Tropical Rain Forest• Home to more species than all biomes

combined!

• Soil is poor b/c organic matter is recycled so quickly

• High temperatures and precipitation

Tropical Grassland/Savanna• Grassland spotted with trees and shrubs

• Fires by lightening and animals prevent land to turning into forest

• Waxy leaves to prevent water loss

• Has a dry season and most animals migrate/ burrow (oct)

• Has a rainy season (march)

Desert• Less than 25 cm of precipitation annually

• Extreme temperatures between hot & cold

• Rich soil minerals but poor organic matter

• Cacti store water, low surface area to prevent water loss, special photosynthesis

• Animals get water from food, nocturnal, regulate body temp with blood vessels close to surface.

Temperate Forest• Conifers – seed cones, waxy surface to

prevent water loss, cold winters.• Deciduous – shed leaves in autumn• Fertile soils rich in humus (organic matter)• Year round precipitation• Animals cope by

hibernation/migration/camouflaged

Taiga/Boreal Forest• Winters long and are bitterly cold

• Mild short summers , Ground thaws

• Northern Hemisphere

• Acidic poor soil

• Conifers

• Animals extra insulations, migrate

Tundra• Permafrost – permanently frozen subsoil.

Ground only thaws few centimeters

• Short cool summer

• Plants short b/c of permafrost, mosses

• Cold, windy, short growing season, poor soil

• Animals migrate or have adapted to live in cold climate.