Biomes

Tropical Rainforests Physical --- Warm & humid, found near equator, sunlight constant throughout the year Physical --- Warm & humid, found near equator, sunlight constant throughout the year Temperature --- Warm, doesn’t vary throughout the year Temperature --- Warm, doesn’t vary throughout the year Precipitation --- A LOT! Precipitation --- A LOT! Plants & Animal --- Contains over 300 different kinds of trees; ferns, orchids, and vines; many bird species and other animals Plants & Animal --- Contains over 300 different kinds of trees; ferns, orchids, and vines; many bird species and other animals Interesting Fact --- contains more species of plants and animals than all other biomes combined Interesting Fact --- contains more species of plants and animals than all other biomes combined

Marine Physical --- Contains 4 zones based on tides and waves. Physical --- Contains 4 zones based on tides and waves. Temperature --- Warmer temperature at the top, colder temperatures toward the bottom Temperature --- Warmer temperature at the top, colder temperatures toward the bottom Precipitation --- None Precipitation --- None Plants & Animal --- Mostly algae and marine plants, marsh grasses along the side; sea stars, crabs, worms, clams, oysters, fish. Plants & Animal --- Mostly algae and marine plants, marsh grasses along the side; sea stars, crabs, worms, clams, oysters, fish. Interesting Fact --- Coral Reef is a living home for many organisms. Interesting Fact --- Coral Reef is a living home for many organisms.

Deserts Physical --- Contains sand and dry & hot conditions Physical --- Contains sand and dry & hot conditions Temperature --- Extreme temperatures Temperature --- Extreme temperatures Precipitation --- Less than 25 centimeters/year Precipitation --- Less than 25 centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- Cacti; plants adapted to lack of rain; Gila monster, shovel-snouted lizard; animals adapt to hot conditions Plants & Animal --- Cacti; plants adapted to lack of rain; Gila monster, shovel-snouted lizard; animals adapt to hot conditions Interesting Fact --- Amount of evaporation is greater than precipitation. Interesting Fact --- Amount of evaporation is greater than precipitation.

Tundra Physical --- barren terrain (nothing there), explodes with color in summer; Short summers. Physical --- barren terrain (nothing there), explodes with color in summer; Short summers. Temperature --- Extremely cold! Temperature --- Extremely cold! Precipitation --- no more than a desert Precipitation --- no more than a desert Plants & Animal --- Mosses, grasses, shrubs, dwarf forms of small trees; mammals --- caribou, foxes, wolves, hares (rabbits) Plants & Animal --- Mosses, grasses, shrubs, dwarf forms of small trees; mammals --- caribou, foxes, wolves, hares (rabbits) Interesting Fact --- most of the soil is frozen all year. Interesting Fact --- most of the soil is frozen all year.

Estuaries Physical ---Wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea. Contain a mixture of freshwater and salt water. Physical ---Wetlands formed where rivers meet the sea. Contain a mixture of freshwater and salt water. Temperature --- Sufficient amount of sunlight reaches the bottom because they are shallow Temperature --- Sufficient amount of sunlight reaches the bottom because they are shallow Plants & Animal --- plants, algae, and bacteria Plants & Animal --- plants, algae, and bacteria Interesting Fact --- most producers aren’t consumed by herbivores. Interesting Fact --- most producers aren’t consumed by herbivores.

Temperate Forests Physical --- Found along the NW coast of US Physical --- Found along the NW coast of US Temperature --- Mild temperatures; cooler than a tropical rainforest. Temperature --- Mild temperatures; cooler than a tropical rainforest. Precipitation --- More than 300 centimeters/year Precipitation --- More than 300 centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- Trees like cedars, redwoods, and Douglas firs; Varieties of animals Plants & Animal --- Trees like cedars, redwoods, and Douglas firs; Varieties of animals Interesting Fact --- Temperate rainforests resemble tropical rainforests Interesting Fact --- Temperate rainforests resemble tropical rainforests

Boreal Forest Physical --- Colder climate, Can tell by the smell (spruces & fir trees). Physical --- Colder climate, Can tell by the smell (spruces & fir trees). Temperature --- Cold winters, warm summers Temperature --- Cold winters, warm summers Precipitation --- A lot of snow in the winter and summers are rainy. Precipitation --- A lot of snow in the winter and summers are rainy. Plants & Animal --- Contain conifers (trees that produce seeds in cones), firs, spruces, hemlock; red squirrels, deer, elk, moose, porcupines, and large predators – wolves, bears, etc. Plants & Animal --- Contain conifers (trees that produce seeds in cones), firs, spruces, hemlock; red squirrels, deer, elk, moose, porcupines, and large predators – wolves, bears, etc. Interesting Fact --- Snowfall can reach heights over your head! Interesting Fact --- Snowfall can reach heights over your head!

