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In climates that have less rainfall, forest biomes are replaced by Objectives
savanna, grassland, and chaparral biomes. As less rain falls in
왘 Describe the difference between
these biomes, they change into desert and tundra biomes. As pre- tropical and temperate grasslands.
cipitation decreases in an area, the diversity of the species in the
왘 Describe the climate in a chaparral
area also decreases. But while the number of different species is biome.
often smaller in areas that have less precipitation, the number of 왘 Describe two desert animals and
individuals of each species present may be very large. the adaptations that help them
survive.
왘 Describe one threat to the tundra
Savannas biome.
Parts of Africa, western India, northern Australia, and some parts
of South America are covered by grassland called savanna. Key Terms
Savannas are located in tropical and subtropical areas near the
savanna
equator and between tropical rain forest and desert biomes.
temperate grassland
Because savannas are full of grasses, scattered trees, and shrubs, chaparral
savannas contain a large variety of grazing animals and the preda- desert
tors that hunt them. As shown in Figure 16, savannas receive lit- tundra
tle precipitation throughout the year. Savannas have a wet season permafrost
and a dry season. Many animals of the savanna are active only
during the wet season. Grass fires sweep across the savanna dur-
ing the dry season and help restore nutrients to the soil.
Plants of the Savanna Because most of the rain falls during
the wet season, plants must be able to survive prolonged pe-
riods without water. Therefore, some trees and grasses have
Figure 16 왘 Savannas have periods
large horizontal root systems by which they obtain water dur-
of heavy rainfall followed by periods
ing the dry season. These root systems also enable plants to of drought.
quickly grow again after a fire. The coarse savanna grasses
Tropical Savanna
have vertical leaves that expose less of their surface area to the (Nairobi, Kenya)
hot sun to further help the grasses conserve water. Some trees 50 40
of the savanna also lose their leaves during the dry season to
45 30
conserve water. Trees and shrubs often have thorns or sharp
leaves that keep hungry herbivores away. 40 20
35 10
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (˚C)
30 0
25 –10
20 –20
15 –30
10 –40
5 –50
0 –60
J F MAM J J A S OND
Months
Geofact
Deep Soil Gravel or sand becomes
fertile soil when decomposers
slowly break down organic matter
such as dead leaves. Decomposers Animals of the Savanna Grazing herbivores such as the elephants
work most effectively in hot, wet shown in Figure 17, have adopted a migratory way of life. They
weather. As a result, the world’s follow the rains to areas of newly sprouted grass and watering
deepest soil is in grasslands. In
grassland biomes, winters are cold
holes. Some predators follow and stalk the migratory animals for
and summers are dry, which causes food. Many savanna animals give birth only during the rainy sea-
leaves to break down slowly. So, son, when food is most abundant and the young are more likely to
organic matter builds up over time. survive. Also, some species of herbivores reduce competition for
Some North American prairies had food by eating vegetation at different heights than other species do.
more than 2 m of topsoil when the For example, small gazelles graze on grasses, black rhinos browse
first farmers arrived.
on shrubs, and giraffes feed on tree leaves.
Temperate Grasslands
A temperate grassland is a biome that is dominated by grasses
Figure 18 왘 Temperate grasslands and that has very few trees. Most temperate grasslands have hot
are characterized by small amounts summers and cold winters. The amount of rainfall that a temper-
of rainfall, periodic droughts, and
ate grassland receives is moderate compared to the amount a for-
high temperatures in the summer.
est receives. On average, a temperate grassland can receive 50 to
Temperate Grassland 88 cm of precipitation per year, as shown in Figure 18. Although
(Wichita, Kansas)
temperate grasslands may seem harsh and dry, they have the most
50 40
fertile soil of any biome. So, many grassland biomes have been
45 30 replaced with crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Few natu-
40 20 ral temperate grasslands remain because many have been replaced
by farms and grazing areas.
