Designed by Christopher Becker, Joeie Puckett, Michael Ruthenberg, and Satura Thomas

Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell,1996).

Introduction What animals live in this biome? Where is your biome found? What’s the weather like here? Action! Take me to a movie. Links to other websites During your webquest, you will be able to click on any of these pictures to find out more about the biome of your choice. Have fun in your journey. We won’t tell anyone you’re learning. Your secret is safe with us!

Where do you want to go? Begin your journey here by choosing which biome fits your specific interests or continue your journey to a different ecosystem.

Tundra

Taiga The taiga is one of our planet’s harshest biomes. Although abundant with life, survival is difficult because of the cold climate and little precipitation. The word “taiga” comes from a Russian word meaning, “marshy, pine forest”. Click on any of the pictures to find out more about the taiga!

Temperate Forest

Tropical Rainforest

Desert Like it dry? You’ve come to the right place. Did you know that there are both hot deserts and cold deserts? It’s true. Antarctica is the world’s largest cold desert! Click on one of the pictures to find out what makes the desert one of the most interesting and diverse biomes!

Grassland

Taiga Animals The taiga contains all sorts of furry creatures. Such animals as moose, wolverines, red squirrels, fox, and lynx all live in the taiga. What do these animals all have in common to battle the cold weather? Click the moose to go back!

Where is the Taiga found? Northern North America Northern Europe Northern Asia The taiga is located in the far north of North America, Europe, and Asia. Picture big pine trees covered in snow and you get the idea! The taiga has the largest area of any of the terrestrial (land) biomes! Click the moose to go back!

Taiga Weather and Climate The taiga has some of the harshest weather on the planet. It boasts some of the coldest temperatures with hardly any precipitation. In the summer, the average temperatures range between 20 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, put your gloves and hat on because the temperature ranges between -65 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Click the moose to go back! The taiga only receives between 12 and 33 inches of precipitation a year!

Taiga Movie Click the moose to go back! Click the reel to play the movie!

Taiga Links aiga.html ES/GEOG235/biomes/taiga/taiga.html Click the moose to go back!

Desert Animals Life is a challenge for all life in the desert. To live in the desert, you must learn how to rid yourself of excess heat and you must learn how to obtain and retain your water. Needless to say, it’s difficult to do all of these things. Yet, all of these animals do. Amazing! Kangaroo Rat Carcal Meerkat Ostrich Roadrunner Black Widow Spider Bark ScorpionSonoran Desert Toad Banded Gecko Sidewinder Rattlesnake Horned Lizard Click the cactus to go back!

Where is a desert found? Many deserts are found in bands along 30 degrees latitude north and 30 degrees latitude south (between the red lines on the map). Look at North Africa. That’s the largest desert, the Sahara! Around 2 million people still live there in the harsh conditions! Click the cactus to go back!

Desert Weather and Climate The desert is the hottest biome on the planet. The temperatures range from well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the day to well below 32 degrees at night. Remember, deserts can be cold as well as hot! To be a desert, you must receive less than 50 cm of precipitation in a year. Most receive much less than that. Click the cactus to go back!

Desert Links mes/deserts.php m Click the cactus to go back!

Desert Movie Click the reel to play the movie! Click the cactus to go back!

Campbell, N.A Biology, 4th Edition. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc., Menlo Park, California.