Tropical Dry Forest Physical --- grow in places where rainfall is seasonal high rather than year-round. Physical --- grow in places where rainfall is seasonal high rather than year-round. Temperature --- generally warm year-round Temperature --- generally warm year-round Precipitation --- alternating wet and dry seasons Precipitation --- alternating wet and dry seasons Plants & Animal --- tall, deciduous trees form a dense canopy; tigers, monkeys, birds, reptiles. Plants & Animal --- tall, deciduous trees form a dense canopy; tigers, monkeys, birds, reptiles. Interesting Fact --- during the dry season, nearly all trees drop their leaves to conserve water. Interesting Fact --- during the dry season, nearly all trees drop their leaves to conserve water.

Tropical Savanna Physical --- Characterized by a cover of grasses. Physical --- Characterized by a cover of grasses. Temperature --- Warm temperatures Temperature --- Warm temperatures Precipitation --- seasonal rainfall Precipitation --- seasonal rainfall Plants & Animal --- tall grasses, drought & fire resistant trees & shrubs; predators (lions, cheetahs), elephants, baboons. Plants & Animal --- tall grasses, drought & fire resistant trees & shrubs; predators (lions, cheetahs), elephants, baboons. Interesting Fact --- Compact soil, frequent fires, and action of large animals prevent it from coming a dry forest. Interesting Fact --- Compact soil, frequent fires, and action of large animals prevent it from coming a dry forest.

Temperate Grasslands Physical --- Located in middle latitudes; contains rich soil Physical --- Located in middle latitudes; contains rich soil Temperature --- comfortable temperatures; cool breeze Temperature --- comfortable temperatures; cool breeze Precipitation --- between centimeters/year Precipitation --- between centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- different species of grasses, shrubs, small trees; sparrows, rabbits, bison, antelopes, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos. Plants & Animal --- different species of grasses, shrubs, small trees; sparrows, rabbits, bison, antelopes, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, kangaroos. Interesting Fact --- grasslands located closer to equator are called savannas. Interesting Fact --- grasslands located closer to equator are called savannas.

Coniferous Forest Physical --- Made up of a variety of conifers Physical --- Made up of a variety of conifers Temperature --- Mild temperatures; relatively cool, dry summers Temperature --- Mild temperatures; relatively cool, dry summers Precipitation --- Abundant rainfall in fall, winter & spring Precipitation --- Abundant rainfall in fall, winter & spring Plants & Animal --- redwoods, spruces, firs; bears, large herbivores (elk & deer), predators. Plants & Animal --- redwoods, spruces, firs; bears, large herbivores (elk & deer), predators. Interesting Fact --- Contains lush vegetation Interesting Fact --- Contains lush vegetation

Temperate Woodland & Shrubland Physical --- Semiarid climate and a mix of shrubs and open woodlands. Physical --- Semiarid climate and a mix of shrubs and open woodlands. Temperature --- Hot, dry summers; cool, moist winters Temperature --- Hot, dry summers; cool, moist winters Precipitation --- more precipitation during the winter months. Precipitation --- more precipitation during the winter months. Plants & Animal --- woody evergreen shrubs, herbs that grow during the winter; mostly made of predators & herbivores. Plants & Animal --- woody evergreen shrubs, herbs that grow during the winter; mostly made of predators & herbivores. Interesting Fact --- Fires are a constant threat to this ecosystem Interesting Fact --- Fires are a constant threat to this ecosystem

Freshwater Physical --- Affected by sunlight, temperature and oxygen. Physical --- Affected by sunlight, temperature and oxygen. Temperature --- Warm and cold throughout Temperature --- Warm and cold throughout Precipitation --- None, rains above Precipitation --- None, rains above Plants & Animal --- algae, bacteria, plants growing along the side; insects, snails, frogs, salamanders, varieties of fish. Plants & Animal --- algae, bacteria, plants growing along the side; insects, snails, frogs, salamanders, varieties of fish. Interesting Fact quarters of the Earth is covered in water. Interesting Fact quarters of the Earth is covered in water.

Deciduous Forest Physical --- Cool mornings, warm days, Physical --- Cool mornings, warm days, Temperature --- Varies; growing season lasts 5-6 months. Temperature --- Varies; growing season lasts 5-6 months. Precipitation centimeters/year Precipitation centimeters/year Plants & Animal --- varieties of plant life, oak trees and maple trees, small ferns and mosses; opossums, mice, skunks, chipmunks, deer, black bears. Plants & Animal --- varieties of plant life, oak trees and maple trees, small ferns and mosses; opossums, mice, skunks, chipmunks, deer, black bears. Interesting Fact --- In the winter not many animals around because they hibernate or birds migrate. Interesting Fact --- In the winter not many animals around because they hibernate or birds migrate.