2. Biomes
A major biological community that occurs over a large area of land is called a biome.
Seven major biomes cover most of the Earth’s land surface.
Different biomes have characteristics of temperature and precipitation.

3. Tundra (Arctic) is an open, boggy biome
covers one-fifth of the Earth’s land surface
has a low annual precipitation usually less than 10 inches
water is unavailable most of the year because it is frozen
permafrost (permanent ice) usually exists within 3 feet of the surface
inhabitants include foxes, lemmings, owls, and caribou

4. Taiga (Subarctic) climates are cold and wet
is also called the coniferous forest
extends across vast areas of Eurasia and North America
contains primarily spruce and fir coniferous trees
is one of the largest biomes on Earth
winters are long and cold
precipitation falls primarily in the summer
contains many large mammals (elk, moose, deer, wolves, bears, lynxes, and wolverines)

5. (Temperate) Deciduous Forest
has a relatively mild climate and plentiful rain
sheds its leaves in the fall
grows in areas with relatively warm summers and cold winters
has annual precipitation ranging from 30 – 100 inches
covers much of the eastern US
is home to deer, bears, beavers, raccoons, and many other familiar animals
contains hard wood trees such as oak, hickory, and beech

6. (Temperate) Grassland
is also called a prairie
has moderate climates halfway between the equator and the poles
once covered much of the interior of North America
is usually highly productive when converted to agriculture due to deep, fertile soil
has herds of grazing animals like the bison

7. Desert (Temperate or Tropical)
has typically less than 10 inches of precipitation fall annually
vegetation is characteristically sparse
is most extensive in the interiors of continents
makes up less than 5 percent of North America

8. Savanna (Tropical) is the world’s great dry grasslands
is found in tropical areas that have relatively low annual precipitation or long dry seasons
generally has 35 – 60 inches of rainfall per year
has a fluctuation in temperature during the year
has seasonal drought
is an open landscape with widely spaced trees
has many animals that are active only during rainy seasons
contains huge herds of grazing mammals

9. (Tropical) Rain Forest
is the richest biome in terms of number of species, having more than 2 million
has 80 – 180 inches of rainfall per year
has a high primary productivity even though they exist mainly on quite infertile soils