BiomesBiomes

What’s a biome?What’s a biome?

A group of land ecosystems with similar A group of land ecosystems with similar climates (temperature & precipitation) and climates (temperature & precipitation) and organisms.organisms.

Tropical RainforestsTropical Rainforests Physical --- Warm & humid, found near equator, Physical --- Warm & humid, found near equator,

sunlight constant throughout the yearsunlight constant throughout the year Temperature --- Warm, doesn’t vary throughout the Temperature --- Warm, doesn’t vary throughout the

yearyear Precipitation --- A LOT!Precipitation --- A LOT! Plants & Animal --- Contains over 300 different Plants & Animal --- Contains over 300 different

kinds of trees; ferns, orchids, and vines; many bird kinds of trees; ferns, orchids, and vines; many bird species and other animalsspecies and other animals

Interesting Fact --- contains more species of plants Interesting Fact --- contains more species of plants and animals than all other biomes combinedand animals than all other biomes combined

DesertsDeserts

Physical --- Contains sand and dry & hot Physical --- Contains sand and dry & hot conditionsconditions

Temperature --- Extreme temperaturesTemperature --- Extreme temperatures Precipitation --- Less than 25 centimeters/yearPrecipitation --- Less than 25 centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- Cacti; plants adapted to Plants & Animal --- Cacti; plants adapted to

lack of rain; Gila monster, shovel-snouted lack of rain; Gila monster, shovel-snouted lizard; animals adapt to hot conditionslizard; animals adapt to hot conditions

Interesting Fact --- Amount of evaporation is Interesting Fact --- Amount of evaporation is greater than precipitation.greater than precipitation.

GrasslandsGrasslands Physical --- Located in middle latitudes; contains Physical --- Located in middle latitudes; contains

rich soilrich soil Temperature --- comfortable temperatures; cool Temperature --- comfortable temperatures; cool

breezebreeze Precipitation --- between 25-75 centimeters/yearPrecipitation --- between 25-75 centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- different species of grasses, Plants & Animal --- different species of grasses,

shrubs, small trees; sparrows, rabbits, bison, shrubs, small trees; sparrows, rabbits, bison, antelopes, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos. antelopes, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos.

Interesting Fact --- grasslands located closer to Interesting Fact --- grasslands located closer to equator are called savannas.equator are called savannas.

Deciduous ForestDeciduous Forest Physical --- Cool mornings, warm days, Physical --- Cool mornings, warm days, Temperature --- Varies; growing season lasts 5-6 Temperature --- Varies; growing season lasts 5-6

months.months. Precipitation --- 50 centimeters/yearPrecipitation --- 50 centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- varieties of plant life, oak Plants & Animal --- varieties of plant life, oak

trees and maple trees, small ferns and mosses; trees and maple trees, small ferns and mosses; opossums, mice, skunks, chipmunks, deer, black opossums, mice, skunks, chipmunks, deer, black bears.bears.

Interesting Fact --- In the winter not many animals Interesting Fact --- In the winter not many animals around because they hibernate or birds migrate.around because they hibernate or birds migrate.

Boreal ForestBoreal Forest Physical --- Colder climate, Can tell by the smell Physical --- Colder climate, Can tell by the smell

(spruces & fir trees).(spruces & fir trees). Temperature --- Cold winters, warm summersTemperature --- Cold winters, warm summers Precipitation --- A lot of snow in the winter and Precipitation --- A lot of snow in the winter and

summers are rainy.summers are rainy. Plants & Animal --- Contain conifers (trees that Plants & Animal --- Contain conifers (trees that

produce seeds in cones), firs, spruces, hemlock; produce seeds in cones), firs, spruces, hemlock; red squirrels, deer, elk , moose, porcupines, and red squirrels, deer, elk , moose, porcupines, and large predators – wolves, bears, etc.large predators – wolves, bears, etc.

Interesting Fact --- Snowfall can reach heights Interesting Fact --- Snowfall can reach heights over your head!over your head!

TundraTundra

Physical --- barren terrain (nothing there), Physical --- barren terrain (nothing there), explodes with color in summer; Short summers.explodes with color in summer; Short summers.

Temperature --- Extremely cold!Temperature --- Extremely cold! Precipitation --- no more than a desertPrecipitation --- no more than a desert Plants & Animal --- Mosses, grasses, shrubs, Plants & Animal --- Mosses, grasses, shrubs,

dwarf forms of small trees; mammals --- caribou, dwarf forms of small trees; mammals --- caribou, foxes, wolves, hares (rabbits)foxes, wolves, hares (rabbits)

Interesting Fact --- most of the soil is frozen all Interesting Fact --- most of the soil is frozen all year.year.

FreshwaterFreshwater

Physical --- Affected by sunlight, temperature Physical --- Affected by sunlight, temperature and oxygen.and oxygen.

Temperature --- Warm and cold throughoutTemperature --- Warm and cold throughout Precipitation --- None, rains abovePrecipitation --- None, rains above Plants & Animal --- algae, bacteria, plants Plants & Animal --- algae, bacteria, plants

growing along the side; insects, snails, frogs, growing along the side; insects, snails, frogs, salamanders, varieties of fish.salamanders, varieties of fish.

Interesting Fact --- 3 quarters of the Earth is Interesting Fact --- 3 quarters of the Earth is covered in water.covered in water.

MarineMarine Physical --- Contains 4 zones based on tides, Physical --- Contains 4 zones based on tides,

organisms, and waves.organisms, and waves. Temperature --- Warmer temperature at the top, Temperature --- Warmer temperature at the top,

colder temperatures toward the bottomcolder temperatures toward the bottom Precipitation --- NonePrecipitation --- None Plants & Animal --- Mostly algae and marine Plants & Animal --- Mostly algae and marine

plants, marsh grasses along the side; sea stars, plants, marsh grasses along the side; sea stars, crabs, worms, clams, oysters, fish. crabs, worms, clams, oysters, fish.

Interesting Fact --- Coral Reef is a living home for Interesting Fact --- Coral Reef is a living home for many organisms.many organisms.