Biomes

HOT TEMPERATURE COLD TUNDRA DESERT SAVANNA- Tropical Grasslands TROPICAL RAIN FOREST TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS TAIGA TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST LOW RAINFALL HIGH

coniferous trees with cones and thin, needle-shaped leaves; evergreen trees such as pine, fir, and spruce

deciduous trees that have flat leaves that change color and fall off before winter

Desert

deserts Land covered by rocks or sand. Poor soil. Extreme temperature changes between day and night oF Very little rain--receives less than (10 in.) 25 cm of rain each year Some have cold winters, some have cold nighttime temperatures, but they have high daytime temperatures

deserts A few plants that are able to store water such as the saguaro cactus and creosote bushes. Animals mainly come out at night Snakes, other reptiles, rodents Owls, hawks, roadrunners Very few large animals. Barren, windblown sand dunes (hot deserts).

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 18. DesertsThe equator Hot days, Cool nights Low, fewer than 10 inches per year Few plant and animal species

Tundra

tundra Land covered with ice for most of the year made up of permafrost—a layer of permanently frozen soil a cold biome that does not support trees Extremely cold and dry. Ave. temp oF; ave. rainfall 8 in. (a cold desert)

tundra Low grasses and lichens. No/few trees. Fewer species than other biomes. caribou, arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, owls, voles (rodents) Amphibians and reptiles are rare. A cold, treeless plain; Arctic regions The largest biome—covers about 20% of Earth’s land.

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 19. tundraThe polesExtremely cold—the coldest Low--fewer than 10 in./year Fewest plant and animal species—NO TREES

Taiga

taiga (ty-guh) Land covered by coniferous trees. Long, cold winters with little precipitation, but warmer and wetter summers. Ave. temp oF; ave. rainfall 12 in. Plants include evergreen trees such as pine, fir, and spruce (coniferous forests)

taiga (ty-guh) Deer, elk, caribou, wolves, moose, black bears, shrews, other rodents, and migratory birds. Some animals migrate to warmer climates in the winter; some hibernate A cold forest of coniferous trees.

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 20. taigaThe tundra (one level down) Cold winters, cool summers Low amounts of rainfall Some plant and animal species— A FOREST OF CONIFER- OUS TREES

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Land covered by deciduous trees. Moderate temperatures (average 50oF) Abundant rainfall throughout the year. (average in.) Four distinct seasons.

temperate deciduous forest Mostly deciduous trees such as beech, oak, maple, elm, hickory and some coniferous trees. Animals include earthworms, birds, white- tailed deer, foxes, squirrels, raccoons, etc. Deciduous trees. Georgia is located in this biome.

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 21. Temperate deciduous forest GA! Eastern half of the US is TDF. The central part is temperate grassland. Cold winters, warm summers (4 distinct seasons with temperature variations) Moderate rainfall (all year round) Many plant and animal species

Temperate Grasslands

temperate grassland Covered with grasses, not trees; found at the same latitude as temperate deciduous forests Not enough rain to support many trees. Ave. temp oF; ave. rainfall in. Grasses such as wheat. Scattered trees. Also called pampas, steppe or veldt.

temperate grassland Mostly grazing animals like antelope,, bison/buffalo; also prairie dogs, coyotes skunks, badgers, and songbirds. Called the “Bread baskets of the world” because of the crops grown there. (cereals—wheat, barley, corn) Great Plains in the US/prairie

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 22. Temperate grasslands Central US; same latitude as TDF; called the Breadbasket of the World moderatelow to moderate Many plant and animal species; FEW TREES

Tropical Grasslands

Savanna

tropical grassland or savanna a grassland biome near the equator Warm temperatures (~70o F) Wet and dry seasons Dry 4” of rain, wet 15-25” of rain Grasses, shrubs, and a few trees Animals like zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, gazelles, lions, leopards, elephants Where the zoo animals live. (Lion King)

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 23. Tropical grassland/ savanna The equatorwarmModerate to low (wet and dry seasons) Many plant and animal species; FEW TREES

Tropical Rain Forest

Tropical Rainforest

tropical rain forest Located around or near the equator. Land covered by tall trees and lush plant growth. Warm/hot temperatures year round oF high amounts of rain ” Ferns, orchids, and tall (canopy) trees Parrots, snakes, frogs, monkeys, lizards

Thousands of species of trees and other plants. Thousands of species of animals: monkeys, frogs, birds, insects, etc. A lot of rain and an astonishing variety of organisms. Produce 40% of Earth’s oxygen

BiomeLocated nearTemperature (hot, cold, moderate) Rainfall (high, low, moderate, fewer than 10 in./year) Plant and animal species (many, few, most, least) 24. Tropical rainforest The equatorWarm/hotHigh (highest amount of rainfall) The most plant and animal species

HOT TEMPERATURE COLD TUNDRA DESERT SAVANNA- Tropical Grasslands TROPICAL RAIN FOREST TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS TAIGA TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST LOW RAINFALL HIGH