35 10
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (˚C)
30 0
25 –10
20 –20
15 –30
10 –40
5 –50
0 –60
J F MAM J J A S OND
Months
sun, are near the oceans, and a have a mild climate year-round, 40 20
humans tend to develop land for commercial and residential use.
35 10
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (˚C)
30 0
25 –10
20 –20
15 –30
10 –40
5 –50
0 –60
J F MAM J J A S OND
Months
45 30
40 20
35 10
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (˚C)
30 0
25 –10
20 –20
15 –30
10 –40 Deserts
5 –50 When some people think of a desert, they think of the hot sand
that surrounds the Egyptian pyramids. Other people picture the
0 –60
J F MAM J J A S OND Sonoran Desert and its mighty saguaro cactuses, or the magnificent
Months rock formations of Monument Valley in Arizona and Utah. Many
kinds of deserts are located throughout the world, but one charac-
Figure 25 왘 Deserts are the driest
places on Earth. They typically
teristic that they share is that they are the driest places on Earth.
receive less than 25 cm of precipita- Deserts are areas that receive less than 25 cm of precipitation
tion a year. a year and have little or no vegetation. Deserts, as shown in Figure
25, also have extreme temperatures. Hot deserts, such as Arizona’s
Sonoran Desert and the Sahara in Africa, are closer to the equator
than are cold deserts, such as the Gobi Desert in China and the
Great Basin of the western United States. Deserts are often located
in areas near large mountain ranges because mountains can block
the passage of moisture-filled clouds, which limits precipitation.
45 30
40 20
35 10
Precipitation (cm)
Temperature (˚C)
30 0
25 –10
20 –20
15 –30
10 –40 Tundra
5 –50 Tundra is a biome that is dominated by grasses, lichens, and
herbs and that is located primarily north of the Arctic Circle, as
0 –60
J F MAM J J A S OND shown in Figure 27. The tundra soil supports mostly tough
Months grasses and shrubs. Summers are short in the tundra, so only the
top few centimeters of soil thaw. Plants flower in the summer, as
Figure 27 왘 The precipitation that
the tundra biome receives remains shown in Figure 28. Underneath the topsoil is a layer of soil
frozen much of the year. called permafrost, which is permanently frozen soil. The tundra
becomes dotted with bogs and swamps when the top layer of soil
thaws. In summer, these wet areas are ideal breeding grounds for
huge numbers of swarming insects, such as mosquitoes and
blackflies, and for the many birds that feed on the insects.
Vegetation of the Tundra Mosses and lichens, which can grow
without soil, cover vast areas of rocks in the tundra. The soil is
thin, so plants have wide, shallow roots to help anchor them
against the icy winds. Most flowering plants of the tundra, such as
campion and gentian, are short. Growing close to the ground keeps
the plants out of the wind and helps them absorb heat from the
sunlit soil. Woody plants and perennials such as willow and juniper
have evolved dwarf forms and grow flat or grow along the ground.
079_P
FPO
SECTION 3 Review
1. Describe two desert animals and the adaptations CRITICAL THINKING
that help them survive. 5. Making Inferences Former grasslands are among
2. Describe how tropical grasslands differ from temper- the most productive farming regions. Read the
ate grasslands. description of temperate grasslands in this section
and explain why this statement is true. READING SKILLS
3. Compare the plants that live in deserts with the
plants that live in the tundra biome. 6. Analyzing Relationships Explain why migratory
animals such as elephants, giraffes, and bison usually
4. Describe one threat to the tundra biome. live in temperate grasslands.
2 Forest Biomes tropical rain forest, 왘 The major forest biomes include tropical rain
146 forests, temperate rain forests, temperate decid-
emergent layer, 148 uous forests, and taiga.
canopy, 148
왘 Tropical rain forests receive heavy rains and
epiphyte, 148
high temperatures throughout the year. They
understory, 148
receive about 200 to 450 cm of rainfall a year.
temperate rain
forest, 151 They are the most diverse of all biomes.
temperate deciduous 왘 Temperate deciduous forests experience
forest, 152 seasonal variations in temperature and precipi-
taiga, 153 tation. They receive 75 to 125 cm of precipi-
tation a year.
