Biomes of the World

Savanna Covers almost ½ of Africa Rolling grassland with shrubs and isolated trees Tropical grasslands Environment is between a grassland and forest.

Savanna

Tropical Rainforest Average of 50-260 inches of rainfall per year Covers less than 6% of land’s surface Many species of monkeys Over 2,500 species of vines

Rain Forests

Alpine Snow, high winds, ice Latin for the word “high mountains” Altitude of 10,00 feet or more Very little CO2 Plants reproduce slowly

Alpine

Deciduous Forest May be found in the eastern half of North America and middle of Europe Five different zones: tree stratum, sapling, shrub, herb, and ground Four distinct seasons.

Deciduous Forest

Chaparral Found in a little bit of most of the continents Coastal area with hot, dry summers and mild, cool, rainy winters “Wild West” movies Plant leaves hold moisture

Chaparral

Desert Covers about 1/5 of the earth’s land surface Some are hot/dry, some are cold Death Valley Less than 10 inches of rain per year

Desert

Tundra Youngest biome Vast and treeless Covers about 20% of earth’s surface Barren land World’s coldest and driest biome Barely any vegetation

Tundra

Taiga Needle leaf forest Russian word for forest Largest biome in the world Boreal forest Coniferous trees, also known as evergreen

Taiga

Grasslands Large, rolling terrains of grasses, flowers, and herbs Savanna, prairie, steppe, pampas Erratic precipitation Middle latitudes, interior of continents

Grasslands