6-3 Grassland, Desert, and Tundra Biomes Page 155

A. Savannas and Tropical Seasonal Forests 1. A savanna is tropical and dominated by grasses, shrubs, and small trees.

A. Savannas and Tropical Seasonal Forests 2. Rainfalls mainly during wet season which lasts a few months.

A. Savannas and Tropical Seasonal Forests 3. African Savannas support many herbivores and carnivores such as cheetahs and lions.

A. Savannas and Tropical Seasonal Forests 4. Plants need to adapt to periods of little rainfall.

A. Savannas and Tropical Seasonal Forests 5. Grazing herbivores, such as elephants, migrate towards areas of rain and newly grown plants. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxAO-a0KrAQ

B. Temperate Grasslands 1. Covers large areas of interior continents where rainfall is moderate.

B. Temperate Grasslands 2. An example are the prairies of North America.

B. Temperate Grasslands 3. Mountains maintain grasslands by absorbing most of the moisture from rainclouds, leaving little available for the grasslands.

B. Temperate Grasslands 4. Grasses and wildflowers are the most common plants.

B. Temperate Grasslands 5. Due to little rain and harsh temperatures, plants die back to their roots, providing nutrients back to the soil and making it very fertile.

B. Temperate Grasslands 6. Bison, burrowing owls and prairie dogs are common animals.

B. Temperate Grasslands 7. Farming and overgrazing have damaged this biome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KitxeFuqOro

C. Chaparral 1. Temperate shrub land biome found in all parts of the world.

C. Chaparral 2. Dry climates with little to no rain.

C. Chaparral 3. Plants are low-lying evergreen shrubs and small trees.

C. Chaparral 4. Plants must be adapted to potential fires.

C. Chaparral 5. Quails, lizards, and chipmunks are some animals that can camouflage to survive here.

C. Chaparral 6. A major threat is human influence, developing land for commercial use.

D. Deserts 1. Have widely scattered vegetation and receive very little rain.

D. Deserts 2. Due to little insulating moisture, the temperatures can be very hot during the day to freezing at night.

D. Deserts 3. Plants need adaptations to survive in dry desert conditions.

D. Deserts 4. Cacti, for example, have fleshy stems and modified leaves with spikes that store water.

D. Deserts 5. Reptiles, such as Gila monsters and rattle snakes, have thick scaly skin that prevents water loss. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kneALwBteiw

E. Tundra 1. Located in northern arctic regions; very cold and dry.

E. Tundra 2. Permafrost are deeper layers of soil that are permanently frozen thru the year. START p. 2

E. Tundra 3. Mosses, lichens and over 400 types of wildflowers (fireweed) grow here.

E. Tundra 4. Migratory birds fly here to breed during summer.

E. Tundra 5. Caribou and wolves migrate in search of food.

E. Tundra 6. Global warming and oil drilling are threats to the Tundra.