Name: _______________________________________
Period: _________
Teacher: __________________
1
INTRODUCTION TO BIOMES
WHAT IS A BIOME?
Biomes are large areas of the Earth that share similar climate. Climate is the overall
weather in an area over a long period of time. Climate limits the species that can live
in an area. As we learned when we studied food chains, the types of plants
(producers) in an area will have an effect on the types of animals (consumers).
6 Terrestrial Biomes
In this unit we will be studying 6 terrestrial (land) biomes which will include: Tundra,
Taiga, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Tropical Rainforest, Grassland, and Desert.
Location of Biomes
The Earth has seasons because it is titled on its axis at 23.5°. This tilt also
causes the amount and intensity of sunlight an area receives to change
throughout the year except in the Tropical Rainforest. The Tropical
Rainforests are located on or near the equator and have no changes in
seasons because the amount and intensity of the sun’s rays is constant.
CLIMATE VERSUS WEATHER
Climate is the overall weather in an area over a long period of time. The climate of
an area affects the vegetation (plant life) in an area. Rainfall and temperature are
the climate factors that affect vegetation the most. Weather is the condition of the
atmosphere at a certain time and place. If you were to open the window and
explain what was happening outside would you be describing the climate or the
weather? Explain.
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ADAPTATIONS
Adaptations are features that allow organisms to live and reproduce in their
environment. Both plants and animals have various types of adaptations. As we study
each biome we will discuss, in depth, the adaptations of organisms that live there.
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The Arctic Tundra -A Frozen Desert
LOCATION
The Tundra is a biome in the far north and on the tops of high mountains. There is a
biome called the Arctic Tundra. These areas can only be found in the northern
hemisphere and make up a little less than 10 percent of the Earth’s surface. Parts of
Iceland, Siberia, Alaska, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Finland are considered
Arctic Tundra. The Tundra is a harsh environment. Many of the plants and animals of
the Tundra have to have special adaptations for survival. Antarctica is not included
in the Arctic Tundra biome because it has fewer large animals. Antarctica has its own
biome known as the Antarctic Biome.
CLIMATE
Temperature in the Arctic Tundra
Season
Winter
Summer
Average Temperature
-30°F
45°F
Most Extreme Temperatures
-40° F - -93°F
60°F - 90°F
Precipitation
Precipitation in many Tundra regions total six to ten inches a year, including melted
snow. This is less rain than falls on some of the world's greatest deserts! Much of the
Arctic has rain and fog in the summer.
PERMAFROST
In the Tundra a condition called permafrost exists. Permafrost is a condition where
only the top few inches of soil thaw out during the summer. The rest of the ground is
permanently frozen. This thawed ground is often very wet because of the deeply
frozen ground below prevents surface water from soaking into the soil. The permafrost
varies in depth from 1,000 to 2,000 feet.
The existence of permafrost prevents tall trees from growing in the Tundra because
their roots cannot travel deep into the soil. The high winds of the Tundra easily knockdown any trees that would try to grow more than a few inches tall.
The permafrost causes the melted surface water to form pools that are perfect
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breeding grounds for millions of mosquitoes, flies, and other invertebrates that hatch
during the short summers. These millions of small animals provide food for the large
numbers of birds that migrate (an animal’s regular, seasonal journey in search of
food, shelter or habitat) to the Tundra each summer called migratory birds. Migratory
birds utilize the long days and rich food supplies of the Tundra to raise their young
during the short nesting season.
ADAPTATIONS
Vegetation
The plants of the Arctic Tundra region include mosses, lichens, wildflowers, grasses,
and shrubs that are able to survive because they grow very close to the ground. Their
short size protects them from the cold, dry winds that blow through. It also permits the
plants to take advantage of the protection offered by the thin snow cover during the
winter.
Arctic Poppy
Perennial-slow growing, lasts many years, ready
to grow as soon as it is warm enough.
Revolving flowers-flowers are cup-shaped and
turn slowly during the day to catch the sun’s
rays like a satellite dish.
