Quick Review: What are the four forest biomes? Where are they found? Give at least one characteristic of each!

Terrestrial Biomes 1. Temperate Grassland Interior of North America (prairies), South America & Asia Moderate rainfall, but too little for trees Lightning-caused fires in summer Root systems form dense layers to survive drought & fire Soil is very fertile! Day 3

Animals: antelope, bison, badgers, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, hawks Threats: farming & overgrazing  soil erosion Dust bowl 1930s Day 3

2. Savanna (tropical grassland) Parts of Africa, South America, India, & Australia Rain falls in spring & late-fall; drought in between Plants: adapted to survive drought Lose leaves; body parts die off except for near ground Large, horizontal root system to collect water Day 3

Animals: lots of big herbivores Elephants, giraffe, antelopes, zebra, wildebeest, rhinos Predators: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, crocs, snakes Day 3

3. Tundra Found in northern arctic regions Winters too cold & dry for trees to grow Has permafrost: permanently frozen soil layer Plants: mosses & lichens Dwarf shrubs – keeps plants out of wind & increased area for sunlight Day 4

Threats: oil – pollution & habitat destruction Animals: mosquitoes!, migratory birds, caribou, wolves, moose, mice, hares, foxes, polar bear Threats: oil – pollution & habitat destruction Day 4

Desert Biomes Desert = Low Precipitation 1. Tropical Desert Ex: Sahara desert in Africa Temperature changes during day: 100F + in day to cool at night; daytime temps hot all year long Very few plants Day 4

North & South America, Asia, Australia 2. Temperate Desert North & South America, Asia, Australia Daytime temps high in summer, low in winter Plants: adapted to obtaining & conserving H2O Cacti: thick, fleshy stems that store water; leaves have waxy cuticle Day 4

Desert cont. Animals: some mammals, snakes, lizards, tortoises Have thick skin to prevent water loss Amphibians burrow & go dormant during “dry” season Most are nocturnal Day 4

Ex: China’s Gobi Desert Winters are quite cold, summers are warm/hot 3. Cold Desert Ex: China’s Gobi Desert Winters are quite cold, summers are warm/hot Animals: lizards, gazelle, bactrian camel Day 4

Temperate Deciduous Forest Bill, Bob and Bubba Tundra Taiga Temperate Deciduous Forest Grasslands Desert Rain Forest