왘 Forest biomes are threatened by deforesta-
tion through logging, ranching, and farming.
3 Grassland, Desert, and savanna, 155 왘 Savannas are located north and south of
Tundra Biomes temperate grassland, tropical rain forests and have distinct wet sea-
156 sons. Savannas receive 90 to 150 cm of precipi-
chaparral, 158 tation a year.
desert, 160
왘 Temperate grasslands get too little rainfall to
tundra, 162
support trees. Grasslands are dominated mostly
permafrost, 162
by different types of grasses and flowering
plants. Shortgrass prairies receive about 25 cm
of precipitation a year.
왘 Deserts are the driest biomes on Earth.
Deserts receive less than 25 cm of precipitation
a year.
왘 Plants and animals found in each biome
adapt to the environment in which they live.
164 Chapter 6 Highlights
Copyright© by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
6
CHAPTER
Review
Using Key Terms 12. Migration of animals in the savanna is
mostly a response to
Use each of the following terms in a separate a. predation.
sentence. b. altitude.
1. biome c. rainfall.
2. climate d. temperature.
3. epiphyte 13. Spadefoot toads survive the dry conditions
of the desert by
4. tundra a. migrating to seasonal watering holes.
5. permafrost b. finding underground springs.
For each pair of terms, explain how the meanings c. burying themselves in the ground.
of the terms differ. d. drinking cactus juice.
6. understory and canopy 14. The tundra is most suitable to an animal
that
7. latitude and altitude
a. requires nesting sites in tall trees.
8. chaparral and desert b. is coldblooded.
9. tropical rain forest and temperate deciduous c. has a green outer skin for camouflage.
forest d. can migrate hundreds of kilometers each
summer.
15. A biome that has a large amount of rainfall,
STUDY TIP high temperature, and poor soil is a
Concept Maps Remembering words and under- a. temperate woodland.
standing concepts are easier when information is b. temperate rain forest.
organized in a way that you recognize. For exam- c. tropical rain forest.
ple, you can use key terms and key concepts to d. savanna.
create a concept map that links them together in 16. The two main factors that determine where
a pattern you will understand and remember. organisms live are
a. soil type and precipitation.
b. temperature and precipitation.
Understanding Key Ideas c. altitude and precipitation.
10. Approximately what percentage of the Earth’s d. temperature and latitude.
species do tropical rain forests contain? 17. Which of the following biomes contains
a. 7 percent large trees?
b. 20 percent a. savanna
c. 40 percent b. temperate rain forest
d. 50 percent c. chaparral
11. Animal species of the tropical rain forest d. desert
a. compete more for available resources than 18. The most common types of plants in the
species native to other biomes do. taiga biome are
b. have specialized adaptations to avoid com- a. deciduous trees.
petition. b. short shrubs.
c. have adaptations to cope with extreme c. coniferous trees.
variations in climate. d. grasses.
d. are never camouflaged.
19. Unlike the jungles you see in movies, the 27. Use the following terms to create a concept
floor of an undisturbed tropical rain forest map: threats to an ecosystem, erosion, over-
usually lacks much vegetation. Explain why grazing, logging, grasslands, rain forests,
it lacks vegetation. tundra, deserts, oil extraction, and irrigation.
