Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes Program
Pre- and Post-Activities
BACKGROUND FOR TEACHER
In this lesson, we will be reviewing the 6 major biomes of the world and the ways in which plants adapt to the living
conditions in each of those biomes. The Conservatory at Longwood Gardens provides the perfect opportunity to visit
a number of these conditions in one place and to see the plants that grow in the different climates first-hand. By
understanding the ways in which plants adapt to different environments, we can explore the topic of evolution. In
addition, we are able to explore and emphasize the importance of protecting each of these areas in the world and
understand why biodiversity is so very important.
VOCABULARY
Biodiversity
Adaptations
Biotic
Biome
Biodiversity index
Monoculture
Abiotic
Clone
NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS
Standard: HS-LS2. Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
Performance Expectations
HS-LS2-7
Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities
on the environment and biodiversity.
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 1
Standard: HS-LS4. Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Performance Expectations
HS-LS4-1
Communicate scientific information that common ancestry and biological evolution
are supported by multiple lines of empirical evidence.
HS-LS4-2
Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily
results from four factors: (1) the potential for a species to increase in number, (2)
the heritable genetic variation of individuals in a species due to mutation and sexual
reproduction, (3) competition for limited resources, and (4) the proliferation of those
organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce in the environment.
HS-LS4-4
Construct an explanation based on evidence for how natural selection leads to
adaptation of populations.
HS-LS4-5
Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions
may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the
emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species.
HS-LS4-6
Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human
activity on biodiversity.
Standard: HS-ESS3. Earth and Human Activity
Performance Expectations
HS-ESS3-3
Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among the
management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and
biodiversity.
NATIONAL STANDARDS IN GEOGRAPHY
Standard 8: Understands the characteristics of ecosystems on Earth’s surface
Standard 14: Understands how human actions modify the physical environment
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 2
ACTIVITIES
Design a Home
1. Have students choose a biome.
2. Students should then design a human dwelling that would be appropriate for that biome. Students should
take into account the climate, temperature, and flora and fauna living in the biome.
3. Encourage students to use biomimicry and incorporate some adaptations that plants in the biome have
made in order to thrive there.
4. Optional, have students create a small model of the home they designed.
Real Estate Agent Skit
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Break students into groups of 2.
Let each group pick a biome.
One student should pretend to be someone skeptical about living in that biome.
The other student should pretend to be a real estate agent from the biome.
The groups should then write a skit that shows the real estate agent convincing the client to move to the
chosen biome.
Biome Rap
1.
2.
3.
4.
Break students into small groups.
Let each group pick a biome.
Have each group write a rap song describing the climate and plants in their chosen biome.
Optional, have the students create a music video in which they perform their rap.
Fashion Designer
1. Let each student choose a biome.
2. Have the students design and draw a clothing line based on the climate in their chosen biome. Students
should take into account the temperature, precipitation, and the flora and fauna of the biome when
choosing colors and materials for the clothing.
3. Optional, have the students create a diorama featuring the flora and fauna of the biome and some human
figures wearing the outfits from their clothing line.
WORKSHEETS
Biome Characteristics and Adaptations Worksheets
1. Print the worksheets on pages 5 and 7 and have the students fill them out to assess knowledge retention
from the program.
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 3
Biodiversity Index Worksheet
1. Print the worksheet on page 8 and have the students use the formula at the top of the page to calculate
the biodiversity indices for each scenario.
2. Explain that this statistic provides scientists with a way to quantify biodiversity and compare it in different
biomes.
3. Allow the students to think about the open-ended questions at the bottom of the worksheet.
WEB RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
Missouri Botanical Garden
www.mbgnet.net
University of California Museum of Paleontology
www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome/
Scholastic
www.scholastic.com/bloom
PBS Learning
whyy.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.eco.lp_biomes/biomes/#.WoREYFrwbcs
Discovery Education
www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/elements-of-biology-biomes.cfm
Seed Your Future
www.seedyourfuture.org
We Are Bloom
www.wearebloom.org
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 4
Biome Characteristics
Name: _________________________________________ Date: __________________
Place the letter of the ecological description next to the biome it describes.
