module 4 animals

tropical forest features

• Rainforest rainfall is relatively constant

• Tropical forests have low animal diversity

• Tropical forests are found in polar regions

• Tropical forests experience cold temperatures year-round

biome definition

• A major life zone characterised by vegetation type (terrestrial) or physical environment (aquatic)

• A small area with a specific climate and soil type

• A region defined by its animal species

• A type of ecosystem that includes only aquatic life

intertidal zone biome features

• periodically submerged and exposed by the tides

• organisms thrive in constant salinity and temperature

• oxygen and nutrient levels are low

• organisms are unaffected by waves

desert biome features

• occur in bands 30 degrees north and south from the equator

• precipitation is high and consistent throughout the year

• temps remain constant throughout the year

• many animals are diurnal and have high water needs

biosphere definition

• worldwide sum of all ecosystems

• a layer of gases surrounding the planet

• the study of living organisms

• the process of photosynthesis

temperate grassland biome features

• precipitation is highly seasonal

• winters are warm and dry, summers are cold and wet

• grasses and forbs are not drought tolerant

• native mammals include elephants and lions

marine benthic zones biome features

• consists of sea floor

• very high pressure

• invertebrates and fishes

• tropical rainforests

ocean pelagic zone biome features

• constantly mixed by wind-driven currents

• found only in tropical regions

• contains no marine life

• has low oxygen levels

northern coniferous forest biome feature

• spans north america and eurasia

• found only in the southern hemisphere

• has a tropical climate

• is the smallest terrestrial biome on earth

temperate broadleaf forest biome features

• mid latitudes in northern hemisphere, with smaller areas in chile, aussie and NZ

• found primarily in tropical regions

• characterized by low precipitation and dry conditions

• dominated by coniferous trees