6.1 Defining Biomes

Earth’s Major Biomes

• Groups of terrestrial

ecosystems that
share biotic and
abiotic conditions

• 10 primary biomes:

• tropical rain forest
• dry forest savanna
• desert
• temperate rain forest
• temperate forest
• temperate grassland
• chaparral
• boreal forest
• tundra

Did You Know?Taiga is another
name for boreal forest.

Lesson 6.1 Defining Biomes

Climate and Climatographs

• Climate: Average conditions, including

temperature and precipitation, over long
periods of time in a given area

• Weather: Day-to-day conditions in Earth’s

atmosphere

• Climatographs: Diagrams that summarize an

area’s average monthly temperature and
precipitation

• Each biome has a set of characteristic

organisms adapted to its particular climate
conditions.

Lesson 6.1 Defining Biomes

Biomes and Net Primary Production

•Gross primary production: The rate at which primary
producers undergo photosynthesis

•Net primary production: The amount of organic
matter (biomass) that remains after primary producers use some to carry out cellular respiration

•Ecosystems vary in their net primary productivity,
the rate at which primary producers convert energy to biomass.

•Warm, wet biomes generally have higher net primary
productivity than cold, dry biomes.

Lesson 6.1 Defining Biomes