Getting to know the BIOMES How many land biomes can you name?

Biomes Taiga Deciduous Forest DesertTundra Tropical Rain Forest Grasslands

Tundra What do you know about me (or think you know)?

Tundra The Tundra is a cold barren wasteland that includes snow, rocks and very little variety in vegetation. The tundra is the coldest biome of all. It's freezing all year with little precipitation and short growing seasons. Because of the cold temperatures, animals must adapt to the harsh climate and vegetation grows very slowly. The ground stays frozen all year long and this is called permafrost (very important). Few plants here (no trees) because of permafrost. The average temperature per year is 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmer temperature in the tundra would be about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the colder would be about -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The average precipitation per year would be around 6-10 inches. The type of precipitation that falls mostly is snow and little rain.

ANIMALS OF THE TUNDRA

Where am I in the US? Where do you think? Tops of mountains, Alaska

Taiga What do you know about me (or think you know)?

 The Taiga is the largest land biome.  The Taiga is below the tundra in the northern hemisphere.  In the Taiga there is inches of rainfall each year.  The Taiga is prone to wild fires. Many trees have adapted to this by growing thick bark, which can protect the tree for wild fires.

Weather of the Taiga  Long, cold winters, and short, mild, wet summers are typical of this region.  In the winter, chilly winds from the arctic cause bitterly cold weather in the taiga.  Known for having lots of evergreens.

Where am I in the US? Where do you think? A few western states like Colorado

Deciduous Forest What do you know about me (or think you know)?

Deciduous Forest Deciduous forests can be found in the eastern half of North America, and the middle of Europe. There are many deciduous forests in Asia.

The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. The animals adapt to the climate by hibernating in the winter and living off the land in the other three seasons. The average annual temperature in a deciduous forest is 50° F. The average rainfall is 30 to 60 inches a year. The animals adapt to the climate by hibernating in the winter and living off the land in the other three seasons. Relatively mild summers and cold winters. Relatively mild summers and cold winters. The animals have adapted to the land by trying the plants in the forest to see if they are good to eat for a good supply of food. Also the trees provide shelter for them. Animal use the trees for food and a water sources. Most of the animals are camouflaged to look like the ground. The animals have adapted to the land by trying the plants in the forest to see if they are good to eat for a good supply of food. Also the trees provide shelter for them. Animal use the trees for food and a water sources. Most of the animals are camouflaged to look like the ground. The plants have adapted to the The plants have adapted to the forests by leaning toward the sun. Soaking up the nutrients in the ground is also a way of adaptation.

The animals are losing their homes in the deciduous forest, because of people building their homes. Many plants here lose their leaves during the fall. Many plants here lose their leaves during the fall. There are many types of animals in the deciduous forest ranging from mammals like deer to bugs like mosquitoes. Many of the animals are either nut and acorn feeders, or omnivores. Many of the animals have adapted to forest life. Some of them hibernate during the winter months. There are many types of animals in the deciduous forest ranging from mammals like deer to bugs like mosquitoes. Many of the animals are either nut and acorn feeders, or omnivores. Many of the animals have adapted to forest life. Some of them hibernate during the winter months.

Where am I in the US? Where do you think? East half of the US (east of the Mississippi River) and some of the west like northern California

Grassland What do you know about me (or think you know)?

Grasslands

 A Grassland is a grassy, windy, partly-dry biome, a sea of grass. Almost one-fourth of the Earth's land area is grassland. In many areas, grasslands separate forests from deserts.  There are few trees in grasslands because not enough rain to sustain them.  Also called savannah and prairie.

Animal Adaptations: The animals that live in grasslands have adapted to dry, windy conditions. There are grazing animals (that eat the grass), burrowing animals, and their predators; insects are abundant. A moderate of level species diversity exists on a grassland. Many animals live in grasslands, from invertebrates (like grasshoppers and beetles) to large mammals (like antelopes and bison). The different grasslands of the world support different populations of animals

Where am I in the US? Where do you think? Middle of the US (Kansas, Oklahoma, the Dakotas, etc.)

