1. Biomes What do you need to know? -soil types of different biomes differ - filtration rates, rate of water flow through the soil, of the different soils can be studied

2. What kind of soil texture would you find in each of these biomes? Consider: the types of soil particles present and the amount of organic matter.

3. Tropical Rain Forest Rain Forest Climate - hot & humid year round Soil - thin, poor soil Plants – very abundant; tall trees, vines Tropical Dry Forest Climate/Soil – warm year-round with alternating wet and dry seasons; rich soil Plant life –tall, deciduous (drop their leaves), succulent

4. Savanna Climate/Soil: –More rain than deserts, but less than tropical dry forest –Compacted soils, frequent fires Plants –Similar to tropical dry forest

5. Deserts Climate/Soil: - Low precipitation - Variable temps - Rich in nutrients, poor in organic materials Plants - Short growth cycles - Cacti – waxy coating to prevent water-loss

6. Temperate Forest Climate/Soil: –Cold/moderate winters, warm summers –Year-round precipitation –Fertile soil Plant life –Deciduous trees and conifers

7. Grasslands Climate/Soil: warm to hot summers, cold winters; fertile soil - agriculture Plants – tall grasses, prairies

8. Tundra/Polar Region Climate/Soil: - Cold, dark winters and short, soggy summers - Permafrost – layer of permanently frozen subsoil Plants - low to the ground

9. Boreal Forest (Taiga) Climate/Soil: -long, cold winters; short, mild summers; moderate precipitation -acidic, nutrient-poor Plants – conifers (cone- bearing trees)

10. Instructions: 1. Pick 1 biome on the biome map 2. On the HWSD Major Soil Texture soils map, select a location that is in the biome you picked and determine the type of soil in your biome. Write down the name of the soil texture. 3. Use the information from the soil type triangle handout to mix soil found in your biome.biome mapHWSD Major Soil Texture soils map