1. Biomes - Large geographic areas that have similar climates and ecosystems
Abiotic- Non-living: water, temperature, sunlight, soil, rock
Biotic- living organisms

2. Tundra Water – Less than 10 inches Temperature- cold desert
Soil- permafrost (frozen soil)
Plants- lichens and mosses
Animals- Arctic fox, bears,

3. Taiga Cold forest of mostly evergreen/conifer trees. Short Summers
Precipitation – cm per year
Largest of the 7 Biomes

4. Temperate Deciduous Forest
Water- adequate, plenty
Temperature- cool seasons, warm seasons
Soil- fertile, good
Plants- deciduous(lose their leaves) trees (oak, maple, dogwood)
Animals- insects, coyotes, raccoons, squirrels,
bears, copperhead snakes

5. Coniferous Forest (Temperate Rain Forest)
Water- adequate, plenty ( cm)
Temperature- cool year round often with snow
Soil- poor, rocky
Plants- conifers( trees that have needles and stay green all year)
Animals- moose, elk, bears, and wolves
New Zealand, southern Chile, and Pacific Northwest US

6. Tropical Rain Forest Water- very wet (200 – 600 cm )
Temperature- always warm
Soil- poor, thin soil
Plants- many plants, trees, vines
Animals- snakes, monkeys, tarantulas, many birds, leaf cutter ants
Trees made of 4 zones: Floor, Understory, canopy, and emergents

7. Desert Water- very little, Less than 10 inches
Temperature- hot in daytime, cold at night
Soil- poor, sand
Plants, cactus, sage brush
Animals- insects, lizards, snakes, jackrabbits, kangaroo mouse

8. Grassland Water- wet season dry season
Temperature- warm to hot( often with a cold season)
Soil- fertile, good
Plants- grasses, very few trees
Animals- insects, snakes, prairie dogs, wolves, lions, zebras
N. Am = Prairie, Asia = Steppes, Africa = Savannas, S. Am = Pampas

9. Aquatic - Rivers and Streams
Flowing freshwater
Small brooks to large rivers.
The faster the river flows the more oxygen content there is in the water.
Most nutrients are washed into the water (silt)
Humans use for recreations: fishing, swimming, skiing, etc.
Once considered a free place to dump sewage
Plants- algae, water lilies, cattails
Animals- fishes, turtles, snakes, frogs, insects

10. Lakes and Ponds - Freshwater
A low place that fills with water over time or water from an overflowing stream.
Water hardly moves.
Contains more plant life than flowing water.
Lakes are larger and deeper than ponds.
Pond water is warmed by the sunlight and support plant ( algae and plankton) and animal life.
Deeper lakes support life longer.

11. Wetlands (swamps, bogs, and fens)
Water- salt water swamps and marshes
fresh water marshes located around creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes
Soil- mud, sediment-Very fertile
Plants- cord grass,
Animals- beavers, muskrats, alligators, turtles, blue heron, fishes,

12. Ocean – (Salt Water Ecosystem)
Water- salt
Temperature- varies
Soil- sand
Plants- plankton, seaweed
Animals- sharks, whales, jellyfish, fishes, dolphins
Lighted Zone – upper 200 m, sunlight penetrates the water. Home of plankton.
Dark Zone – Below 200 m, sunlight does not penetrate this water. Animals feed or organisms that float down or on each other.

13. Coral Reef Water- salt Temperature- warm
Soil- sand, skeletons of coral
Formed over long periods of time
Plants- plankton, seaweed
Animals- clown fish, anemones, fishes, coral
When coral dies their skeletons remain.

14. Estuary AKA - bays, lagoons, harbors, inlets, & sounds.
The area where a river meets an ocean and contains a mixture of freshwater and salt water.
Temperature- varies
Extremely fertile because the freshwater brings tons of nutrients. Soil- mud, sediment
algae, salt-tolerant grasses, shrimp, crabs, clams, oysters, snails, worms, and fish
Provide much of the seafood eaten by humans

15. Seashores
Intertidal Zone – is the portion of the shoreline that is covered with water at high tide and exposed to the air during low tide.