Taking a Trip Through the World’s Terrestrial (Land) Biomes By: Kelly Ewing and Amy Schwarz

Table of Contents Definition of the word biome. Tundra Tundra film clip Tropical Rainforest Tropical rainforest film clip Temperate grassland Temperate grassland film clip Tropical savanna Tropical savanna film clip Deciduous forest Deciduous forest film clip Desert Desert film clip Coniferous forest Coniferous forest film clip Chaparral Chaparral film clip References

Definition of a Biome Global associations of plants and animals classified by vegetation type and primarily determined by climate.

Tundra The tundra is the coldest and driest with only 6 to 10 inches of precipitation each year. Animals that live in the tundra have thick coats of fur to protect them from the harsh winds they experience, such as the polar bear or arctic fox. This biome is a cold treeless land mass that covers 20% of Earth’s surface. In this biome, trees can not grow because the roots can not break through the frozen ground.

Tundra Video Clip

Tropical Rainforest The tropical rainforest receives an average of 50 to 260 inches of rain per year. There are four layers of trees in the rain forest: the emergent, the upper canopy, the lower canopy, and the forest floor. The tropical rain forest produces 40% of Earth’s oxygen. The tropical rainforest is generally located near the equator, which means the sun hits it at a high intensity for the whole year.

Tropical Rainforest Video Clip

Temperate Grassland The temperate grassland is known to have a cold, dry climate, a very hot and wet climate, or a moist and humid climate. Common animals that are found in the temperate grassland are grazing animals such as buffalo and bison. The temperate grassland contains terrains of grasses, flowers, and herbs. The temperate grassland is known as the prairies in North America, whereas, in South American they are known as the Pampas.

Temperate Grassland Video Clip

Tropical Savanna Grant’s Zebra is a species that is part of this biome. This species feeds off of the grass, and has many defense mechanisms against its predators. A wet season, which occurs in the summer, and dry season, which occurs during the winter, happens throughout the year in this biome. The lion is the king of this biome. The tan, beige, color of the lion’s fur is excellent camouflage for hunting its prey. The Baobab is an amazing tree that can grow up to 25 meters tall, and is leafless. During the wet season of this biome, the tree soaks up every ounce of moisture it can, so that it can survive during the dry season.

Tropical Savanna Video Clip

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Deciduous Forest) The temperate broadleaf forest truly experiences all four seasons. In the summer it is hot and warm, in the fall and spring it is cool, and plants either begin to lose their leaves, or they start to develop, and in the winter it is cold with snow covering the ground. The White Oak Tree is the most common plant in the temperate broadleaf forest, which is found throughout the Midwest of the United States. The average temperature of the temperate broadleaf forest is 50 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average rainfall of 30 to 60 inches a year. The European Red Squirrel has a bushy tail to stay balanced and four toes with claws on it’s feet to help it climb up the many deciduous trees in the temperate broadleaf forest.

Temperate Broadleaf Forest (Deciduous Forest) Video Clip

Desert The plants that have adapted to the desert are ground hugging shrubs that can conserve water. The average temperature of the desert is 64 degrees Fahrenheit. The only animals which can survive the desert are animals which can burrow under ground. The Saguaro Cactus survives in the desert because it does not rely on water to survive.

Desert Video Clip

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) The plants that are mostly found in the coniferous forest are conifers, such as spruces, pines, and firs. These plants can survive the harsh winters and warm summers due to their waxy needles which lock in moisture, preventing them from drying out. The average temperature of the coniferous forest ranges from 20 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and -65 degrees Fahrenheit to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. Cutting down trees is a major issue the coniferous forest faces. Logging is causing the animal life in this biome to decline. An example of structure fits function is the Grizzly Bears claws and fur. The sharp claws of the mammal help it dig food out of the cold hard ground, and its fur helps keep the bear warm in the coniferous forest.

Coniferous Forest (Taiga) Video Clip

Chaparral Plants which have adapted to the chaparral have hard, small leaves which trap in moisture. Some plants will not germinate until a natural forest fire occurs. These forest fires start because of the lack of rain in this biome. The black tailed jackrabbit’s feet are surrounded by fur, which help this animal adapt to the extreme hot temperatures of its environment. The chaparral can be found in most all continents on the west coast.

Chaparral Video Clip

References http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/search/assetDetail.cfm?guidAssetID=B30450C0-AD4D-4FAA-A2C5-1375E8E59EB1 www.blueplanetbiomes.org Chaparral: www.cas.vanderbilt.edu Coniferous Forest: www.scsc.k12.ar.us Desert: www.saharanet.com Temperate Broadleaf Forest: www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov Temperate Grassland: www.westernhigh.org Tropical Forest: www.space.mit.edu Tropical Savanna: www.ericksonscience.com Tundra: www.kosen.com/images/arctic.jpg