Getting to know the

BIOMES

How many land biomes can you name?

Taiga

DeciduousForest

Desert

Tundra

Tropical Rain Forest

Grasslands

Biomes

Tundra• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

Tundra• The Tundra is a cold barren wasteland that includes snow, rocks and

very little variety in vegetation.

• The tundra is the coldest biome of all. It's freezing all year with little precipitation and short growing seasons. Because of the cold temperatures, animals must adapt to the harsh climate and vegetation grows very slowly. The ground stays frozen all year long and this is called permafrost (very important).

• Few plants here (no trees) because of permafrost.

• The average temperature per year is 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer temperature in the tundra would be about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the colder would be about -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

• The average precipitation per year would be around 6-10 inches. The type of precipitation that falls mostly is snow and little rain. 

ANIMALS OF THE TUNDRA

Where am I in the US?

• Where do you think?

• Tops of mountains, Alaska

Taiga• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

The Taiga is the largest land The Taiga is the largest land biome. biome.

The Taiga is below the tundra in The Taiga is below the tundra in the northern hemisphere. the northern hemisphere.

In the Taiga there is 10-30 inches In the Taiga there is 10-30 inches of rainfall each year.of rainfall each year.

The Taiga is prone to wild fires. The Taiga is prone to wild fires. Many trees have adapted to this Many trees have adapted to this by growing thick bark, which can by growing thick bark, which can protect the tree for wild fires.protect the tree for wild fires.

        

Weather of the Weather of the TaigaTaiga Long, cold winters, Long, cold winters,

and short, mild, wet and short, mild, wet summers are typical of summers are typical of this region. this region.

In the winter, chilly In the winter, chilly winds from the arctic winds from the arctic cause bitterly cold cause bitterly cold weather in the taiga. weather in the taiga.

Known for having lots Known for having lots of evergreens.of evergreens.

Where am I in the US?

• Where do you think?

• A few western states like Colorado

Deciduous Forest• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

Deciduous ForestDeciduous ForestDeciduous forests can be found in the eastern half of North Deciduous forests can be found in the eastern half of North

America, and the middle of Europe. There are many deciduous America, and the middle of Europe. There are many deciduous

forests in Asia.forests in Asia.

The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. The animals adapt to the climate by hibernating in the The animals adapt to the climate by hibernating in the winter and living off the land in the other three winter and living off the land in the other three seasons. seasons.

Relatively mild summers and cold winters.Relatively mild summers and cold winters.

The animals have adapted to the land by trying the The animals have adapted to the land by trying the plants in the forest to see if they are good to eat for a plants in the forest to see if they are good to eat for a good supply of food. Also the trees provide shelter for good supply of food. Also the trees provide shelter for them. Animal use the trees for food and a water them. Animal use the trees for food and a water sources. Most of the animals are camouflaged to look sources. Most of the animals are camouflaged to look like the ground.like the ground.

The plants have adapted to the The plants have adapted to the forests by leaning toward the sun. forests by leaning toward the sun. Soaking up the nutrients in the Soaking up the nutrients in the ground is also a way of adaptation. ground is also a way of adaptation.

The animals are losing their homes in the The animals are losing their homes in the deciduous forest, because of people building deciduous forest, because of people building

their homestheir homes.. Many plants here lose their Many plants here lose their

leaves during the fall.leaves during the fall. There are many types of There are many types of

animals in the deciduous animals in the deciduous forest ranging from forest ranging from mammals like deer to bugs mammals like deer to bugs like mosquitoes. Many of the like mosquitoes. Many of the animals are either nut and animals are either nut and acorn feeders, or omnivores. acorn feeders, or omnivores. Many of the animals have Many of the animals have adapted to forest life. Some adapted to forest life. Some of them hibernate during the of them hibernate during the winter months. winter months.

Where am I in the US?

• Where do you think?

• East half of the US (east of the Mississippi River) and some of the west like northern California

Grassland• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

GrasslandsGrasslands

A A GrasslandGrassland is a grassy, windy, partly-dry is a grassy, windy, partly-dry biome, a sea of grass. Almost one-fourth of the biome, a sea of grass. Almost one-fourth of the Earth's land area is grassland. In many areas, Earth's land area is grassland. In many areas, grasslands separate forests from deserts.grasslands separate forests from deserts.

There are few trees in grasslands because not There are few trees in grasslands because not enough rain to sustain them.enough rain to sustain them.

Also called savannah and prairie. Also called savannah and prairie.

