Name____________________________________
Biome Notes
Test Date March 10, 2016
Just what is a biome? Biomes are very large areas on the earth’s surface, with animals and
plants adapting to their environment. Biomes are often defined by abiotic factors such as
climate, geology, soils and vegetation. A biome is NOT an ecosystem. If you take a closer look,
you will notice that different plants or animals in a biome have similar adaptations that make it
possible for them to exist in that area.
There are 2 Types of Biomes.__________________________and___________________________
1. Terrestrial Biomes: ______________________________________________________________
Terrestrial Biomes located on_______________________________
Terrestrial Biomes are determined by land’s latitude, altitude, and precipitation.
Different plants and animals inhabit each biome and are adapted for that particular biome.
6 Terrestrial Biomes:
_________________________
___________________________
_________________________
____________________________
_________________________
_____________________________
2. Aquatic Biomes: _________________________________________________________________
2 Aquatic Biomes:
________________________________
________________________________
* Every land (or terrestrial) biome has a set of characteristics that makes it different from the other
biomes.
Tundra Biome
A.
-a________________________biome covered by _____________________in
the winter.
Found across ___________________________________________Europe and Asia.
Have _________________________________ (a permanently frozen layer of ground).
Common Animals: Caribou, Hawks, Snowy owls, Reindeer, Polar Bears, and_______________________
Animal Adaptations: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Common Plants: Lichens, Shrubs, and ___________________________________________
What are lichens? ______________________________________________________________________
Why are lichens important to the environment? _____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Plant Adaptations: low-growing, small leaves, shallow roots, and _______________________________
Average Yearly Rainfall: _________________________________________________________________
Temperature: Winter temperature average_____________________________________
Climate: Cold Temp’s, High Winds, and Dry; Permafrost
Geographic: Northern Alaska, Northern Canada, and Russia
Typical Food Chain: _____________________________________________________________________
Taiga (or Coniferous Forest or Boreal Forest)
B.
-a biome dominated by
conifers (____________________________________________) such as pines, firs, spruces, and cedars.
This Biome is known as Boreal Dense Forest because it is tightly packed-so close together that there is
little space or unoccupied space.
Found south of tundra in North America, Europe, and Asia
Common Animals: Bears, Deer, Elk, Moose, Beavers, Lynx, Snowshoe Rabbits
Animal Adaptations: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Common Plants: Conifers, Hemlocks, Pines, Firs, Spruces, Cedars, Redwood
Plant Adaptations: _____________________________________________________________________
Average Yearly Rainfall: 40 to 90cm of rain per year (12-33 inches)
Temperature: _________________________________________________________________________
Climate: Cool Summer and Cold Winters; Plenty of Rain
Geographic: North America
Typical Food Chain: _____________________________________________________________________
During the long winter, snow covers the ground protecting tree roots from________________________
Deciduous Forest
C.
(also referred to as ___________________________)-a biome
characterized by ___________________that lose their leaves in the fall.
Stretches across the eastern U.S. Europe, parts of Asia, South America, Africa, and Australia.
The state of_____________________________________is in a Temperate Forest Biome.
Common Animals: Mice, Snakes, Deer, Fox, Raccoons, Gray Squirrels, and Black Bears
Animal Adaptations: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Common Plants: Maple, Oak Trees, and Wild flowers
Plant Adaptations: _____________________________________________________________________
Average Yearly Rainfall: More than 75cm (30-100inches)
Temperature: _________________________________________________________________________
Climate: 4 Distinct Seasons; Warm Summer, Cool Winter, Year round Rainfall and fertile soil.
Geographic: Mississippi, Eastern United States
Typical Food Chain: _____________________________________________________________________
______________________is the dark organic material in soils produced by the decomposition of
vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the Earth.
Grassland
D.
-a biome characterized by moderate rainfall, fields of ___________________, and
few trees. The grasses are generally resistant to drought and cold as well as to the fires that
occasionally sweep through the plains.
Common Animals: Prairie, Antelope, Buffalo, Cheetahs, Wildebeest, Coyotes, Elephants, Lions, Zebras,
and Giraffes
Animal Adaptations: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Common Plants: Drought-Resistant and Fire-Resistant Grass
Plant Adaptations: _____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Average Yearly Rainfall: _________________________________________________________________
Temperature: 72 F-86 F and Lack precipitation
Climate: Moderate Rainfall; Hot summers, Cold winters, fertile soil
Geographic: Midwestern United States, large parts of Africa (Savannahs)
Typical Food Chain: _____________________________________________________________________
There are several categories of grasslands. Take a look at two common types:
__________________________________________-Midwestern United States; characterized by tall
grasses and grazing herbivores.
