BiomesBiomes

BiomesBiomes

““The World’s Major Communities”The World’s Major Communities” Classified by climate, predominate Classified by climate, predominate

vegetations, and the organisms and their vegetations, and the organisms and their adaptations that live in these regions.adaptations that live in these regions.

TundraTundra Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. Has frost-molded landscapes, extremely Has frost-molded landscapes, extremely

low temperatures, little precipitation, poor low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons.nutrients, and short growing seasons.

Other wild life includes arctic animals such Other wild life includes arctic animals such as foxes and polar bears.as foxes and polar bears.

TaigaTaiga The largest of the biomes stretching The largest of the biomes stretching

across portions of Canada, Europe and across portions of Canada, Europe and Asia.Asia.

Winters are cold and summers are warm.Winters are cold and summers are warm. Home to large coniferous forests and the Home to large coniferous forests and the

organisms that live in them such as large organisms that live in them such as large herbivores like elk and caribou and other herbivores like elk and caribou and other animals like beavers, wolves, and grizzly animals like beavers, wolves, and grizzly bears.bears.

Temperate Deciduous ForestTemperate Deciduous Forest Has more diverse seasons with cold winters and Has more diverse seasons with cold winters and

hot summers. Found in the Eastern U.S., hot summers. Found in the Eastern U.S., Canada, Europe, China, and Japan.Canada, Europe, China, and Japan.

Vegetation: Broadleaf trees (oaks, maples), Vegetation: Broadleaf trees (oaks, maples), shrubs, herbs, and mosses.shrubs, herbs, and mosses.

Hundreds of species of birds and tree dwelling Hundreds of species of birds and tree dwelling animals live in these regions among other animals live in these regions among other species. species.

Temperate Rain ForestTemperate Rain Forest Found on the Western Edge of North and Found on the Western Edge of North and

South America.South America. Climate has seasonal variation and large Climate has seasonal variation and large

amounts of rain fall each year.amounts of rain fall each year. Wildlife include many nocturnal species Wildlife include many nocturnal species

such as owls, bats, possums, and many such as owls, bats, possums, and many large species of cats such as mountain large species of cats such as mountain lions.lions.

Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest A region with year round warm climates, large A region with year round warm climates, large

amounts of rainfalls, and forest full of tall trees.amounts of rainfalls, and forest full of tall trees. Wildlife is extremely diverse and includes Wildlife is extremely diverse and includes

things like monkeys, gorillas, jaguars, things like monkeys, gorillas, jaguars, anteaters, lemurs, bats, frogs, butterflies, and anteaters, lemurs, bats, frogs, butterflies, and ants. ants.

DesertDesert Found where rainfall equals less that 50 cm per Found where rainfall equals less that 50 cm per

year.year. Found in northern Africa (Sahara) southern U.S., Found in northern Africa (Sahara) southern U.S.,

parts of Mexico and Australia.parts of Mexico and Australia. Has specialized vegetation that can survive long Has specialized vegetation that can survive long

periods without water and any mammals are periods without water and any mammals are small such as Kangaroo Mice. The most small such as Kangaroo Mice. The most common wildlife are different forms of reptiles.common wildlife are different forms of reptiles.

GrasslandGrassland Mostly covered by grasses with very few Mostly covered by grasses with very few

trees or shrubs.trees or shrubs. Climate is mild and rainfall occurs during 6-Climate is mild and rainfall occurs during 6-

8 months of the year with drought during the 8 months of the year with drought during the other months.other months.

Wildlife includes grazing animals such as Wildlife includes grazing animals such as deer as well as small ground dwelling birds deer as well as small ground dwelling birds such as quail.such as quail.