Five Major Types of Biomes
A biome is a big area known for its plants, weather, and animals. There are five main biomes: water,
grassland, forest, desert, and tundra. Some of these have smaller groups like oceans, lakes, or
different types of forests.
Water biomes can be freshwater like ponds or salty like oceans. Oceans are the biggest and are
about three-fourths of our planet.
Grasslands are open areas with grass. There are tropical ones, called savannas, near the equator.
There are also temperate ones, like prairies, farther away. Prairies have tall grass and steppes have
short grass.
Forests have lots of trees. They're about one-third of Earth. They have many animals and birds.
There are three kinds: tropical, temperate, and boreal or taiga forests. Tropical ones are warm and
near the equator. Temperate ones have all four seasons. Boreal ones are cold and snowy.
Deserts are very dry places. They're about 20 percent of Earth. Most are warm, but some are cold.
Deserts don't have many plants or animals because it's so dry. There are four types: hot, semiarid,
coastal, and cold.
Tundras are very cold. They're either in the far north or on high mountains. They don't have many
plants or animals. The ground under the topsoil is frozen. The two types are arctic and alpine
tundras. Animals there need special ways to live in the cold.
Questions

How do water biomes differ from one another?
Water biomes can be freshwater like ponds or salty like oceans. Oceans are the biggest and
are about three-fourths of our planet.

What separates a savanna from a prairie?
Savannas are closer to the equator.

How much of Earth's surface is covered by forests?
One third

Why are deserts not teeming with life?
Because it is so dry

Describe the climate of tundras.
It is very cold, usually in the far north or on high mountains.

What's the difference between arctic and alpine tundras?
Alpine tundras are located on high elevation levels and Arctic tundras are located at high
latitude areas.