20. What is the relationship between root sys-
tems and erosion in a grassland ecosystem? Critical Thinking
21. How might a mountain affect where particu- 28. Comparing Processes American prairies and
lar types of biomes are located? Asian steppes contain different plant species
22. Well-preserved mammoths have been found but are dominated by grasses. Write a short
buried in the tundra. Explain why the tundra paragraph that explains why the two grass-
preserves animal remains well. lands contain different species but the same
23. How does deforestation contribute to a types of plants. WRITING SKILLS
change in climate and increase the chance of 29. Classifying Information Read the descrip-
floods in a biome? tion of tropical rain forests in this chapter,
and list two factors that are responsible for
the biodiversity of this biome. Describe two
Interpreting Graphics reasons for the decline of tropical rain
Use the diagram below to answer questions forests, and discuss actions that some coun-
24–26. tries have taken to protect tropical rain
24. Why are tall trees found in taiga biomes but forests. READING SKILLS
not in tundra biomes? 30. Analyzing Relationships If you took a popu-
25. As moisture decreases, what happens to the lation of squirrels from the southeastern
amount of vegetation in an area? United States and introduced them into a
Central American rain forest, they would
26. What does the diagram tell you about the probably not survive. Why do you think the
temperature of and precipitation in temper- squirrels would not survive even though they
ate grasslands? are naturally adapted to life in a forest?
31. Making Inferences How might prairie fires
set from natural and human causes have
ld
Co
Subarctic
t
ra
Cross-Disciplinary Connection
pe
m
Taiga
te
Temperate
e
Temperate forest Temperate grassland Desert of plants and animals native to each biome.
Tropical
t
Portfolio Project
Ho
45 30
40 20
Precipitation (cm)
35 10
Temperature (˚C)
15 –30
10 –40
5 –50
0 –60
J F M A M J J A S O N D
Months
Analysis
1. Analyzing Data Compare your local climatogram to the
biome climatograms shown in this chapter. Which biome has
a climatogram most similar to your climatogram?
2. Analyzing Results Consider your latitude, topographical
findings, and observations of local plants and animals.
Combine this information with your climatogram, and deter-
mine which biome best matches the area in which you live.
Conclusions
3. Evaluating Results Does your local climatogram match any of
the seven major terrestrial climatograms shown in the chapter?
Explain how any differences between your local biome and the
biome in the chapter that your local biome most clearly matches
might influence the adaptations of local animals and plants.
4. Applying Conclusions Organisms create features of the
biome in which they live. What features of your biome are
created by the organisms that live there?
왘 Biomes These two cities are located
Extension in two different biomes. Stamford,
Vermont (top) is located in a temper-
1. Classifying Information Name three adaptations you ate deciduous forest, and Tucson,
observed in the plants that grow naturally in your area. Arizona (bottom) is located in a desert.
Name at least three adaptations you observed in local ani-
mals. Explain in detail how each of these adaptations
meets the conditions of your biome.
Open the Refuge could be seriously affected. Those drilling in the ANWR for economic
who favor exploration think eco- reasons. The oil industry supports
Advocates of oil exploration in the
nomic security should take priority two-thirds of Alaska’s economy
ANWR believe that the current U.S.
over environmental concerns. and employs 1 percent of the popu-
demand for oil cannot be met by
Advocates of oil exploration in lation. If the refuge were open for
energy conservation alone. Advo-
the refuge also stress that much of drilling, oil companies would profit
cates insist that the United States
the oil in the Prudhoe Bay area has and more jobs might be available
must utilize every domestic source
already been extracted and that oil for the people of Alaska.
of oil available, including the
production will soon begin to Government studies indicate a
ANWR. The advocates also point
decline. The industrial complex that 19 to 46 percent chance of finding
out that the United States depends
is already in place for the produc- oil in the refuge, which is a percent-
too much on oil from other coun-
tion of oil in Prudhoe Bay could be age that the oil industry believes
tries that control its price and avail-
used for the production of oil from justifies exploration. People who
ability. A significant amount of our
the nearby refuge. New construc- favor exploration also suggest that
oil is imported from the Middle
tion in the area would be limited. oil companies can now extract oil
East, a politically unstable area. If
Because of the decline of oil in with less environmental damage
those countries restrict sales of oil
Prudhoe Bay, advocates support oil than was caused in Prudhoe Bay.
to the United States, our economy
People who oppose the protec-
왘 Exploration for oil would occur in the northern coastal plain of the Arctic
tion of the wildlife refuge believe the
National Wildlife Refuge. economic benefits of oil exploration
in this area outweigh any remaining
risks of environmental damage.