2. Adaptation An adaptation is a characteristic or trait that helps an organism survive in its environment Adaptation makes an organisms more suited to its environment, and therefore more likely to survive and pass on its traits to the next generation Natural selection is the process in which organisms change over time, those that are best suited for their environment survive to pass their traits to the next generation.

6. What is a biome? A biome is a large region characterized as having a distinct climate and specific types of plants and animal life. Biomes can exist both on land and in the ocean.

8. freshwater desert forest grassland marine tundra

9. Tundra Cold, dry, mostly treeless Temperatures below freezing for most of the year Permafrost Plants: mosses, lichens, few flowering plants Animals: caribou, polar bears, wolf

10. Adaptations for Tundra Biome Thick insulated fur for warmth Fur and feathers that change colors when seasons change

11. Coniferous Forest aka taiga Coniferous trees: remain green throughout the year, have needle like leaves and produce seeds in cones Area with coniferous trees also called taiga. Plants: firs, pines, spruces Animals: moose, chipmunks, rabbits, insects, bobcats, foxes, birds, elk

12. Adaptations for Taiga Needle shaped leaves with wax coatings Some animals have wide paws to help walk in the snow during winter

13. Deciduous Forest Deciduous trees drop all their leaves each year Deciduous trees are broadleaf trees like oaks, maples, and birches Deciduous forest have lots of rain, moderate temperatures and long growing seasons Other plants: mosses, ferns, grasses Animals: deer, squirrels, mice, turtles, bears, owls, foxes, snakes, etc.

15. Adaptations in Deciduous Forest Plants have wide leaves for photosynthesis and drop leaves in winter to conserve water and energy Animals store food for winter Birds migrate during colder temperatures Many animals hibernate during winter to conserve energy and stay warm

16. Tropical Rain Forest Near the equator, warm temperatures and abundant rainfall Home to more species than any other ecosystem on Earth The rainforest is divided into layers. Organisms live on the ground, in the trees or the top of the forest which is called the canopy

17. Adaptations in a Tropical Rainforest Many plants and animals have colors that blend in with their environment Plants with vines to grow up trees to reach sunlight Many birds have tough beaks that have adapted to eat nuts

18. Grasslands Grasslands are biomes in which the main types of plants are grasses They have mild summers and cool to cold winters Grasslands are too dry to support trees Animals: grazing animals, prairie dogs, rabbits, snakes, weasels A savanna is a grassland with few scattered trees…savannas also have giraffes and elephants

19. Adaptations in Grasslands Plants have deep roots to prevent grazing animals from pulling them from the ground Many plants depend on wind to aid in pollination Many animals burrow into the ground to keep cool

20. Deserts Deserts are dry environments that receive less than 10 inches of rainfall per year. Can reach temperatures over 100° F. Examples: Sahara Desert; Gobi Desert; Mohave Desert Plants: cacti, small flowering plants Animals: rats, insects, lizards, rabbits, snakes

21. Adaptations in Deserts Plants have spiny leaves to help prevent water loss and root systems that spread out near surface to take in water quickly when it rains Animals burrow in the ground. Many animals are nocturnal (active at night)

22. Freshwater Ecosystems Includes ponds, lakes, swamps, streams and rivers Contains many varieties of fish, insects, aquatic birds Estuaries are areas where freshwater rivers flow into the ocean. They provide a good environment for fish and shellfish Algae are important producers in freshwater ecosystems.

24. Saltwater Ecosystem The ocean has three zones: –Open-ocean: lack mineral nutrients; main food is plankton –Intertidal zone: shore line area that is covered by water at high tide and not covered by water at low tide. This area has many shell animals and those that can cling to surfaces –Coral reef: tropical regions; coral is a small animal that grows with other coral to produce large colonies