Tropical Rainforest. Abiotic Factors Amount of Water, Sunlight, Soil, Precipitation

Transcription

1 World Biomes A biome is an area of land that shares similar temperatures and precipitation. The observation of the temperature and precipitation over a period time make up a biome s climate. Each biome map will be different depending on the type of biomes that the cartographer chooses to include. Maps show crisp boundaries between biomes but most often there is a transitions zone between one biome and another. In addition, some biomes go by multiple names such as Steppe, Chaparral, or Mediterranean. These factors can make this exercise challenging to interpret. Your teachers have selected 9 terrestrial biomes and 2 aquatic biomes that you must know. We have filled out the template in the rainforest biome to show you how we want this exercise completed. Take your time to fill these out. We suggest doing one of these a night over the course of two weeks. Pay particular attention to the climographs, they are the best way for us to determine how much you really understand this content.

2 Tropical Rainforest Highest Biodiversity of any Biome, Highly layered forest structure (Emergent, Canopy, Understory, Floor), Humidity always above 80%, Very poor soils caused by large bacterial populations that decay the humus and excessive rainfall that washes away minerals, Large CO 2 sink, Contain many valuable forest products (Timber, medicine, rubber, food, spices, bauxite) Temperatures average around 80⁰F year round. There are no seasons. It never freezes More than 80 of rainfall per year. At least 3 per month of precipitation. Although rainfall amounts can fluctuate from month to month, there is no dry season. Amount of Water, Sunlight, Soil, Precipitation Note: Constant year round temperature and high rainfall totals Plant leaves are designed to drip or pour to avoid fungal growth. Plants have large shallow expansive root systems to try and collect as many minerals as possible from the poor soil. Presence of many epiphytes, (plants that don t touch ground). Epiphytes take advantage of better sunlight near the top of the canopy than they would receive on the ground Many animals have adapted to live in specific layers of the forest. Example: Sloths are very venerable if they come to the forest floor. They spend their lives up in the canopy and don t come down. Many forest floor animals have larger eyes than there savanna counterparts in order to take advantage of low light conditions Amazon Rainforest South America (Brazil, Peru Columbia), Yucatan Rainforest - Central America (Mexico, Central America) Congo Rainforest Africa (Congo, Cameroon, Gabon), Indonesian Rainforest- Asia/Australia ( Southwest Asia, Indonesia, Philippines, Northern Australia)

3 Temperate Deciduous Forest

4 Coniferous Forest (Taiga) (Boreal) Amount of Water, Sunlight, Soil, Precipitation

5 Tropical Grassland (Savanna)

6 Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

7 Polar Grassland (Tundra)

8 Subtropical Desert (Hot Desert) Example Sonoran Desert

9 Continental Desert (Cold Desert) Example Gobi Desert

10 Ice Cap (Polar Desert)