Distribution and Characteristics of Global Ecosystems:
Biome = a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major habitat
○ Suited to the climate of the locality it is placed
○ Can be spread across continents → will be differences in the species of plant
■ eg/ tropical rainforests in Africa are not the same as in Asia
● UK’s biome = temperate deciduous forest
○ Temperate = reasonably stable climate , not much variation
○ Deciduous = trees with broad leaves that are shed in the autumn/winter
■ Farming has cleared much of the forest in the UK
● Climate in an area determines what type of ecosystem forms there
Tropical rainforests:
→ Tropical rainforest = very hot and wet biome
● Found around the equator (Asia, Africa and
South America)
○ Is hot and wet all year round
○ Sun’s rays are concentrated here →
heats moist air which rises and leads
to heavy rainfall
■ Perfect conditions for
evergreen rainforest
● Area of lush forest with dense canopies of
vegetation – forms distinct layers
Deserts:
→ Deserts = very hot and dry biome
● Found close to Tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn (30° north and south of equator)
● Little rainfall
● Hot during day, cold at night
● Shrubs and cacti are sparsely distributed
● Air that rises over the equator heads towards
the poles
Tropical grasslands:
→ Tropical grasslands = biome located between
tropical rainforests and deserts
● Located in Africa, Arabia and Australia
● Consists mainly of grassland, scattered shrubs
and trees
● Relatively low rainfall
● Dry conditions for half the year
○ Due to the seasonal movement of the
Hadley cell
Temperate grasslands:
→ Temperate grasslands = biome consisting of rolling
terrains of grasses, flowers and herbs
● Located in the interior of Europe, Asia and
North America
○ Found at high latitudes
● Between 40° and 60° north of equator
● Only in the center of continents away from the
sea
● No trees, just grasses
● Less rainfall
Mediterranean:
→ Mediterranean = biome consisting of evergreen
trees and shrubs that can resist drought
● Only grow on the west coasts of continents
● Between 30° and 40° north and south of
equator
Deciduous forests:
→ Deciduous forest = biome with few extremes of
climate
● Located in the eastern half of North America,
Western Europe and Asia
○ Rain-bearing storms arrive regularly
due to the jet stream
● Has 4 distinct seasons
● Found in mid latitudes
● Weaker sun rays
● Rainfall all year round
Coniferous forests:
→ Coniferous forests = biome with evergreen trees
● Located in Canada, Europe, Asia and US (60°
north of equator)
● Extremely cold due to lack of insolation
● No sunlight for some months of the year due to
earth’s tilt
● Have needle leaves that reduce moisture and
heat loss
Tundra (cold deserts):
→ Tundra = extremely cold biome
● Found at high latitudes
○ Located at the Arctic and Antarctic
circle
● Sun’s rays have little strength → summers are
very short
● Temperatures are below freezing most of the
year
● Hardly any trees
● Only tough short grasses can survive (often in
waterlogged conditions)
● Layer of permanently frozen ground =
permafrost
Polar:
→ Polar = cold, icy and dry biomes
● Found at north and south poles
● Not much grows at all
● Remain dark for several months → growing
season is very short (2 months