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7 Major Land Biomes of the World
BIOMES
Desert
CLIMATE / CHARACTERISTICS
TYPES OF PLANTS
TYPES OF ANIMALS
- found in dry plains of the world
- precipitation is very scarce
- temperatures are very hot during
the day and cold during the night
Cactus – stores
water
- have spikes
(modified leaves) to
help reduce the
amount of water loss
Camel – humps store
fatty tissue
- high fat content
allows them to survive
in hot climates
Grassland
- found throughout the U.S.
- receive about 25-50 cm of
precipitation in one year
- temperatures may reach freezing
in the winter and are warm in the
summers
Buffalo Grass
- roots help form
dense sod
- provides food for
many animals (deer,
buffalo,prairie dogs)
Buffalo – thick coat to
protect them from
harsh winters
- incredible sense of
smell to detect
predators
Savanna
(African
Grassland)
- found throughout middle India,
Africa, Northern, Australia, and
parts of Brazil
- precipitation around 30-60 in. per
year
- temperatures in 60s – 80s all year
Acacia – long roots
that extend down to
groundwater
- tolerates droughts,
high temperatures,
and sandy soils
Giraffe – long necks
allow them to eat from
high tree tops
- can easily keep track
of predators
Coniferous
Forest
(Taiga)
- found in the subarctic zone
- precipitation usually falls in the
form of snow
- temperatures can reach up to the
80s in the summer and below zero
in the winter months
Evergreen trees
- needles to prevent
excess water loss
- pointed shape to
allow snow to easily
fall off of them
Deciduous
Forest
(Temperate)
- found along the Earth’s midlatitude line
- 4 seasons: winter, spring,
summer, fall
- temperatures warm in summer
and may be very cold in winter
Deciduous trees
- lose leaves in fall
to save energy
- shallow roots
allow them to grow
very tall
Snowshoe Hare
- fur changes color
with the seasons to
help camouflage it
- powerful hind legs to
quickly escape
predators
White-tailed Deer
- white tail alerts
others when danger is
near
- fur is camouflaged to
hide it in its habitat
Tropical
Rain Forest
- found along the Tropic of Cancer
and the Tropic of Capricorn
- precipitation around 79-354 in.
per year
- temperatures in 60s-80s year
round
Bamboo
- roots collect/store
water
- reduces soil
erosion by absorbing
water after rain
Macaw (parrot)
- beak shape allows to
eat nuts and fruits
- 4 toes to help it grip
onto branches and
prey easily
Tundra
- found in the arctic zones
- precipitation falls in the form of
snow
- temperatures may reach the 60s
in the summer months but may get
as low as -40°F in winter
Arctic Moss
- lives in water since
soil is frozen most
of the year
-stores nutrients so it
can easily grow in
spring
Polar Bear
- thick layer of blubber
under skin insulates
them
- skin under fur is
black to help soak up
and hold in more heat
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