Ecosystems of the World

TUNDRA

…describe it! VERY cold winters (also very LONG) Few trees or plants Ground is FROZEN beneath the surface Animals… Few birds or fish Bears, foxes, wolves Goats and sheep Squirrels

TAIGA

… describe it! VERY cold winters and cool summers More rain and snow than the Tundra Pine trees and evergreen trees live here Animals… Hawks, woodpeckers Moose and bears Deer and chipmunks

Grasslands

… describe it! Cold winters and HOT summers More rain and snow than the Taiga and Tundra RICH soil! Mostly grass, few trees or shrubs Animals… Snakes, mice, and worms Buffalo Ground squirrels, hawks, foxes Giraffes, lions, zebras

MILD FOREST LANDS

…describe it! Mild winters and mild summers Plenty of rain and snow Trees lose leaves in winter (LOTS of trees) Animals… Squirrels, rabbits, birds, deer Black bears, foxes, mountain lions

DESERT

…describe it! VERY hot days ALL YEAR! Very little rain Plants and animals adapt to conserve water! (Cactus plants!) Animals… Camels Mice Snakes and other reptiles

TROPICAL RAINFOREST

…describe it! Hot and rainy all year! Poor soil (not a lot of sun gets to the soil) Many different types of plants and animals! Animals… Birds like toucans and parrots Bats and small mammals

What about the water???

SALTWATER

…describe it! Many organisms live where the water level changes from high tide to low tide Animals… Crabs, clams, snakes Seals Small fish

FRESHWATER

…describe it! Habitats are along the shore and river bottom Animals… Crawfish, crabs, lobster Catfish, minnows, bass Snakes, Turtles, frogs

FRESHWATER LAKES

…describe it! Organisms are at the shore, on the water surface, and under the water Animals… Trout, bass Frogs Pelicans

OPEN SEA

…describe it! Lots of light at the top, no light at the bottom rich in nutrients Many different populations of organisms live here… Sharks, whales, dolphins, barracuda Coral, sea sponges, mollusks

What about LOUISIANA?

…describe it! Includes swamps, marshes, and flood plains. Cypress trees, lily pads, algae Animals Alligators, crocodiles, snakes, turtles Egrets, ducks, geese Nutra rats, musk rats