Biomes Main Points Terrestrial Biomes Tropical Rainforest Tropical Grasslands
Temperate Grasslands Temperate Deciduous Forest Desert Tundra Taiga Tropical Rainforest Characterized by 100 inches of rain a year
Continuous canopy of trees Very humid Dry & wet seasons Tropical Grasslands (Savanna)
Characterized by grasses, scattered trees (ex- acacia) Dry and wet seasons Warm to hot biome Temperate Grasslands (Prairies)
Also characterized by grasses and low growing plants Hot summers & cold winters Depend on wildfires Temperate Deciduous Forest
Characterized by deciduous trees (lose their leaves) and moderate temperatures 4 distinct seasons Plenty of rain Desert Characterized by lack of rain (less than 10 inches a year)
Most are hot, but some are cold Very dry, sandy soil Tundra Characterized by extremely cold temperatures and dry weather
Has permafrost frozen soil Mostly barren, treeless land Long winters, short summers Taiga Characterized by coniferous trees (do not lose leaves), also called evergreens Cold temperatures Aquatic Biomes Freshwater Marine Rivers/streams Lakes/ponds
Wetlands marsh, swamp, bogs, prairie pothole Marine Ocean Coral Reefs Estuaries Rivers/Streams Rivers are large bodies of moving water
Streams are smaller bodies of moving water Lakes/Ponds Lakes are large bodies of water surrounded by land
Ponds are smaller bodies of water surrounded by land Lake/Pond zones Wetlands Marsh has non-woody plants Swamps have wood plants Oceans Large, open salt water Largest marine body Marine Zones Coral Reefs Long range of polyps built up into rocky structures in a marine ecosystem Estuaries Areas where freshwater rivers flow into the ocean
Where fresh and salt water meet & mix Important for ecosystem health