Distribution and Characteristic of Biomes (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Location

• Low latitudes

• Within the Tropics 23.5^° north and south of the equator

• Amazon in South America, New Guinea, Southeast Asia, Zaire Basin

• 5° - 30^° north and south of the equator

• India, Central America, Southeast Asia

Annual Precipitation

• Over 2000mm

• Between 700 - 2000mm 

Temperature Range

• 26-28^°C

• 30-45^°C in summer and 15-30^°C in winter

Seasons

• No seasons - hot and wet all year round

• Three seasons 

  • Cool, dry

  • Hot, dry

  • Rainy season

Growing Season

• All year round

• During the rainy season and cool, dry season

Soils

• Infertile due to leaching and rapid uptake of nutrients by plants

Biodiversity

• about 50% of the world's plant and animal species live in the rainforest biome

• Four layers of vegetation: mahogany, teak trees, lianas, orchids

• Toucans, jaguars, frogs, snakes

• High levels of biodiversity

• Hardwood, deciduous trees, teak, mahogany, lianas and orchids

• Monkeys, parrots, jaguars, panthers, snakes, frogs

Location

• Between 40^°-60^° north and south of the equator

• Western Europe, North-east USA, Eastern Asia

• Between 50^°-60^° north and south of the equator

• Canada, Russia, Scandinavia

Annual Precipitation

• 750-1500mm

• 300-900mm

Temperature Range

•  Over 0^°C in winter and summer between 20^°C-25^°C

• -30^°C in winter and up to 20^°C in summer

Seasons

• Four seasons of equal length

• Two main seasons - winter and summer

Growing Season

• 6-8 months

• 2-3 months

Soils

• Fertile soils

• Nutrient rich due to decomposition of organic matter over autumn and winter

• Not very fertile often acidic and contains permafrost

• Shallow soil with a thick litter layer due to slow decomposition

Biodiversity

• Wide range of animals and plants

• Deciduous trees: beech, oak, birch

• Deer, rabbits, squirrels, bears

• Less biodiverse than temperate forests

• Coniferous trees 

• Squirrels, bears, reindeer, wolves

Location

• North and south of the tropical and monsoon forest biomes 5^°-30^° north and south of the equator

• Central Africa - Tanzania, Kenya

• The Velds of South Africa, the Pampas of Argentina, and Steppes of Russia and the plains of the USA

• 40^°-60^° north and south of the equator

Annual Precipitation

• 800-900mm

• 250-750mm

Temperature Range

• 15^°C to 35^°C

• -40^°C to 40^°C

Seasons

• Wet and dry season

• Four seasons

Growing Season

• During the wet season (4-5 months)

• During the summer (dependent on temperature)

Soils

• Free draining with a thin layer of humus

• Not very fertile most nutrients near the surface

• Fertile soil

Biodiversity

• Wide range of plant and animal species 

• Grasses, baobab and acacia trees

• Zebras, elephants, giraffes

• Greatest diversity of hoofed animals

• Large numbers of plant and animal species

• Grasses, sunflowers

• Bison, antelopes, rabbits

• Grasses and trees 

Location

• 15^° - 30^° north and south of the equator

• North Africa - Sahara, Southern Africa - Kalahari and Namib, Australia. Middle East

Annual Precipitation

• Below 250mm

Temperature Range

• Daytime temperatures can reach 50^°C but average around 25^°C

• Night time temperatures below 0^°C

Seasons

• Summer and winter

Growing Season

• All year round

Soils

• Infertile 

Biodiversity

• Low diversity

• Cacti, yucca

• Spiders, scorpions, camels, meerkats

Location

• North of the Arctic Circle and Antarctica

Annual Precipitation

• Less than 250mm

Temperature Range

• Below 0^°C for 6-10 months 

Seasons

• Winter and summer

Growing Season

• 6-10 weeks

Soils

• Thin infertile soil

• Permafrost

Biodiversity

• Low biodiversity

• Arctic fox, polar bears, snowy owls. Arctic wolves, Arctic hares, caribou

• Small grasses, mosses, lichen