____
Tropical
Forest
____
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
____
Coniferous
Forest
____
Temperate
Grassland
____
Savanna
____
Tundra
____
Desert
A. This biome possesses vertical layers. Trees here tend to be
only one or a few species, to possess many adaptations to
cold weather, and to not typically lose their foliage in the
winter. Climates supporting these forests tend to receive a
significant fraction of precipitation in the form of snow, which
melts during the warmer portion of the year—making water
available to the trees and other vegetation.
B. This biome is found in more tropical areas and includes
scattered trees. It is prominent on the continent of Africa. For
this biome, rainy seasons alternate with periods of drought.
Vegetation is prominent during the rainy season. Fires play an
important role in reshaping the physical environment.
C. This biome occurs in moderate climates found primarily in the
middle latitudes, north and south of the tropics. These climates
include enough precipitation to support the growth of large
trees and tend to feature warm summers and cold winters.
These trees will lose their leaves in the winter months. The
canopies of this biome are less dense, admitting more light to
the layers below.
D. This biome is prominent in the arctic and is characterized by
extreme cold and fierce winds, with little water available to
vegetation. Plant life is severely restricted. Permafrost is
evident and prevents the passage of large roots required for
large trees to grow.
E. The defining abiotic factor of this biome is aridity—the absence
of moisture. This biome may be hot, cold, or alternate between
temperature extremes. Plants here have evolved adaptations
to maximize their ability to extract and conserve water from
their arid environment.
F. This area is defined by the significant absence of trees and
large shrubs. Factors that prevent trees from growing include
periodic droughts, fires, and the grazing of animals. These
biomes tend to be fertile and are of agricultural interest.
G. This biome has very distinct vertical layers because of differing
access to sunlight. It contains a broad array of epiphytes
(mosses and orchids), which can grow high in the canopy
where there is more sunlight. This biome is also characterized
by high levels of precipitation.
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 5
Biome Characteristics
Name: _________________________________________ Date: __________________
Place the letter of the ecological description next to the biome it describes.
_G_
Tropical
Forest
_C_
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
_A_
Coniferous
Forest
_F_
Temperate
Grassland
_B_
Savanna
_D_
Tundra
_E_
Desert
A. This biome possesses vertical layers. Trees here tend to be
only one or a few species, to possess many adaptations to
cold weather, and to not typically lose their foliage in the
winter. Climates supporting these forests tend to receive a
significant fraction of precipitation in the form of snow, which
melts during the warmer portion of the year—making water
available to the trees and other vegetation.
B. This biome is found in more tropical areas and includes
scattered trees. It is prominent on the continent of Africa. For
this biome, rainy seasons alternate with periods of drought.
Vegetation is prominent during the rainy season. Fires play an
important role in reshaping the physical environment.
C. This biome occurs in moderate climates found primarily in the
middle latitudes, north and south of the tropics. These climates
include enough precipitation to support the growth of large
trees and tend to feature warm summers and cold winters.
These trees will lose their leaves in the winter months. The
canopies of this biome are less dense, admitting more light to
the layers below.
D. This biome is prominent in the arctic and is characterized by
extreme cold and fierce winds, with little water available to
vegetation. Plant life is severely restricted. Permafrost is
evident and prevents the passage of large roots required for
large trees to grow.
E. The defining abiotic factor of this biome is aridity—the absence
of moisture. This biome may be hot, cold, or alternate between
temperature extremes. Plants here have evolved adaptations
to maximize their ability to extract and conserve water from
their arid environment.
F. This area is defined by the significant absence of trees and
large shrubs. Factors that prevent trees from growing include
periodic droughts, fires, and the grazing of animals. These
biomes tend to be fertile and are of agricultural interest.
