General Climate
Seasonality
Tundra
Ex: Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge
(ANWR)
Alpine Tundra
Coniferous Forest
Very dry and very cold,
permafrost
Very long winters, very
short summers
Northernmost
(circumpolar)
Only dwarf plants,
lichens (not enough
nutrients for trees)
Caribou, reindeer,
wolves
“
Dry and cold
“
Long winters, short
summers
Tops of mountains
Just south of tundra or
surrounding mountains
“
Conical trees to
maximum light capture
“
Moose, lynx, hare
Temperate Forest
(Deciduous Forest)
Moderate to abundant
rainfall, moderate
temperatures
Moderate with
droughts and fires
(grazing)
Cold with frequent
fires
4 definite seasons
Moderate, coastal
areas (is coniferous if
poor soils and/or fires)
Moderate, inland areas
Stratified deciduous
trees
White-tailed deer, gray
squirrel, turkey
Short, mixed, and tallgrass
Bison, pronghorn, elk
Wet and dry seasons
Moderate, coastal
areas
Dense, evergreen
shrubs
Rodents, foxes,
coyotes
Desert
Very dry, cool to hot
None, really
Inland, generally
equatorial
Camel, armadillo
Tropical Grassland
(Savanna)
Hot and dry with fires
(grazing)
Wet and dry seasons
Inland, generally
southern
CAM plants that can
store water (cacti,
succulents)
Grasslands with sparse
trees
Tropical Forest
(Rain Forest)
Very wet and warm
None, really
Mostly coastal (some
inland), equatorial
Deciduous or
evergreen, epiphytes,
extremely diverse
Extremely diverse
LAND BIOMES
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie)
Chaparral
4 definite seasons
Location
Salinity
AQUATIC BIOMES
Flora
Location
Marine
~3.3% (33 parts per thousand)
Oceans
Freshwater
Brackish
~.1% (1 ppt)
.1 – 3.3%
Rivers, lakes, inland wetlands
Freshwater-ocean transitions
Fauna
Antelope, elk, deer
Miscellaneous
Coral reefs are most productive
areas, abyssal areas are least