designed by christopher becker, joeie puckett, michael ruthenberg, and satura thomas

Biomes and Ecosystems

Designed by Christopher Becker,Joeie Puckett, Michael Ruthenberg,

and Satura Thomas

A Webquest for 4th Grade

INTRODUCTIONBiomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and

characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell,1996). This web quest deals with both biomes and ecosystems because of the interactions displayed between the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components.

Enjoy the journey through each of these terrestrial biomes, while learning about the ecosystems that exist

within each. Good luck and have fun.

TASK

PROCESS

Directions

What animals live in this biome?

Where is your biome found?

What’s the weather like here?

Action! Take me to a movie.

Links to other websites

During your webquest, you will be able to click on any of these pictures to find out more about the biome of your choice. Have fun in your journey. We won’t tell anyone you’re learning. Your secret is safe with us!

Where do you want to go?Begin your journey here by choosing which biome fits your specific interests or continue

your journey to a different ecosystem.

TundraLove the Winter Olympics? Hate getting sunburns? The tundra may be the place for you. Yes, it’s a little chilly and there isn’t much precipitation, but you can get almost 24 hours of daylight during some

parts of the year! Click on any of the pictures to find out more.

TaigaThe taiga is one of our planet’s harshest

biomes. Although abundant with life, survival is difficult because of the cold

climate and little precipitation. The word “taiga” comes from a Russian word

meaning, “marshy, pine forest”. Click on any of the pictures to find out more

about the taiga!

Temperate ForestIf you love all four seasons, the

temperate forest might be the place for you. Find an abundance of wildlife and plant life in this unique biome, possibly

located in your own backyard! Click on a picture to find out more.

Tropical RainforestAre you willing to get a few insect

bites for the chance to visit the biome with the most species of animals? Sure it’s hot and wet,

but the scenery is fantastic! Click a picture to find out more about

the Tropical Rainforest.

DesertLike it dry? You’ve come to the right place. Did you know that there are both hot deserts and cold deserts?

It’s true. Antarctica is the world’s largest cold desert! Click on one of the pictures to find out what makes

the desert one of the most interesting and diverse biomes!

GrasslandFeel like travelling to west central North America to possibly see some buffalo or

maybe central Africa to see a lion or some elephants? The grassland biome is for you! Click on a picture to find out more

about this biome!

Taiga Animals

The taiga contains all sorts of furry creatures. Such animals as moose, wolverines, red squirrels, fox, and lynx all live in the taiga. What do

these animals all have in common to battle the cold weather?

Click the moose to go back!

Where is the Taiga found?

Northern North America

Northern Europe

Northern Asia

The taiga is located in the far north of North America, Europe, and Asia. Picture big pine trees covered in snow and you get the idea!

The taiga has the largest area of any of the terrestrial (land) biomes!

Click the moose to go back!

Taiga Weather and ClimateThe taiga has some of

the harshest weather on the planet. It boasts some of the coldest temperatures with

hardly any precipitation.

In the summer, the average temperatures range between 20

degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, put your

gloves and hat on because the temperature ranges between -65

and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Click the moose to go back!

The taiga only receives between 12 and 33 inches of precipitation a

year!

Taiga Movie

Click the moose to go back!

Click the reel to play the movie!

Taiga Links

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/taiga/index.htm

http://www.thewildclassroom.com/biomes/taiga.html

http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0113340/main.php?section=biomes&topic=taiga

Click the moose to go back!

Desert AnimalsLife is a challenge for all life in

the desert. To live in the desert, you must learn how to rid yourself of excess heat and you must learn how to obtain

and retain your water. Needless to say, it’s difficult to do all of these things. Yet, all

of these animals do. Amazing!

Kangaroo Rat

Carcal

Meerkat

Ostrich

Roadrunner

Black Widow Spider

Bark Scorpion Sonoran Desert ToadBanded Gecko

Sidewinder Rattlesnake

Horned Lizard

Click the cactus to go back!

Where is a desert found?

Many deserts are found in bands along 30 degrees latitude north and 30 degrees latitude south (between

the red lines on the map). Look at North Africa. That’s the largest desert, the Sahara! Around 2

million people still live there in the harsh conditions!

Click the cactus to go back!

Desert Weather and ClimateThe desert is the hottest biome on the planet. The temperatures range from

well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to well below 32

degrees at night. Remember, deserts can be cold as well as hot! To be a

desert, you must receive less than 50 cm of precipitation in a year. Most

receive much less than that.

Click the cactus to go back!

Desert Linkshttp://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php

http://www.mbgnet.net/sets/desert/where.htm

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/desert_eco.html&edu=elem

http://www.terragalleria.com/pictures-subjects/deserts/

http://www.tropix.co.uk/themes/deserts.htm

Click the cactus to go back!

