1. BIOME CLIMATE (temperature & precipitation) LOCATIONCHARACTERI STICS (including important abiotic factors) BIOTIC FACTORS (examples of plants & animals) OTHER FACTS DECIDUOUS  Regular rainfall  Changing seasons (leaves change color)  USA  Parts of Europe  Rich soil with lots of nutrients  Deeper layer of clay  Broad-leaved and hardwood trees (maple, oak, hickory)  Squirrels, mice, rabbits, deer, bears, birds  Northern VA is a deciduous forest

2. Tropical Rain Forest  Large amounts of yearly rainfall  Hot and wet year round South/Central America Southeast Asia Part of Africa Southern India Northeast Australia  Rich, moist soil  Nutrients recycled quickly  Lower layers get little light  Most biodiversity in the world  Broad-leaved evergreen trees; ferns, vines and climbing plants  Herbivores, tropical birds, insects, fishes, reptiles  Many species that have not been discovered yet  3 “stories” or layers (canopy, understory, floor/ground)

3. DESERT  Little to no rain  Extreme temperatur e changes (cold at night, hot during day) Africa Asia Middle East USA South America Australia  Soil rich in minerals  Dry, hard soil  Sand  Few plants (Cacti & bushes)  Mountain lions, bobcats, antelopes, sheep, bats, owls, roadrunners, insects, reptiles  Deserts can be cold in temperature  Organisms living in the desert can tolerate extreme conditions

4. GRASSLANDS (SAVANNAHS)  Warm to hot summers  Cold winters  Seasonal rainfall Central Asia North America Australia Central Europe Upland plateaus of South America  Rich, fertile soil  Occasional fires  Few trees  Lush, perennial grasses & herbs (resistant to drought, fire and cold)  Grazing animals (herbivores), coyotes, badgers, snakes, insects  Ideal for grain growth (oats, rye, wheat)  This biome includes plains and prairies

5. TUNDRA  Freezing temperatures  Strong winds  Low rainfall  Short, soggy summers  Long, cold and dark winters Northern North America Asia Europe  Permafrost (frozen layer of soil)  Soil lacks nutrients  Short growing season  Ground- hugging/shallo w-rooted plants that are small & short (mosses, lichens, & short grasses)  A few resident birds and mammals adapted to harsh conditions  Some animals migrate to the tundra during summer

6. CONIFEROUS / TAIGA  Long, cold winters  Short, mild summer s  Moderat e rainfall  High humidity North America Asia Northern Europe  Acidic, nutrient- poor soil  Needle leaf coniferous/ev ergreen trees (spruce, fir)  Small, berry- bearing shrubs  Predators (lynxes & wolves); herbivorous mammals and large herbivores (moose); song birds and migratory birds  Found just south of the tundra  Warmer and wetter than tundra

7. MARINE  Temperature of water depends on depth  Seas  Oceans  Salt water (salinity)  Amount of light depends on depth  Variety of organisms depending on depth  Large amount of biomass  Seaweed  Plankton (microscopic organisms), variety of fish, dolphins, sharks  Coral Reefs  Different zones at different depths

8. ESTUARY  Affected by ocean tides  Wetlands where rivers meet the sea  Mix of fresh water and salt water  Submerged aquatic vegetation  Oysters, worms, crabs, shrimps, zooplankton, bass, birds Chesapeake Bay is an Estuary

9. FRESH WATER  Warm top layer, colder bottoms layer  Flowing- water or standing -water  Ponds  Lakes  Rivers  Wetla nds  Fresh water  Tempera ture of water and light depends on depth  Muddy bottom  Catfish, trout  Turtles, beavers, insects, frogs  Wetlands is where water covers the soil