Clumps-grows in clumps which can remain 20F
warmer than surrounding air.
Dark leaves-absorb the sun’s heat, helps to
photosynthesize and to melt nearby snow.
Small hairs-on stem to trap heat and keep it
close to the surface of the plant.
Matted roots-help anchor the plant in place
during strong winds.
Small size-stays low to the ground to resist
winds.
Wildlife
Small mammals such as mice, voles, lemmings, and marmots feed on the Arctic
Tundra plants and the seeds that the plants produce. Some of the Tundra animals
survive the harsh winter by hibernating, the process by which animals slow down their
body processes and sleep through the coldest season when food is scarce. Other
animals create a hole or tunnel in the ground for protection called a burrow. Others
use the snow itself for warmth.
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In areas where the Arctic Tundra meets the Arctic Ocean and other cold polar seas,
you will find marine life, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and plankton which
provide food for seals, walrus, whales, and sea birds.
Adaptations-Cryptic Coloration versus Camouflage
Some animals of the Arctic Tundra have developed cryptic coloration. Cryptic
coloration should not be confused with camouflage. Camouflage is an unchanging
body covering that allows an organism to appear to be part of the natural
surroundings and therefore become less obvious to their predators and prey. Cryptic
coloration takes this process a step further. An animal that use cryptic coloration is
able to change the coloring of its body covering (feathers, fur or skin) to best blend
into their surroundings. In the Arctic Tundra, these animals have patchy brown body
coverings in the summer allowing them to blend well into the grasses and rocks of the
Tundra. In the winter their body covering changes to white to help the animal blend
into the snowy landscape. Arctic Tundra animals that use cryptic coloration include
the willow ptarmigan, the arctic fox, and the arctic hare.
TREE-LINE
The tree-line is the elevation above which trees cannot grow. The tree-line is not
located at the same elevation on each mountain. Its location is determined by
factors such as location of the mountain (latitude), climate, wind direction, and
exposure to sunlight. The height of the actual tree-line varies depending on the
mountain range as the graph below illustrates.
35,000
Height (ft.)
30,000
Treeline (ft.)
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Mt. Everest (Nepal)
Mt. Denali (US,
Alaska)
Mt. St. Helens (US,
Washington)
High Knob (US,
Pocono
Mountains)
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Alpine Tundra
The Alpine Tundra is a unique type of Tundra
found in the great mountain ranges of the world.
Alpine Tundra can be found at an altitude
(elevation above the Earth’s surface) of about
10,000 feet or more, just below the snow-line (the
line on a mountain that is continually covered
with snow and ice) of a mountain. Mountain
ranges that are parts of the Alpine Tundra are
shown on the map to right and include the Rocky Mountains,
Sierra Nevada, and Cascade Mountains in North America, the Andes in South
America, the Himalayas in Asia, the Alps and Pyrenees in Europe, and the Rift
Mountains of Africa.
Location of Key Places on a Mountain
TEMPERATURES
In the summer, which can last from June to September, average temperatures in the
Alpine Tundra range from 50-60°F. In the winter, which can last from October to May,
the temperatures are below freezing. The temperatures in the Alpine biome can also
change from warm to freezing in one day.
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ROCKY MOUNTAINS
The most well known Alpine Tundra in North American is in the Rocky Mountains in
Rocky Mountain National Park. There you can drive on Trail-Ridge Road, America's
highest continuous highway, up the mountain into the Alpine Tundra. This road cuts
across Rocky Mountain National Park from east to west, and rises 4,000 feet in a
matter of minutes, passing through forests of aspen and pine to thick sub-alpine
forests of fir and spruce. At the tree-line, the last small trees are just before the Alpine
Tundra. Trail Ridge Road travels for 11 miles above 11,000 feet and for four miles
above 12,000 feet. The road's highest point is 12,183 feet above sea level.