Desert Movie

Click the reel to play the movie!

Click the cactus to go back!

Tundra Animals

Click the polar bear to go back

The tundra is also the home of many specially adapted plants and animals

found no where else in the world. Ravens, Hawks, Ptarmigans, Polar

Bear, Caribou, Arctic Hare, Arctic Fox, Musk Ox, Mink, Weasel, Lemming, Wolf, Wolverine, Brown Bear, Vole,

Walrus and Reindeer.

Where is a Tundra?

Click the polar bear to go back

The tundra is located at Located at latitudes 55° to 70° north. It

covers the northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia, and Scandinavia.

Tundra Weather and Climate

Click the polar bear to go back

The tundra is an unusually cold and dry climate. Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain a year, which includes melted snow. Tundra is described as an area where levels of subsoil beneath the surface of

the earth are permanently frozen. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20° F

and average -20° to -30°F. Endless hour’s darkness settles in and the winds

blow even harder. The average temperature of the warmest month is

below 50° F.

Tundra Movie

Click the polar bear to go back

Click the reel to play the movie!

Tundra Links

Click the polar bear to go back

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/tundra.php

http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webunits/biomes/tundra.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm

http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/tundra.htm

Temperate Forest animals

Click the squirrel to go back

The temperate forest is home to a wide variety of animals

including deer, bears, squirrels, garter snakes, and

many types of birds.

Where is a Temperate Forest?

Click the squirrel to go back

Temperate forests are located the Eastern United States, most of Europe, Russia, Japan, and China.

Temperate ForestWeather and Climate

Click the squirrel to go back

Temperate forests, unlike most other biomes, have all

four seasons. They lack some of the extreme

temperatures of the other biomes. The distinguishing feature is the loss of leaves on some trees in the Fall.

The average temperature in the forest is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation

usually range between 30 and 60 cm per year.

Temperate Forest Movie

Click the squirrel to go back

Click the reel to play the movie!

Temperate Forest Links

Click the squirrel to go back

http://www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=3

http://www.radford.edu/~swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/tbdf/tbdf.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/tempforest.htm

http://www.barrameda.com.ar/ecology/temperate-forest.htm

Tropical Rain Forest Animals

Click the tree frog to go back

The most abundant creatures in the rainforest are insects. Poison Arrow

Frogs, African Forest Elephants, Bengal Tigers, Chimpanzees, Dawn Bats, Golden Lion Tamarins, Harpy

Eagles, King Cobras, Orangutans, and Silvery Gibbons all live together in the

Tropical Rain Forest.

Where is a Tropical Rain Forest?

Click the tree frog to go back

Rainforests are found in more than forty countries around the equator. They are located in the tropics with primary locations in South America, Central Africa,

and Southeast Asia.

Tropical Rain ForestWeather and Climate

Click the tree frog to go back

The temperature in a rain forest rarely gets higher than 93 °F (34 °C) or drops below

68 °F (20 °C); average humidity is between 77 and 88%; rainfall is often more than 100

inches a year. It rains more than ninety days a year and the strong sun usually

shines between the storms.

Tropical Rain Forest Movie

Click the tree frog to go back

Click the reel to play the movie!

Tropical Rain Forest Links

Click the tree frog to go back

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rainforest.htm

http://kids.mongabay.com/

http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/trforest.htm

http://www.srl.caltech.edu/personnel/krubal/rainforest/Edit560s6/www/where.html

Grassland Animals

Click the buffalo to go back

The grasslands of North America use to be home to millions of

bison, but were greatly reduced by humans. The grasslands of Africa include elephants, giraffes, rhinos,

zebras, lions, and gazelles.

Where is a Grassland?

Click the buffalo to go back

Grasslands exist on every continent except Antarctica. They

are found throughout central North America and South

America. What biome is found to the north of the grasslands in

Africa? They are generally flat and sometimes called savannas

or prairies.

Grassland Weather and Climate

Click the buffalo to go back

Grasslands’ main vegetation is grass. They are usually found between forests and deserts

because they do not get enough rain to become a forest, yet they receive enough rain

to avoid becoming a desert.

Grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. They also have seasonal droughts

that controls the vegetation. Rainfall is between 20 and 35 inches per year.

The African savanna has a yearly rainy and dry season. Rainfall averages between 20 and 50 inches per year.

Grassland Movie

Click the buffalo to go back

Click the reel to play the movie!

Grassland Links

Click the buffalo to go back

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/grassland-profile.html

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/grasslands.php

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/savanna.htm

http://www.radford.edu/swoodwar/CLASSES/GEOG235/biomes/savanna/savanna.html

EVALUATION

CONCLUSION

RESOURCES

• Campbell, N.A. 1996. Biology, 4th Edition. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., Menlo Park, California.

• All pictures were found in Google images or were a part of Microsoft Office images