Biomes of The World From http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/index.html

Chaparral

Chaparral Location: Found in small sections of most continents, including the west coast of the U.S. Climate: Very hot and dry Mild winter (about 50°F) Hot summer (up to 100°F)

Chaparral Plants: Have large, hard leaves, which hold moisture are well adapted to fires Animals: Adapted to hot, dry weather

Chaparral Other Information: land includes flat plains, rocky hills, and mountain slopes Fire occurs naturally, but can also be caused by human activity

Deciduous Forest

Deciduous Forest Location: Eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia Climate: Has four changing seasons including winter, spring, summer, and fall Second greatest amount of precipitation (30 - 60 inches) Mild Summers (70°F) Winter temperatures below freezing

Deciduous Forest Plants: trees lose their leaves in late fall, and grow them back in the spring Animals: Many hibernate or migrate in the winter to escape the cold Other Information: It’s where we live in Ohio

Desert

Desert Location: Found on every continent Climate: Extremely dry Can be hot or cold

Desert Plants: Are good at storing and finding water Hot Desert Ex: cacti Few plants can survive in cold desert (Ex: algae, grasses)

Desert Animals: Have adaptations to survive extreme conditions Hot desert- Mostly cold-blooded animals and small mammals cold desert-Fewer animals live here (ex. seals, penguins, polar bears)

Desert Other information: Sahara in Africa is the largest hot desert Antarctica is the largest cold desert offers many types of recreation like rock climbing, hiking and dirt biking

Grasslands

Grasslands Location: North America (Great Plains in U.S.), Eurasia, South America, South Africa Climate: hot summers & cold winters 20 - 35 inches of rain per year

Grasslands Plants: Grasses are dominant Animals: Has many ungulates (herbivores, or plant-eating animals, that graze on grasses and have hoofs)

Grasslands Other Information: Sometimes called prairies Has the darkest, most nutrient-rich soil, which is used for farming

Savanna

Savanna Location: covers half the surface of Africa, large areas of Australia, South America, and India Climate: temperatures range from 68° to 86°F 6 - 8 month wet summer season, 4 - 6 month dry winter season 10 - 30 inches per year

Savanna Plants: Coarse grass, few trees Animals: Ex: elephants, zebras, giraffes, lions, hyenas Birds and large mammals migrate elsewhere in search of water during the dry season

Taiga

Taiga Location: Extends across North America (Canada & Alaska), Europe, and Asia Climate: Long, cold winters, and short, mild, wet summers yearly precipitation is 10 - 30 inches

Taiga Plants: Many conifer (cone-bearing)/evergreen trees that can withstand cold temperatures and snow Not many plants due to the rocky and acidic soil

Taiga Animals: Many have thick coats of fur to insulate against the cold, some hibernate, while Others migrate deer, moose, elk, and snowshoe hare, grizzly bears, wolves, lynxes and wolverines Some have fur that changes colors to blend into the different summer and winter habitats

Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Rainforest Location: Covers 6 - 7% of the Earth’s land surface can be found on Central and South America, western Africa, southeast Asia, and Australia Climate: Average temperature ranges from 70°F to 85°F 80 to 400 inches of rain per year high humidity of 77% to 88% year-round

Tropical Rainforest Plants: home to half the plant species on Earth Many Plants, especially trees, that have adapted to wet climate divided into four zones (top to bottom): 1) emergent layer- trees over 150 feet 2) canopy- shorter trees, vines, and majority of life The next layer 3) understory- dark, cool area shaded by trees 4) forest floor- dead plants and animals decompose here, many insects

Tropical Rainforest Animals: home to half the animal species on Earth Other Information: Provide us with Oxygen, food, medicine, timber, travel, and more Threatened by deforestation

Tundra

Tundra Location: covers about one fifth of the land on earth arctic circle & Antarctica Climate: coldest and the driest of all the biomes on Earth Temperatures ranges from -50 degrees to 50 degrees Less than ten inches of precipitation a year

Tundra Plants: few plants because of frozen ground Ex: lichens, mosses, and small shrubs Animals: Have adaptations to survive freezing temperatures Ex: (See animals in cold desert) Other Information: Means “Treeless Plain”