SPECIAL ALPINE TUNDRA ADAPTATIONS
Vegetation
There are only about 200 species of Alpine Tundra plants. At high altitudes there is
very little carbon dioxide, which plants need to carry on photosynthesis. Because of
the cold and wind, most plants are small perennial (a plant with a growing season of
3 or more years) groundcover plants which grow and reproduce slowly.
Wildlife
Alpine Tundra animals have to deal with two types of problems: the cold and too
much high ultra-violet (UV) wavelengths because there is less atmosphere to filter UV
rays from the sun. There are only warm blooded animals in the alpine biome with the
exception of insects. Alpine animals adapt to the cold by hibernating, migrating to
lower, warmer areas, or insulating their bodies with layers of fat. Animals will also tend
to have shorter legs, tails, and ears, in order to reduce heat loss. Alpine animals also
have larger lungs, more blood cells, and hemoglobin because of the increase of
pressure and lack of oxygen at higher altitudes.
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Name ______________________________________________ Date ________ Period _____
Tundra Questions
1. Where is the Tundra biome located?
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2. What is permafrost?
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3. How does permafrost help bird populations?
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4. Why can’t tall trees grow in the Tundra?
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5. Why is hibernation a successful adaptation for some Tundra animals?
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6. What is the difference between camouflage and cryptic coloration?
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7. Where is the alpine Tundra found?
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8. Alpine Tundra organisms have to adapt to different conditions than the organisms
of the Arctic Tundra. Give one example of the obstacles both plants and animals
in the Alpine Tundra have to overcome.
Alpine Tundra Plants
Alpine Tundra Wildlife
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The Taiga
LOCATION AND CLIMATE
As we move south from the Arctic Tundra,
into lower altitudes, coniferous trees begin to
sprout in an area with a longer growing
season and soil that lacks permafrost. This is
the biome called the taiga (pronounced TIEguh) or the boreal forest. The taiga stretches
across a broad band of the Northern
Hemisphere just below the Arctic Circle. It is also found in mountain ranges, including
the Alps, Rockies, and Urals. In the taiga, the forest floor is dark and has little
vegetation. It has long, cold winters and precipitation typically in the form of snow.
ADAPTATIONS
Vegetation
The dominant vegetation in the Taiga is often
conifers (cone-bearing trees). Coniferous trees
have many adaptations that help them survive
the cold of the taiga which can be found on
packet page 12. Examples of conifers include
pines, spruces, firs, and redwoods.
There are also some deciduous (broadleaf plants that shed their leaves seasonally)
trees in the Taiga. These are usually very hardy types such as birch, aspen, poplars,
and willows. In cool shade of the large trees, there are mosses, lichens, and ferns.
Plant growth is most abundant during the summer months because of nearly
constant daylight and larger amounts of precipitation.
The soil of the Taiga thaws out completely each summer and is home to microscopic
organisms that help decompose the conifer needles on the forest floor, enriching the
soil. However, conifer needles contain substances that make the soil acidic when
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they fall to the ground. Most plants cannot grow in acidic soil, which is one reason
the forest floor of the taiga has few plants. In addition, soil forms slowly in the Taiga
because the climate and acidity of the fallen leaves slow decomposition.
Animals
With a milder climate and greater diversity of plants than the Tundra, there is an
increase in animal life. Large mammals such as moose, elk, deer, and bear may be
fairly common. Several varieties of squirrels, rabbits, porcupines, and chipmunks may
be found in this area. Some of these animals have very thick coats to protect them
from the cold winters.
The Taiga has many lakes, swamps, and streams that, in summer, attract animals that
feed on insects, fish, or other aquatic (living in or growing in water) organisms. Many
birds migrate south to avoid winter in the Taiga. Some year-round residents, such as
shrews and rodents, may burrow underground during the winter, because the deep
snow cover insulates the ground. Some animals, such as arctic hares, use cryptic
coloration to best blend into their surroundings) to avoid predators.
A group of hawks adapted for the taiga are the accipiters. These birds do not have
the pointed wings and large wing spans of the falcons of the open country. Their
wings are rounder and shorter. They are slower fliers, but they have greater
maneuverability. They can follow their prey, which is usually small birds, as they twist,
turn, and dart through the dense forest.
