Environmental Chapter 6

Temperate Grassland (prairie)

Animals are adapted to deal with lack of cover. Some survive by burrowing. Others survive by being huge.

Boreal Forest Taiga

Animals feed, breed, and care for young mostly during short warm season Year-round residents tend to have thick insulation and small extremities that maintain heat. Some animals change color. They grow white coats for the snowy season.

Desert

Animals get most of their water from the food they eat, and they tend to be nocturnal (active at night). Some have concentrated urine. Mammals have exaggerated appendages to help regulate body temperature.

Temperate Forest

Animals may migrate or hibernate Others store food to survive cold conditions. camouflage helps animals that are exposed during the winter due to lack of foliage survive.

Temperate Rainforest

Animals that require moisture, such as amphibians, thrive here. Squirrels, deer, elk and birds have a varied diet which enables them to eat whatever food is available.

Temperate Rainforest

Characterized by tall evergreen trees, such as cedars and hemlocks, that don't lose leaves annually; many are conifers (produce seed-bearing cones) Forest floor is shaded, damp, covered in moss .

Tropical Rainforest

Epiphytes - plants that grow on other plants instead of the soil. Ex. Orchids Tall trees use buttresses (large above ground roots) for support Because there is not much wind to assist with pollination, plants have adapted bright, colorful flowers to attract pollinators.

Tundra

Extremely cold, dark winters; relatively sunny and cool summers Found at very high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere

Savanna

Grasses interspersed with groups of trees Tree growth limited by frequent winds and strong fires

Tundra

Harsh winds, nutrient-poor soil, and freezing temperatures limit plant growth; no tall trees; mosses and lichens common Characterized by permafrost (underground soil that is frozen year-round)

Chaparral mediteranean

Highly seasonal conditions with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers Prolonged hot, dry periods; droughts and fires common Soil is thin and not rich in nutrients

Boreal Forest Taiga

Long, cold winters; short, cool summers Nutrient-poor, slightly acidic soils

Boreal Forest Taiga

Low species diversity Coniferous trees with waxy needles and conical shape, adapted to harsh, snowy conditions are common.

Tundra

Low, scrubby vegetation and ground-hugging lichens & mosses live here. Birds and caribou migrate to the tundra during the mild summer to feed on insects and lichens Only a few species live here year-round (including musk oxen and polar bears).

Chaparral

Many animals burrow . Many are nocturnal to avoid heat. Many have oversize appendages.

Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

Moderate seasonal precipitation and fairly extreme seasonal temperatures; droughts and fires common Rich, fertile soil

Tropical Dry Forest

Most trees are deciduous - they lose their leaves and cease photosynthesis part of the year. This helps reduce water loss. Plants and animals exhibit adaptations (e.g. waxy leaf coating, deep roots, estivation, migration) that enable them to survive the dry season. Estivation - animals enter a deep, sleeplike period of dormancy.

Temperate Grassland (Prairie)

Not enough precipitation to support large trees Grasses, which grow from their base, thrive despite droughts, fires, animals grazing. Seeds are dispersed by the strong winds Soil tends to be rich in nutrients; most of world's grasslands have been converted to farmland.

Savanna

Plants are adapted to dry conditions; tend to be deciduous with deep roots, thick bark, and waxy coatings on leaves. Elephants drink 30-50 gallons of water a day and so they must dig for water with their tusks. Many animals migrate to find water, or burrow when water is scarce.

Chaparral

Plants are drought-resistant; many have thick, waxy hairs or leaves with leaves that trap moisture; succulents are common. Plants may have thick bark and deep roots to resist fire. Some plants require fire to germinate. Some chaparral plants contain oily compounds that facilitate the spread of fire.

Temperate Forest

Plants tend to be broad-leafed and deciduous. Soil is enriched with nutrients from annual leaf drop.

Desert

Plants tend to have thick, leathery leaves Plants store water in their tissues (succulents) Ex. Aloe Some have shallow, spread out roots to gather water. Some have deep tap roots (up to 164 ft) Tough spines (modified leaves) discourage predators from eating them

Temperate (Deciduous) Forest

Precipitation evenly spread throughout the year Varied temperatures (hot summers, cold winters)

Savanna

Receives less precipitation than tropical dry forests, but more than deserts; usually has a distinct rainy season

Desert

Receives less than 25 cm (9.8 in.) of precipitation per year (driest biome) Temperatures vary widely from day to night.

Tropical Rainforest

Supports more animal species than any other biome; animals tend to be highly specialized.

Tropical Rainforest

The tallest trees pop through the canopy and make up the Emergent Layer Tall trees form a dense layer called the canopy which keeps the forest warm and damp. Short trees and plants make up the understory and must compete for light. Large, flat leaves are a common adaptation to increase sunlight intake.

Tropical Dry Forest

Warm year-round, but rainfall is highly seasonal with a rainy & dry season.

Temperate Rainforest

Year-round moderate temperatures and heavy rainfall. Largest extent found in Pacific Northwest of the U.S.

Tropical Rain forest

Year-round warm temperatures and at least 2 m precipitation a year Near the equator, so the days are almost always 12 hrs. in length. Soil is generally nutrient poor.