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Distribution of Major Biomes

Geography: KS3, topic 15.1.1

Global Distribution of Major Biomes

Biomes are large-scale ecosystems that have distinctive vegetation. Different regions of the world have different climates and different eco-systems. The distribution of the major biomes is described below:

Tundra

Tundra

  • Environments like the Arctic, Alaska, Finland and places close to the North Pole are tundra biomes. In other words, places with high latitudes.
  • They get very long days in summer and very short days in winter (only a few hours of sunlight).
  • Winter temperatures are usually below freezing, it doesn't rain much and the dominant types of vegetation are grasses and moss.
  • Just beneath the soil, there is is a permafrost layer (ground that is always frozen).
Grasslands

Grasslands

  • The grassland biome is usually found between +23.5° and -23.5° latitude.
  • In grasslands, there is a wet and a dry season and as you would expect, the dominant vegetation is grass.
  • There are few trees in grassland.
  • The American Midwest, the Argentinian pampas and South Africa are examples of the grassland biome.
  • Savannah grasslands are found between the tropics.
  • Temperate grasslands are found at higher latitudes.
Forests

Forests

  • Temperate deciduous forests are found in Europe, the USA, and China. Temperate deciduous forests can be identified by their four seasons, with the trees in the deciduous forests shedding their leaves in winter.
  • Rain falls throughout the year.
  • Tropical forests are found near the equator. Tropical rainforests can be found in locations such as the Amazon jungle or the Daintree Rainforest in Australia.
  • They are usually located between the tropics, where it is always hot and the humidity/moisture is high.
  • Of all the forest types, boreal forests are found at the highest latitudes.
Hot desert

Hot desert

  • The hot desert biome is 15o - 35o north and south of the equator.
  • There is almost no rainfall, temperatures are very high in the day and freezing at night.
  • The Sahara desert is an example of this.
  • Cacti and other plants with evolutionary adaptations to deal with the lack of water are the only plants that survive.

Test yourself on Distribution of Major Biomes

  • Which of these ecosystems is found between the tropics (ie. in South Africa or American Midwest)?

  • Latitudes of Biomes

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