Typical food chain _______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________-Africa; has small clusters of trees, large
herbivorous animals, such as giraffes, elephants, rhinoceros, and hippopotamuses, and large cats, such
as lions and cheetahs.
Typical food chain________________________________________________________________
E.
Desert-a biome where rainfall average less than 25 cm per year(less than 9.9 inches)
Found in North Africa, Mexico, Idaho, Northern Nevada, Arizona
Common Animals: Snakes, Lizards, Bobcats, Camels, Rats, Coyotes
Animal Adaptations: __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Common Plants: Cacti, Shrubs (small), Succulents
Plant Adaptations: _____________________________________________________________________
Average Yearly Rainfall: Less than 25cm of rain per year(less than 10 inches)
Temperature: _________________________________________________________________________
Climate: Hot days; Cold nights
Geographic: Southwestern United States, Mexico, and North Africa
Typical Food Chain: _____________________________________________________________________
G.
Tropical Rain Forest
Found near the equator where rainfall and sunlight are plentiful such as in Asia, Africa, South America,
and Central America.
Very diverse___________________________________________________________________
Four parts of the tropical rain forest:
____________________________________________________________________________________
Common Animals: Colorful Birds, Lizards, Monkeys, Butterflies, Snakes
Animal Adaptations: Bright colors to warn of poison, camouflage against predators, specialized traits to
eat a specific food, various beak sizes and shapes for specific purposes(in birds), specialized traits for
living in trees(such as prehensile tails).
Common Plants: Epiphyte, Orchids, Broadleaf evergreens, Palms, Ferns, and Vines.
Plant Adaptations: Large Leaves, Shallow roots, ability to “eat” insects, the ability to grow in the air,
specialized traits to obtain nutrients and sunlight.
Average Yearly Rainfall: 150 to 600cm per year (80-180inches per year).
Temperature: _________________________________________________________________________
Climate: Warm and Wet, Year Round High Temperatures; High Rainfall
Geographic: Near Equator; South America
Typical Food Chain: _____________________________________________________________________
Climatograms: A climatogram is normally a combination of a_____________________ and a
_______________________________that shows temperature and precipitation in an area.
On a climatogram, the bars represent____________________________.
The line represents_____________________________________. To read precipitation, use the scale
on the _______________________. To read temperature, read the scale on the_________________.
Consider the following questions, when reading a climatogram.
A. Which month receives the most precipitation? _____________________________
B. Which month receives the least?________________________________
C. What is the lowest temperature indicated on the climatogram? _________________________
D. What is the highest temperature? _______________________________
E. Total Precipitation for the year? _________________________
F. Temperature for July____________________________
G. Which biome is most likely represented by this climatogram? __________________________
Aquatic Ecosystems
Aquatic Biomes are most often determined by_______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Two Types of Aquatic Ecosystems
1._______________________________________________
2._______________________________________________
Freshwater Biome: Rivers and Streams
Flowing Water Biome
Standing water Biome: Lakes and Ponds
The water is still-they have small organisms called _______________________________.
Phytoplankton are microscopic photosynthetic organisms that float near the surface of the water. The
tiny animals that feed on them are__________________________________.
Saltwater Biomes include:
A. Aphotic: “Aphotic” means ________________________, and the aphotic zone of the ocean is always
dark. It is so deep that not sunlight ever reaches there. The only producers in the aphotic zone are
chemosynthetic autotrophs that do not need light.
B. Coastal Ocean: The area between the outer continental shelf and the low-tide mark. Since sunlight
can penetrate this water, there are many producers in the coastal ocean. Kelp grows in certain areas,
and there are fishes, snails, seals, sea urchins, and whales.
C. Intertidal Zone: The area between____________________and____________________________.
Organisms that live an intertidal zone must be able to adapt to the extreme changes that occur regularly
due to the tides. Most of the time, they live in_________________________and are exposed to air and
temperature changes. Then during_____________________, they are submerged by seawater. Because
of the currents, many of the organisms are permanently attached to rocks, or like starfish and sea
urchins, they able to cling to the rocks by using suckers or tube feet.
D. Coral Reefs: The most beautiful and diverse biome. Colorful fishes, sea anemones, starfish, and the
corals themselves live in this environment, which is found only in warm water and is usually no deeper
than 40 meters.
E. Estuaries: Formed where__________________and _____________________merge with the ocean.
Algae, seaweed, and marsh grass can usually be found growing in estuaries, and a wide variety of
animals, such as oysters, shrimp, worms, and crabs.