TERRESTRIAL

BIOMES
HOW DO YOU
FEEL TODAY?
SEATWORK: TRUE OR FALSE
1. Terrestrial biomes are ecosystems with distinctive communities of life and is found in water.
2. Different biomes exist because of the variations of light, temperature, and moisture across the biosphere.
3. Light is the main factor that determine the dominant plants in each location.
4. The vegetation influences which other organisms can live in each biomes.
5. Other biotic factors are wind, rocks and soil, and periodic disturbances.
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
 Terrestrial biomes are ecosystems with distinctive communities of life and is found in land.
 Different biomes exist because of the variations of light, temperature, and moisture across the
biosphere.
 Temperature and moisture are the main factors that determine the dominant plants in each location.
 The vegetation then influences which other organisms can live in each area.
 Other abiotic factors are wind, rocks and soil, and periodic disturbances.
 BIOMES FORMED WHEN SUBJECTED TO
DIFFERENT PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURE
GROUP ACTIVITY:
Look at the pictures of these different terrestrial biomes.
Describe what the environment physically looks like.
 Group 1 – Polar Ice
 Group 2 – Tundra
 Group 3 – Taiga
 Group 4 – Temperate Rainforest
 Group 5 – Temperate Deciduous Forest
 Group 6 – Temperate Grassland
 Group 7 – Chaparral
 Group 8 – Desert
 Group 9 – Tropical Savanna
Image 5. Taiga
Image 7. Temperate Grassland
POLAR ICE
 coldest place of terrestrial biomes
 known for barren landscapes, glaciers, and huge ice
sheets
 has monthly temperature of below 0°C that allows
snow and ice to accumulate despite low precipitation
levels
 polar areas are covered in ice with some ice-free
areas called Nunataks
 extremely cold, dry, and windy
 the primary producers are the marine algae called
phytoplankton
TUNDRA

 known for its extreme coldness and dryness

 dryness is caused by extremely low precipitation,
even less precipitation than deserts
 still a wet place because water evaporates slowly
 its ground remains frozen year-round, that is why
there is a layer of permanently frozen ground
below the surface, called permafrost
 plants that grow here are small and have short
growing seasons
 animals have thick fur
TAIGA
 also called northern coniferous forest or boreal forest
 the largest terrestrial biome on Earth
 found in cool high elevations in more temperate
latitudes
 characterized by long, cold winters and short, wet
summers that are occasionally warm
 there may be possible precipitation and it is usually in
a form of snow
 the soil is usually thin, nutrient-poor, and acidic but
Image 5.
Taiga evergreen trees are abundant here
 only some mammals and birds stay year-round,
because it is cold and relatively dry here
TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
 also called temperate coniferous forest
 has mild winters, cool summers, and abundant
rain
 common in coastal areas that have mild winters
and heavy rain
 life includes large evergreens, amphibians,
mammals, and fish
TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST
 occurs where there is sufficient moisture to
support the growth of large trees
 has warm summers, cool winters, consistent
rainfall
 while precipitation is fairly distributed throughout
the year, ground water can be temporarily
unavailable if the soil freezes on very cold winter
days
 characterized by broad- leaf deciduous trees
 have a distinct annual rhythm in which trees drop
leaves and become dormant in winter, then
produce new leaves in spring
TEMPERATE GRASSLAND
 shares some of the characteristics of tropical savanna,
but they are found in regions of relatively cold winter
temperatures
 has hot summers, cold winters, and is moderately moist
 the key to the persistence of all grasslands is seasonal
drought, occasional fires, and grazing by large
mammals, all of which prevent woody shrubs from
Image 7. Temperate Grassland
invading and becoming established
 the soils tend to be deep and among the most fertile in
the world, one of the reasons is grasslands have an
abundant amount of mulch, or decaying plant material
that is deposited each year
CHAPARRAL
 may be called Mediterranean shrubland
 coastal areas that are often characterized by mild,
rainy winters and long, hot, dry summers are
dominated by this biome
 has hot and dry summers, and cool and moist
winters
 there is a combination of environmental stresses
in chaparral: aridity, short growing season, low-
nutrient soil, and frequent fires
 plants are resistant to fire and drought thrive;
some shrubs have strands of dense, spiny shrubs
with tough evergreen
DESERT  driest of all terrestrial biomes

 characterized by low and unpredictable precipitation

 always dry

 might be cool or hot

 these belts are particularly dry because of global air

circulation patterns, which result from descending
dry air absorbing available moisture
 its plants store water and most animals are active at
night
TROPICAL SAVANNA

 a grassland with scattered individual trees

 it is warm year- round and has three distinct seasons: (1)

cool and dry, (2) hot and dry, (3) warm and wet

 most savanna soils are low in nutrients, due in part to their

porosity

 it is relatively simple in physical structure but often rich in

number of species

 animals are most prominent in rainy seasons and there are

few trees or shrubs
REFERENCE:

 Introduction to ecology. Retrieved from http://schleyscience.weebly.com McGraw-Hill

Education. (2016). Biology: The essentials.
 Caballero, R. and Ortha P. (2020) People and Earth’s Ecosystem Module
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:
Group 1 – People and Population: Human Evolution
1. Which of the anatomical changes in human do you find most compelling?
2. Why do you think people find it difficult to embrace the idea of human evolution
despite the overwhelming evidence for it?
3. What are the difficulties in surviving that early human encountered, and how are
they comparable to or different from those of today?
Group 2 – People and Population: Population
4. Why is the population of the Philippines, and especially Metro Manila, so dense?
What is the relationship between this and science?
5. Do you think humanity will eventually go extinct? For what reason?
6. When human populations approach Earth's carrying capacity, what kind of future
do you envision?
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:

Group 3 – People and Agriculture: Agriculture

1. To maintain food production and support life, agriculture is vital. It is also
indisputable that it has had a significant effect on the environment. How would you
suggest striking a balance between the need for food for humans and
environmental protection?
2. Which of the following effects on the environment applies to the Philippines the
most?
3. How would you suggest assisting farmers in the Philippines?
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:

Group 4 – People and Agriculture: Medicinal Plants

1. Why is it that some people find it simpler to accept ridiculous and exaggerated
claims of wellness than to follow medical advice?
2. How can you defend yourself against false promises that herbal remedies can
"cure all"?
Group 5 – People and Forests
3. What is the importance of biodiversity?
4. What is the most obvious issue facing the Philippine forests?
5. How would you propose bridging the gap between local needs and biodiversity
protection?
GROUP ASSIGNMENT:

Group 6 – People and Grassland & Scrub

1. Discuss how human activity affects grassland biomes.
2. Give concrete examples from the local or Philippine context.
ASYNCHRONOUS TASK:

Based on your assigned report (terrestrial biome), reflect on the following:

1. What are the general characteristics of plants suitable to live in the particular biome
assigned to your group?
2. What are the general characteristics of animals suitable to live in the particular biome
assigned to your group?
3. What are the possible threats in the particular biome assigned to your group?
4. What are the possible mitigation measures or solutions to these threats?
5. How do you appreciate the role of humans in the preservation of these biomes?