°S, WITH HOT TEMPERATURES, EXTREMELY DRY
CONDITIONS, AND SPARSE VEGETATION.
• CACTI, EUPHORBS, AND SUCCULENT PLANTS ARE WELL ADAPTED TO
THIS BIOME.
• TO PREVENT WATER LOSS, PLANTS IN THIS BIOME HAVE SMALL LEAVES,
NO LEAVES OR LEAVES THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED INTO SPINES. OUTER
LAYER OF PLANTS ARE THICK WITH FEW PORES FOR WATER AND GAS
EXCHANGE.
• PHOTOSYNTHESIS OCCURS MOSTLY ALONG THE STEMS WHICH STORE
WATER SO THAT PHOTOSYNTHESIS CAN CONTINUE TO HAPPEN DURING
DRY PERIODS
• SOME PLANTS HAVE SPINES TO DETER GRAZING ANIMALS.
 SUBTROPICAL DESERT
• THE MOJAVE DESERT IN THE
SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES,
THE SAHARA IN AFRICA, THE
ARABIAN DESERT OF THE MIDDLE
EAST, AND THE GREAT VICTORIA
DESERT OF AUSTRALIA ARE ALL
SUBTROPICAL DESERTS.
• ANIMAL SPECIES INCLUDE
TORTOISES, CAMELS AND
ROADRUNNERS
• HUMAN IMPACT – MAJOR THREATS
INCLUDE CLIMATE CHANGE AND
DRAINING OF UNDERGROUND
WATER FOR HUMAN USE.
Figure 12.13
HUMAN IMPACTS ON TERRESTRIAL BIOMES