G. This biome has very distinct vertical layers because of differing
access to sunlight. It contains a broad array of epiphytes
(mosses and orchids), which can grow high in the canopy
where there is more sunlight. This biome is characterized by
high levels of precipitation.
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 6
Biome Challenges and Adaptations
Name: _________________________________________ Date: __________________
List the major challenge or limiting resource that plants face in each biome and an
adaptation that plants have acquired to survive there.
Biome
Limiting Resource(s)
Adaptation(s)
Wetlands
Plants have limited access to air
and sunlight when they are fully or
partially submerged and soils are
very fluid.
tap roots; hollow stems to serve as
air cavities; stomata on the upper
side of leaves; roots for attachment
rather than absorption
Tropical
Forest
Temperate
Deciduous
Forest
Coniferous
Forest
Temperate
Grassland
Savanna
Tundra
Desert
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 7
Biodiversity Indexes
Name: _________________________________________ Date: __________________
For the following examples, calculate the biodiversity index using the following formula:
The number of species in the area ÷
The total number of individuals in the area = biodiversity index
Example: In a garden plot at Longwood, there are 13 tulips, 6 hyacinths, 12 daffodils, 7
daisies, 10 snowdrops, and 2 crocuses. The biodiversity index is 0.12.
6 species ÷ 50 total plants = 0.12
1. In a vegetable garden, there are 4 carrot plants, 3 broccoli plants, 5 tomato
plants, 2 eggplant plants, 1 pea plant, 6 squash plants, and 4 basil plants. What
is the biodiversity index of this vegetable garden, assuming those are the only
species in the garden?
2. In a front yard, there are 5000 individual grass plants of the same species, along
with 4 dandelions and 3 thistle plants. What is the biodiversity index of this front
yard, assuming those are the only species in the yard?
3. In a patch of forest, there are 35 pine trees, 80 ferns, 35 oak trees, 20 birch
trees, 45 moss patches, 25 lichen patches, 10 squirrels and 5 frogs. What is the
biodiversity index of this forest patch, assuming those are the only species in that
patch of forest?
4. Which ecosystem above has the highest biodiversity index?
5. Which ecosystem above has the lowest biodiversity index?
6. How could you improve the biodiversity index for the least biodiverse ecosystem?
7. Why is it important to have a high biodiversity index?
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 8
Biodiversity Indexes- Answer Key
Name: _________________________________________ Date: __________________
For the following examples, calculate the biodiversity index using the following formula:
The number of species in the area ÷
The total number of individuals in the area = biodiversity index
Example: In a garden plot at Longwood, there are 13 tulips, 6 hyacinths, 12 daffodils, 7
daisies, 10 snowdrops, and 2 crocuses. The biodiversity index is 0.12.
6 species ÷ 50 total plants = 0.12
1. In a vegetable garden, there are 4 carrot plants, 3 broccoli plants, 5 tomato
plants, 2 eggplant plants, 1 pea plant, 6 squash plants, and 4 basil plants. What
is the biodiversity index of this vegetable garden, assuming those are the only
species in the garden?
0.28
2. In a front yard, there are 5000 individual grass plants of the same species, along
with 4 dandelions and 3 thistle plants. What is the biodiversity index of this front
yard, assuming those are the only species in the yard?
6.0 x 10-4
3. In a patch of forest, there are 35 pine trees, 80 ferns, 35 oak trees, 20 birch
trees, 45 moss patches, 25 lichen patches, 10 squirrels and 5 frogs. What is the
biodiversity index of this forest patch, assuming those are the only species in that
patch of forest?
0.03
4. Which ecosystem above has the highest biodiversity index?
Vegetable garden
5. Which ecosystem above has the lowest biodiversity index?
Front yard
6. How could you improve the biodiversity index for the least biodiverse ecosystem?
Answers may vary
Example: Remove some of the grass and add a garden bed with a
variety of different species to the front yard
7. Why is it important to have a high biodiversity index?
Biodiversity promotes the resilience and productivity of
ecosystems.
Biodiversity Adaptations and Biomes 9