Figure 1.
Accipiter: short, round wings for
quick maneuverability.
Figure 2.
Eagle: long, broad wings for
direct, faster flight.
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THE TAIGA: THE PRESENCE OF MAN
The human population of the Taiga is considerably larger than that of the Tundra. The
climate is not as harsh, and the trees provide both shelter and valuable resources.
Conifers provide almost 75 percent of the world’s timber. One coniferous tree can be
processed into about 50,000 pieces of paper.
We can help protect the forests by not being wasteful and by recycling our paper
and resources. In the U.S. alone we use about 230 million trees per year for paper.
Worldwide, about 2,500 million people use wood for heating and cooking fuel. Due
to these human needs deforestation (the removal of trees by humans) has occurred,
where trees have been completely removed from some areas.
The forests of the Taiga are a great resource. Trees are a renewable resource, and if
used wisely, they will always be available for our uses. Renewable resources are
resources that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes. However,
even renewable resources can be depleted. If trees are harvested faster than they
can grow naturally, deforestation will result.
The two most widely used methods of harvesting trees are clear-cutting and selective
cutting. Clear-cutting is the process of removing all of the trees from an area of land.
Clear-cutting large areas destroys wildlife habitat and causes soil erosion. The
alternative is selective cutting, which is usually practiced on smaller areas owned by
individuals. Selective cutting is the process of thinning the forest by cutting and
removing only middle-aged or mature trees. Selective cutting is more expensive than
clear-cutting, but it is usually much less destructive.
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Name ______________________________________________ Date ________ Period _____
The Taiga
Directions: Answer the following in complete sentences.
1. Where is the Taiga located?
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2. Name four types of evergreens that grow in the Taiga.
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3. Why does a conical shape help evergreen trees withstand large and heavy
snowfalls?
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4. What are three reasons why the Taiga has a greater diversity of animal life than the
Tundra?
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5. Why do accipiters have shorter, rounder wings than falcons?
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Name ______________________________________________ Date ________ Period _____
The Taiga: The Presence of Man
Directions: Answer the following in complete sentences.
1. Why do more people live in the taiga than in the Tundra?
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2. If one tree can produce 50,000 pieces of paper, and if American use up to 230 million
trees per year, how many pieces of paper do American consumer annually?
3. How can you help protect forests of the Taiga?
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4. Explain what a renewable resource is.
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5. If forests are renewable resources, why should we be concerned with saving them?
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6. What is the difference between clear-cutting and selective cutting?
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The Temperate Deciduous Forest
LOCATION
The Temperate Deciduous Forest biome is
where the climate is not that extreme
and the dominant vegetation is
deciduous. These ecosystems are rich in
plant and animal life. Temperate
Deciduous Forests can be found in the
Eastern United States (including New Jersey), Western and Central Europe, and parts
of New Zealand, Japan, and China.
CLIMATE
In the Temperate Deciduous Forest the climate is milder than those of the Tundra and
Taiga, and there are four distinct seasons. Because of the four seasons, the
temperature range is quite large. Winter temperatures average 27° F while summer
temperatures average 72°F. Precipitation falls mainly in the form of rain but snow is
not uncommon in the winter months. The yearly average precipitation is between 3060 inches with a 45 inch yearly average in New Jersey.
ADAPTATIONS
The Temperate Deciduous Forest biome has four seasons: winter, spring, summer and
fall. Animals and plants have special adaptations to cope with seasonal changes.
Vegetation

Most of the trees in the Temperate
Deciduous Forest are deciduous. As
temperatures drop, the tree cuts off the
supply of water to the leaves and seals off
the area between the leaf stem and the
tree trunk. With limited sunlight and water,
the leaves are unable to continue
producing chlorophyll (green pigment in
leaves use in photosynthesis) causing them
to change into the beautiful red, yellow
and orange leaf colors of FALL.

