Biome Notes By Mr. Elhalabi

Deciduous Forest Broad-leaved trees (not needles) Moderate temperatures and rainfall 6 month growing season Four season Tallest trees include maples, oaks, hickories; they form a thin canopy of leaves On every continent except for Africa and Antarctica We live in the deciduous forest!

Rainforest Found close to the equator Very warm and very wet– rains almost every day Lots of different plants, animals and biodiversity; ½ the different kinds of plants on earth are here Three layers– canopy is the top layer; very few plants on the bottom, due to no sunlight Most animals live on branches of the canopy Most complicated food web of the biomes

Desert Soil and air are both very dry Hot days; below freezing nights Plants (like cactus and mesquite) have adapted; they can store water to survive dry periods OR they have deep roots that burrow to groundwater Desert animals have adapted so they do not lose water– they have scaly skin and don’t sweat

Grasslands Called the Breadbasket of the World and play a major role in world agriculture Found on all continents except Antarctica Temperatures are moderate, rainfall is light, different grasses are the main plants Several adaptations that help plants live without much rain…… Animal life…….

Tundra Permafrost is a layer of frozen soil just beneath the surface– larger plants can not survive Thawing in spring allows a few small plants to grow low to the ground, away from the strong drying winds Where located? Animal life?

Taiga Located from Alaska across Canada Only two layers A few deciduous trees do grow here, but not many– only around lakes or streams Lynx, weasels, and wolfs are common Large fly and mosquito populations in the summer