Animal Adaptations:Animal Adaptations: The animals that live in The animals that live in grasslands have adapted to dry, windy grasslands have adapted to dry, windy conditions. There are grazing animals (that eat conditions. There are grazing animals (that eat the grass), burrowing animals, and their the grass), burrowing animals, and their predators; insects are abundant. A moderate of predators; insects are abundant. A moderate of level species diversity exists on a grassland. level species diversity exists on a grassland. Many animals live in grasslands, from Many animals live in grasslands, from invertebrates (like grasshoppers and beetles) invertebrates (like grasshoppers and beetles) to large mammals (like antelopes and bison). to large mammals (like antelopes and bison). The different grasslands of the world support The different grasslands of the world support different populations of animalsdifferent populations of animals

Where am I in the US?

• Where do you think?

• Middle of the US (Kansas, Oklahoma, the Dakotas, etc.)

Tropical Rain Forest

• What do you know about me (or think you know)?

• The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth. An average of 50 to 260 inches of rain falls yearly.

• Hot all year round.

• Rainforests are very dense, warm, wet forests. They are havens for millions of plants and animals. Rainforests are extremely important in the ecology of the Earth. The plants of the rainforest generate much of the Earth's oxygen. These plants are also very important to people in other ways; many are used in new drugs that fight disease and illness.

LOCATION OF THE TROPICAL RAIN LOCATION OF THE TROPICAL RAIN FORESTFOREST

• The rainforest has the most diversity of animal and plant species of any biome.

• Most animals live in the canopy (near the tops of the trees). The ground doesn’t get much light so the soil is not very good here.

Where am I in the US?

• Where do you think?

• Not in US at all

Desert• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

DesertsDeserts

What is a desert?What is a desert?

A desert is defined as an area with a A desert is defined as an area with a dry climate with less than 250mm of dry climate with less than 250mm of rain a year. However, some deserts rain a year. However, some deserts in the world experience no rain at all in the world experience no rain at all for years, then receive a heavy for years, then receive a heavy downfall, a flash flood. downfall, a flash flood.

There are two types of desert. There are two types of desert. A hot A hot desert desert or a or a cold desert.cold desert.

Hot deserts of the world.Hot deserts of the world.

The world’s major deserts like the Sahara The world’s major deserts like the Sahara and the Kalahari are found around the and the Kalahari are found around the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (between the red lines on the map).the red lines on the map).

Cold deserts

There are cold deserts as well, such as Antarctica and the areas of Northern Canada. Here, although summers are cool and winters are very cold, there is very little rainfall so these areas are classed as deserts. Since the air is so cold and dry there is very little moisture to form snowfall – hence they are deserts.

What lives in a desert?What lives in a desert?

DDeserts are the home to many living eserts are the home to many living things. They have to be able to live with things. They have to be able to live with little water, though. Like the armadillo little water, though. Like the armadillo lizard and must hog above.lizard and must hog above.

Where am I in the US?

• Where do you think?

• Western United States (like Arizona, Nevada, Texas)

Marine• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

MarineMarine

Includes ¾ of the Earth’s water and Includes ¾ of the Earth’s water and is the largest biome.is the largest biome.

The largest of its bodies of water is The largest of its bodies of water is the ocean which is divided into 3 the ocean which is divided into 3 layers. The first is the euphotic layer layers. The first is the euphotic layer which is shallow and light can reach. which is shallow and light can reach. Then the disphotic zone which has Then the disphotic zone which has some light. Finally the apotic zone some light. Finally the apotic zone where no light ever reaches.where no light ever reaches.

MarineMarine

This biome consists of all the salty waters This biome consists of all the salty waters of the seas and oceans. It also includes of the seas and oceans. It also includes seas, gulfs, and bays.seas, gulfs, and bays.

Estuaries are a combination of fresh and Estuaries are a combination of fresh and salt water and so fall in this category.salt water and so fall in this category.

Ocean water contains one cup of salt per Ocean water contains one cup of salt per gallon of water. This is a fairly harsh gallon of water. This is a fairly harsh environment to live in so many animals environment to live in so many animals and plants cannot live here.and plants cannot live here.

The tallest part on earth is beaten by the The tallest part on earth is beaten by the deepest part of the ocean which is the deepest part of the ocean which is the Marina Trench at 36,200 feet deep.Marina Trench at 36,200 feet deep.

Freshwater• What do you know about me (or

think you know)?

Freshwater

• Freshwater (no salt) covers 1/5 of the Earth. More than half of the drinking water for humans and animals comes from here.

• They are typically spread out and therefore appear to cover more of the Earth than they do.

Freshwater

• These include lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks.

• Unlike oceans where salt water moves all the time, some freshwater biomes remain still all the time.

• About 70% of water used to irrigate crops comes from freshwater biomes.