Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Temperate biomes
The temperate biomes can be split into Mediterranean chaparral,
temperate grasslands, temperate deciduous forest and southern tem-
perate evergreen forest. The Mediterranean biome is more than just
the area around the Mediterranean Sea but can be found in Califor-
nia, west South Africa, central Chile and southern Australia. Medi-
terranean chaparral climates are warm all year but with low rainfall,
summer drought and high evaporation rates. The Mediterranean
biome is characterised by hard, tough-leaved plants, mixed wood-
land and
scrubland adapted to growth in conditions of limited water
availability. Many plants in Mediterranean climates are adapted to
frequent natural fires. Trees have thick, smooth bark and deep roots
from which new growth may occur. Many types of seeds only open
after exposure to fire. Animals have adapted to drought and fire,
often by being able to escape quickly (e.g. kangaroos, elk, goats and
emus) or by burrowing (e.g. bobcats and rodents).
The temperate grasslands are found in extensive areas across
central North America and central Eurasia. As the name suggests,
the vegetation is dominated by grasses, usually perennial (the same
plant surviving for year after year). There tends to be a long dry
season and annual precipitation totals of usually less than 500 milli-
metres. The gently undulating landscapes familiar of regions such as
the prairies and the steppes have often become growing areas for
cereal crops. In fact in North America there are very few areas of
natural tall or short grasslands left. Large herds of herbivores such as
bison were typical but are now reduced through human action.
Leaf surface area tends to be small in temperate grasslands to reduce
transpiration. Lack of a protective upper canopy cover means that
animals have had to develop speed to escape from predators (e.g.
antelope and deer), a large size to reduce the chances of being
attacked (e.g. elk and bison) or burrowing (e.g. voles). Frequent
summer fires means that systems at or below ground level that
allow survival, such as bulbs, rhizomes or tubers are important.
Scrub and trees with suckers have developed in some wetter areas
of temperate grasslands such as the South African veldt, or the
tussock grassland of New Zealand and in Australia.
The temperate deciduous woodland biome is only found in the
northern hemisphere. For similar areas in the southern hemisphere
