Mission:Biomes

—What is Biome?

Biome

-are large community units that comprise a distinctive natural ecosystem in a particular region.

-classified based on the most type of vegetation.

Biosphere

-Several collection of biomes

-Consist of water component, land component and atmosphere component

—Tropical Biomes

1. Tropical rainforest

- characterized by year-round warm temperature 

- rainfall determines the kind of vegetation growing in the area

- the most complex biome

-  high rate of precipitation

Fig. 1. Plants and animals found in Tropical Rainforest.

—The tropical rain forest can be found in three major geographical areas around the world:

     Central America in the Amazon river basin.

— Africa - Zaire basin, with a small area in West Africa; also eastern Madagascar.
 Indo-Malaysia - west coast of India, Assam, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Queensland, Australia.

2. Savanna

- is a rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome.

-Not enough rain falls on a savanna to support forests.

-also known as tropical grasslands.

Fig.2. Very hot summer in Savanna

Fig.3. Very col winter in Savanna.

—Seasons in Savanna

-Very long dry season

-Very cold winter
Temperate Biomes

1. Temperate rainforest

- Characterized by harsh and long winters with heavy snowfall and occasional warm summers

- Dominated by a few species of tall tees like cone-bearers (spruce, pine and hemlock)

2. Chaparral

-Characterized by a large number of shrubs with evergreen leaves.

-Long rainy winters and very hot summers

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3. Tundra

-   Located at high latitudes

-    Covered with ice

-  The climate is extremely cold with little daylight very little precipitation because of permafrost

-  Trees don’t grow in tundra

4. Taiga

-Dominated by conifers which includes pines firs and spruce

-Snow is the form of precipitation

-Trees can withstand to the its very cold climate

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5. Desert

-Extremely hot daytime temperature but have cold nights

-Have no perennial vegetation

-Many of the animals are nocturnal

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—Aquatic Biomes

1. Marine Biome

-The marine biome is the biggest biome in the world! It covers about 70% of the earth

-includes five main oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern

2. Fresh water biome

-include lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams

- Plants and algae are important to freshwater biomes