1. Biomes of the World Life Science – Mr. Hooper – May 2016

2. What is a Biome? A biome is a group of land ecosystems that have similar climate and similar plant life. Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions of a region including temperature, rainfall, and humidity.

3. Major World Biomes There are six major terrestrial or land biomes: rainforest, desert, grassland, deciduous forest, boreal forest or taiga, and tundra.

4. Temperature and Precipitation The Earth’s biomes are determined principally by climate – specifically by temperature and precipitation. http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-a-biome-definition-types-quiz.html#lesson

5. Where are the Earth’s Biomes? http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/biome.jpg

6. T Tropical Rain Forests Tropical rainforests are equatorial biomes that have an average monthly temperature ˃ 18˚C (64˚F). Tropical rainforests are humid and receive between 188 cm and 1000 cm of rainfall per year. The tropical rainforest has distinct growth layers: the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor. Rainforest soils are thin and nutrient poor.

7. T Tropical Rain Forests The tropical rainforest has distinct growth layers: the emergent layer, the canopy, the understory, and the forest floor.

8. Tropical Rain Forests Rainforests have great biodiversity with more species than all other biomes combined.

9. Deserts Desert biomes receive less than 25 cm of rainfall per year. There are extreme temperature changes during the course of a day. Dominant plants are adapted to the arid climate and include cacti and succulents.

10. Grasslands The grassland biome is dominated by grasses and other non-woody plants. Grassland biomes typically receive 25-75 cm of rainfall per year. This biome is characterized by the most fertile soils in the world. Fires and droughts are common in this biome.

11. Temperate Deciduous Forests The deciduous forest biome is dominated by hardwood trees that shed their leaves and grow new ones each year. This biome has relatively mild summers and cold winters with about 76-127 cm of rainfall per year. Deciduous forests have rich topsoil over clay.

12. Boreal Forest or Taiga The taiga or boreal forest biome is dominated by coniferous trees. The taiga is characterized by very cold winters and cool summers. Rainfall totals are only about 50 cm per year. Fir, spruce, and hemlock trees have thick, waxy needles to prevent water loss. This is a useful adaptation because available water is frozen for much of the year.

13. Tundra Biomes The tundra is an extremely cold and dry biome. Winters are long and harsh while summers are short and cool. The annual precipitation is only about 10-25 cm (similar to that of deserts). The soil is poor in nutrients and most soil is frozen all year. This frozen soil is called permafrost.

14. Works Cited Arctic fox. http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/January-2013/Animal- Attraction/ArcticFoxbyMarkM.Gaskill.cx.jpg.http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/January-2013/Animal- Attraction/ArcticFoxbyMarkM.Gaskill.cx.jpg Artic lupine. http://www.polarfield.com/blog/tag/tundra/. Atacama. http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/sites/default/files/chile_norte.JPG.http://www.ctio.noao.edu/noao/sites/default/files/chile_norte.JPG Buttress roots. http://s3.amazonaws.com/mongabay/rainforests/java_0500-639.jpg. Canadian Lynx. http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/8E/8EE65B73-FE60-4B4E-BA9D- FAB58D8F4EBB/Presentation.Large/Canada-lynx-on-branch.jpg.http://cdn2.arkive.org/media/8E/8EE65B73-FE60-4B4E-BA9D- FAB58D8F4EBB/Presentation.Large/Canada-lynx-on-branch.jpg Caribou. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/- MExPIn4S7Mg/UCTU26pBDkI/AAAAAAAAAUs/UP4U29n7oZc/s1600/Caribou+Best+Pic.jpg. Desert. http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/001/cache/cardon-boojum- desert_102_600x450.jpghttp://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/001/cache/cardon-boojum- desert_102_600x450.jpg Fall Foliage. http://netravelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Massachusetts-Fall-colors.jpg. Green Backroundhttp://images.athleo.net/backgrounds/Green.jpg Kansas Prairie. http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/kansas/images/s/prairies.jpg.http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/kansas/images/s/prairies.jpg Musk oxen. http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/1/musk-oxen-herd_6145.jpg. Namib Desert. http://cdn.naturalhighsafaris.com/cdn/made/cdn/uploads/country_images/Namibia/Namib%20Desert/namib_deser t_01_940_529_80_s_c1.jpg. Prairie. http://kawcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/tallgrass_prairie_national_preserve.jpg.http://kawcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/tallgrass_prairie_national_preserve.jpg

15. Works Cited Rainforest drawing. http://aprilheer.wikispaces.com/file/view/rainforest.jpg/30270281/rainforest.jpg.http://aprilheer.wikispaces.com/file/view/rainforest.jpg/30270281/rainforest.jpg Rainforest levels. http://www.eleanorpalmer.camden.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/rainforest-layers- diagram-i15.jpg. Savanna. http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/images/serengeti01.jpg.http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/images/serengeti01.jpg Snowy Taiga. http://www.8thingstodo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Taiga-in-Winter.jpg. Sonoran Desert. http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lmhpv9yZhH1qjqgiyo1_500.jpg. Taiga. http://www.peupleloup.info/local/cache-vignettes/L500xH326/2968075180_152a0-8a470.jpg.http://www.peupleloup.info/local/cache-vignettes/L500xH326/2968075180_152a0-8a470.jpg Tropical rainforest. http://classbb.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rainforest1.jpg.http://classbb.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/rainforest1.jpg Tropical Rainforest collage. http://images.edumart.com/zoom/TF_8077.jpg. Tropical rainforest waterfall. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_htZ0dr- 5VI/UL2dhpKRl6I/AAAAAAAAAAg/X_Qy0WAnutk/s1600/cover+pic.jpg.http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_htZ0dr- 5VI/UL2dhpKRl6I/AAAAAAAAAAg/X_Qy0WAnutk/s1600/cover+pic.jpg Tundra plants. http://smicks.wordpress.com/2010/06/26/the-dalton-highway/. Woods. http://biomef.wikispaces.com/file/view/foresy.jpg/32963701/foresy.jpg.