5.4.13: Chapter Summary

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Kammy Algiers
Yuba College, College of the Redwoods, & Ventura College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

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Plants are main components of terrestrial ecosystems as they are primary producers. Almost all terrestrial life if based on the types of plants found in the area. Biomes are large-scale environments that are distinguished by characteristic vegetation and climate. Since a biome is defined by climate, the same biome can occur in geographically distinct areas with similar climates. In terrestrial biomes, temperature and precipitation determine the type of biome. There are ten major terrestrial biomes: tropical rainforests, deciduous rainforests, savannas, deserts, Mediterranean (or chaparral), temperate grasslands (or prairie), temperate deciduous forests, temperate rainforests, boreal (or coniferous) forests, and Arctic tundra. Some biomes, such as temperate grasslands and temperate forests, have distinct seasons, with cold weather and hot weather alternating throughout the year. In warm, moist biomes, such as the tropical rainforest, net primary productivity is high, as warm temperatures, abundant water, and a year-round growing season fuel plant growth and supply energy for high diversity throughout the food web. Other biomes, such as deserts and tundras, have low primary productivity due to extreme temperatures and a shortage of available water.

After completing this chapter, you should be able to

Identify the two major abiotic factors that determine terrestrial biomes.
The Identify the role of temperature and precipitation play on distribution of biomes.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of tropical rainforests & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of tropical deciduous rainforests & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of savannas & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of deserts & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of Mediterranean (chaparral) & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of temperate grasslands (prairie) & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of temperate deciduous forests & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of temperate rainforests & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of boreal (coniferous) forests & plant adaptations of the biome.
Recognize distinguishing characteristics of Arctic tundra & plant adaptations of the biome.

Contributors and Attributions

Curated and authored by Kammy Algiers and Melissa Ha using 43.3 Terrestrial Biomes - from Biology2e by OpenStax (licensed CC-BY)