Tropical Rain Forest What do you know about me (or think you know)?

The tropical rain forest is a forest of tall trees in a region of year-round warmth. An average of 50 to 260 inches of rain falls yearly. Hot all year round. Rainforests are very dense, warm, wet forests. They are havens for millions of plants and animals. Rainforests are extremely important in the ecology of the Earth. The plants of the rainforest generate much of the Earth's oxygen. These plants are also very important to people in other ways; many are used in new drugs that fight disease and illness.

LOCATION OF THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST

The rainforest has the most diversity of animal and plant species of any biome. Most animals live in the canopy (near the tops of the trees). The ground doesn’t get much light so the soil is not very good here.

Where am I in the US? Where do you think? Not in US at all

Desert What do you know about me (or think you know)?

Deserts

What is a desert? A desert is defined as an area with a dry climate with less than 250mm of rain a year. However, some deserts in the world experience no rain at all for years, then receive a heavy downfall, a flash flood. A desert is defined as an area with a dry climate with less than 250mm of rain a year. However, some deserts in the world experience no rain at all for years, then receive a heavy downfall, a flash flood. There are two types of desert. A hot desert or a cold desert. There are two types of desert. A hot desert or a cold desert.

Hot deserts of the world. The world’s major deserts like the Sahara and the Kalahari are found around the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (between the red lines on the map). The world’s major deserts like the Sahara and the Kalahari are found around the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (between the red lines on the map).

Cold deserts There are cold deserts as well, such as Antarctica and the areas of Northern Canada. Here, although summers are cool and winters are very cold, there is very little rainfall so these areas are classed as deserts. Since the air is so cold and dry there is very little moisture to form snowfall – hence they are deserts.

What lives in a desert? Deserts are the home to many living things. They have to be able to live with little water, though. Like the armadillo lizard and must hog above. Deserts are the home to many living things. They have to be able to live with little water, though. Like the armadillo lizard and must hog above.

Where am I in the US? Where do you think? Western United States (like Arizona, Nevada, Texas)

Marine What do you know about me (or think you know)?

Marine Includes ¾ of the Earth’s water and is the largest biome. Includes ¾ of the Earth’s water and is the largest biome. The largest of its bodies of water is the ocean which is divided into 3 layers. The first is the euphotic layer which is shallow and light can reach. Then the disphotic zone which has some light. Finally the apotic zone where no light ever reaches. The largest of its bodies of water is the ocean which is divided into 3 layers. The first is the euphotic layer which is shallow and light can reach. Then the disphotic zone which has some light. Finally the apotic zone where no light ever reaches.

Marine This biome consists of all the salty waters of the seas and oceans. It also includes seas, gulfs, and bays. This biome consists of all the salty waters of the seas and oceans. It also includes seas, gulfs, and bays. Estuaries are a combination of fresh and salt water and so fall in this category. Estuaries are a combination of fresh and salt water and so fall in this category. Ocean water contains one cup of salt per gallon of water. This is a fairly harsh environment to live in so many animals and plants cannot live here. Ocean water contains one cup of salt per gallon of water. This is a fairly harsh environment to live in so many animals and plants cannot live here. The tallest part on earth is beaten by the deepest part of the ocean which is the Marina Trench at 36,200 feet deep. The tallest part on earth is beaten by the deepest part of the ocean which is the Marina Trench at 36,200 feet deep.

Freshwater What do you know about me (or think you know)?

Freshwater Freshwater (no salt) covers 1/5 of the Earth. More than half of the drinking water for humans and animals comes from here. They are typically spread out and therefore appear to cover more of the Earth than they do.

Freshwater These include lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks. Unlike oceans where salt water moves all the time, some freshwater biomes remain still all the time. About 70% of water used to irrigate crops comes from freshwater biomes.