KDE Santa Barbara

(k). Characteristics of the Earth's Terrestrial Biomes KDE Santa Barbara 9(k) Characteristics of the Earth's Terrestrial Biomes Introduction Many places on Earth share similar climatic conditions despite being found in geographically different areas. As a result of natural selection, comparable ecosystems have developed in these separated areas. Scientists call these major ecosystem types biomes. The geographical distribution (and productivity) of the various biomes is controlled primarily by the climatic variables precipitation and temperature. Most of the classified biomes are identified by the dominant plants found in their communities. The diversity of animal life and subdominant plant forms characteristic of each biome is generally controlled by abiotic environmental conditions and the productivity of the dominant vegetation. Adaptation and niche specialization are nicely demonstrated in the biome concept. Arctic and Alpine Tundra Tundra means marshy plain. Within this biome, temperature, precipitation, and evaporation all tend to be at a minimum. Boreal Coniferous Forest Temperate Deciduous Forest Grassland

biome MBGnet The world's biomes Online exhibits The world's biomes Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell 1996). The importance of biomes cannot be overestimated. Biomes have changed and moved many times during the history of life on Earth. Here we group biomes into six major types: Conservation and preservation of biomes Because we share the world with many other species of plants and animals, we must consider the consequences of our actions. Forests are important as they are home to the most diverse biotic communties in the world. Logging has depleted many old-growth temperate forests. Tropical forests have fallen victim to timber exploitation, slash and burn farming, and clearfelling for industrial use or cattle ranching, particularly in Latin America. The freshwater and marine biomes are probably the most important of all the biomes.

The world's biomes Biomes A biome is a large, distinctive complex of plant communities created and maintained by climate. How many biomes are there? A study published in 1999 concluded that there are 150 different "ecoregions" in North America alone. A number of climatic factors interact in the creation and maintenance of a biome. whether it ever freezes; length of the growing season If there is ample rainfall, we find 4 characteristic biomes as we proceed from the tropics (high temperatures) to the extreme latitudes (low temperatures). Tropical Rain Forest In the Western Hemisphere, the tropical rain forest reaches its fullest development in the jungles of Central and South America. The tropical rain forest exceeds all the other biomes in the diversity of its animals as well as plants. The closest thing to a tropical rain forest in the continental United States are the little wooded "islands" found scattered through the Everglades in the southern tip of Florida. Temperate Deciduous Forest Taiga Tundra Grasslands

Biomes