Seven Major Biomes Tundra Taiga Temperate deciduous forest Temperate grasslands Deserts Savannas Tropical rain forest

Tundra Permafrost – ground is always frozen Ground is boggy in the summer because the ground is frozen below. About three feet of soil above permafrost in summer Treeless due to lack of soil and poor nutrients

Taiga Coniferous trees –Needles do not hold snow –Needles do help retain water Home to moose and elk Known as the boreal

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperate Deciduous Forest  Oak trees with shrubs on forest floor  Eastern United States  Trees lose all their leaves once a year  Biome we live in

Temperate grasslands  Makes up the central United States  “breadbaskets” of US  Very fertile soil  Few trees due to lack of water in the dry season  Mostly grasses with herds of grazing animals.

Deserts Little rainfall Interior of continents Daytime is hot Vegetation is sparse Animal’s skin is adapted to prevent water loss

Savannas

Dry grasslands Annual dry seasons with seasonal rainfall Open landscape with widely spaced trees Herds of grazing animals elephants, lions and giraffes

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rain Forest Lots of rain, warm temperatures Has the most biodiversity Infertile soil Cutting down the rainforest –Lumber –Agriculture, but the soil is bad because the plants use up the nutrients so fast.