The Biosphere Earth's Diverse Environments C.Hill 10/26/2009

Tropical Rain Forest Rain is abundant Poor soil Large trees Closed canopy

Rain is abundant

Poor soil

Large trees

Closed canopy

Tropical Rain Forest Found in very humid equatorial areas such as: Indonesia Amazon River basin

Found in very humid equatorial areas such as:

Indonesia

Amazon River basin

Savanna Dominated by grasses and scattered trees Frequent fires Rapid growing grass, good food source

Dominated by grasses and scattered trees

Frequent fires

Rapid growing grass, good food source

Savanna tropics in central South America central and South Africa; home to giraffes, zebras, antelopes, baboons, lions, and cheetahs.

tropics in central South America

central and South Africa; home to giraffes, zebras, antelopes, baboons, lions, and cheetahs.

Deserts Sparse rainfall Rapid evaporation No perennial vegetation Scattered shrubs and cacti

Sparse rainfall

Rapid evaporation

No perennial vegetation

Scattered shrubs and cacti

Deserts Desert plants and animals adapt to drought and extreme temperatures Only active during cooler nights Conserve water and seed-eaters such as: ants, birds, rodents, lizards, snakes and hawks

Desert plants and animals adapt to drought and extreme temperatures

Only active during cooler nights

Conserve water and seed-eaters such as: ants, birds, rodents, lizards, snakes and hawks

Chaparral Dense, spiny shrubs Tough evergreen leaves Mild, rainy winters Long, hot, dry summers

Dense, spiny shrubs

Tough evergreen leaves

Mild, rainy winters

Long, hot, dry summers

Chaparral Require occasional fires for long-term maintenance Plants regenerate quickly Animal browsers such as: deer, fruit-eating birds, seed-eating rodents, lizards, and snakes

Require occasional fires for long-term maintenance

Plants regenerate quickly

Animal browsers such as: deer, fruit-eating birds, seed-eating rodents, lizards, and snakes

Temperate Grasslands Mostly treeless Relatively cold winter temperatures Seasonal drought Fires Large mammal grazing

Mostly treeless

Relatively cold winter temperatures

Seasonal drought

Fires

Large mammal grazing

Temperate Grasslands pampas in Argentina and Uruguay steppes in Asia prairies in North America though little remain due to intensive farming and agriculture.

pampas in Argentina and Uruguay

steppes in Asia

prairies in North America though little remain due to intensive farming and agriculture.

Temperate Deciduous Forests Sufficient moisture Large trees Oak, Hickory, Beech, and Maple Experience each season

Sufficient moisture

Large trees

Oak, Hickory, Beech, and Maple

Experience each season

Temperate Deciduous Forests Dominates most of the eastern United States Soil rich in inorganic and organic nutrients Support speices such as: arthropods, birds, small mammals, bobcats, foxes, black bears, and mountain lions

Dominates most of the eastern United States

Soil rich in inorganic and organic nutrients

Support speices such as: arthropods, birds, small mammals, bobcats, foxes, black bears, and mountain lions

Coniferous Forests Cone-bearers Spruce, Pine, Fir, and Hemlock Harsh winters, short summers Thin, acidic soil

Cone-bearers

Spruce, Pine, Fir, and Hemlock

Harsh winters, short summers

Thin, acidic soil

Coniferous Forests Taiga, the most extensive, stretchs across North America and Eurasia reaching the southern border of the artic tundra.

Alpine Tundra Found in Andes Mountains in Ecuador Elevation high enough to produce very cold climate

Found in Andes Mountains in Ecuador

Elevation high enough to produce very cold climate

Arctic Tundra Permafrost, continuously frozen ground Large mammals with good insulation that include: musk oxen and caribou Smaller animals include: lemmings, arctic fox, and snowy owl.

Permafrost, continuously frozen ground

Large mammals with good insulation that include: musk oxen and caribou

Smaller animals include: lemmings, arctic fox, and snowy owl.

Tundra Northernmost limits of plant growth High altitudes Little precipitation Extremely cold winter air temperature Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia

Northernmost limits of plant growth

High altitudes

Little precipitation

Extremely cold winter air temperature

Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Russia

Biomes The major terrestrial ecosystems are called Biomes Cover the land surface of the Earth

The major terrestrial ecosystems are called Biomes

Cover the land surface of the Earth

Biosphere Solar energy Water Temperature Wind Physical and chemical factors that influence life in the biosphere