1.  Yours should look like this

3. Biomes of the World

4. What are Biomes? The world’s major regions, grouped according to the common climate and characterized by similar organisms in that environment. The world’s major regions, grouped according to the common climate and characterized by similar organisms in that environment.

5. Arctic Tundra North pole area Cold, dry, treeless region “cold desert” Winter is 6-9 mos. long Ground is “Permafrost” (permanently frozen)

6. Taiga (aka Boreal Forest) Just south of tundra Cold, coniferous forest region Much wetter than tundra (more precipitation!)

7. Temperate Forest 4 distinct seasons Trees change color in autumn (deciduous) More precipitation than Tundra or Taiga

8. Coniferous Forest Lower temps, much more precipitation! Deciduous and coniferous trees

9. Tropical Rain Forest Warm temps, wet weather, lush plant growth Near the equator Home to extremely wide variety of organisms!

10. Desert Driest ecosystem on earth- supports little plant life Ground is covered in thin, sandy soil Rare rain evaporates quickly

11. Grasslands (aka Prairie) Not much rain, only supports grasses Perfect for growing many crops and raising livestock

12. Rivers and Streams Flowing freshwater Current washes nutrients into water from land Includes slow moving creeks to whitewater rapids

13. Lakes and Ponds Freshwater (hardly moving) More plant growth than flowing rivers Lakes- deeper and colder towards bottom = less plant and algae growth Ponds- shallow and warmer= filled with plant and animal life

14. Wetlands Wet for most or all of year Regions between land and water (swamps or bogs) Extremely fertile, but only for plants that can handle lots of water Full of diverse animals and plants

15. Open Oceans Saltwater Contains different regions based on depth Home to various plankton and fish

16. Coral Reefs One of the most diverse ecosystems Formed over long periods of time by animals called corals Don’t adapt well to stress or change

17. Seashores and Estuaries Seashore- Shallow water along coastlines Estuary- where river meets ocean Organisms must adapt to drastic changes in water levels and temperatures Provide lots of seafood for humans!