Biomes Map Yours should look like this Questions

Biomes Map � Yours should look like this

Questions:

Biomes of the World

What are Biomes? • The world’s major regions, grouped according to the common climate and characterized by similarties of organisms in that environment.

• • • North pole area Cold, dry, treeless region “cold desert” Winter is 6 -9 mos. long Ground is “Permafrost” (permanently frozen) Arctic Tundra

Taiga (aka Boreal Forest) • Just south of tundra • Cold, coniferous forest region • Much wetter than tundra (more precipitation!)

Temperate Forest • 4 distinct seasons • Trees change color in autumn (deciduous) • More precipitation than Tundra or Taiga

Coniferous Forest • Lower temps, much more precipitation! • Deciduous and coniferous trees

Tropical Rain Forest • Warm temps, wet weather, lush plant growth • Near the equator • Home to extremely wide variety of organisms!

Desert • Driest ecosystem on earthsupports little plant life • Ground is covered in thin, sandy soil • Rare rain evaporates quickly

Grasslands (aka Prairie) • Not much rain, only supports grasses • Perfect for growing many crops and raising livestock

Rivers and Streams • Flowing freshwater • Current washes nutrients into water from land • Includes slow moving creeks to whitewater rapids

Lakes and Ponds • Freshwater (hardly moving) • More plant growth than flowing rivers • Lakes- deeper and colder towards bottom = less plant and algae growth • Ponds- shallow and warmer= filled with plant and animal life

Wetlands • Wet for most or all of year • Regions between land water (swamps or bogs) • Extremely fertile, but only for plants that can handle lots of water • Full of diverse animals and plants

Open Oceans • Saltwater • Contains different regions based on depth • Home to various plankton and fish

Coral Reefs • One of the most diverse ecosystems • Formed over long periods of time by animals called corals • Don’t adapt well to stress or change

Seashores and Estuaries • Seashore- Shallow water along coastlines • Estuary- where river meets ocean • Organisms must adapt to drastic changes in water levels and temperatures • Provide lots of seafood for humans!