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
In SUMMER, their broad green leaves help capture sunlight needed to make
food through photosynthesis.

In WINTER, it is too cold for the trees to protect their leaves from freezing, so
they simply loose them and seal up the places where the leaves attach to the
branch. Losing their leaves helps trees to conserve water loss through
transpiration, the process through which plants release water from their leaves
during photosynthesis. Dried leaves continue to hang on the branches of some
deciduous trees until the new leaves come out in the spring. Before the leaves
die, some of the food material they contain is drawn back into the twigs and
branches where it is stored and used the following spring.

The warmer temperatures and more hours of sunlight during SPRING signal to
the trees that they can grow new leaves again, and restart the cycle.
Animals
Animals in Temperate Deciduous Forests also have to adapt to the changing
seasons. They must be able to cope with cold winters when food is in short supply.
Migration and hibernation are two adaptations used by the animals in this biome.

A great variety of birds migrate.

Some mammals (e.g., bears) hibernate during the cold winter months.
Animals that hibernate
protect themselves against
the cold and reduce their
need for food. A
hibernating animal's body
temperature is lower than
normal, and its heartbeat
and breathing slow down
greatly. A hibernating
animal needs little energy
to stay alive and can live
off fat stored in its body
which allows them to more
easily survive the cold
winter.

Squirrels, chipmunks, and some birds often store large supplies of food (such as
nuts and seeds) in the ground, under fallen leaves, or in tree hollows for use
during the cold winters when food is scarce. Cold temperatures help prevent
the decomposition of the nuts and seeds.
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Temperate Deciduous Forest Fun Fact
Where do bugs go in the winter?
Where do the bugs of summer go when the weather turns cold? And how do they
reappear the next year when the temperatures warm?
Of course, the insects don't just 'disappear' and magically reappear the next year.
Each species has developed some way of dealing with the cold weather.
Some insects follow the example of the migratory birds and head south. The monarch
butterfly is one such animal. These are true migrating insects because the same
individuals that go south for the winter come back the next year.
Some other insects, such as leafhoppers and milkweed bugs, strategy for dealing with
winter is to head south as the winter cools. They reinvade the next year, but in this
case, it's different individuals that return.
Most insects stay here year round. They use a variety of tactics for
survival. One is simply to move in with humans. Insects such as
ladybird beetles (ladybugs), cluster flies, and elm leaf beetles
spend winter as adults in walls, attics, and other out-of-the-way
places in homes and other structures. Before humans started
building insect hotels, they probably found shelter in hollow logs
and other natural cavities.
Many insects spend the winter in immature stages - as
eggs (the bagworm is a good example), as larvae
underground (cicadas and June beetles) or as pupae
(the large silkworm moths such as the Cecropia).
The final group of insects consists of those that remain
active all year round. These are primarily aquatic
insects that spend the winter as immatures in rapidly
flowing streams that don't freeze all the way to the
bottom.
Cicada life cycle (above)
Some insects have body fluids that act like antifreeze. Glycol-like substances that
resist freezing protect the insect from being torn apart internally by ice crystals.
With or without antifreeze, most insects simply can not function at temperatures
below 40ºF. Because they rely entirely on the world around them for the warmth they
need to function, they've developed this wide range of techniques for surviving cold
weather and assuring the survival of their species.
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The Tropical Rainforest Biome
LOCATION
Tropical Rainforests covered much of the world
millions of years ago. Climate changes have limited
this biome to currently cover only six percent of the
land surface. Tropical Rainforests are located in
areas of the Earth that receive 80-150” of precipitation a year and are located on or
near the equator in a region called the tropics. The tropics are located between the
Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer. In this region the sun is very strong and
shines about the same amount of time every day all year long making the climate
warm and stable. Tropical Rainforests are found in South America, Africa, New
Guinea, Burma, and Indonesia.
CLIMATE
As the name states, it rains a lot in the Tropical Rainforests -almost everyday in fact!
The temperature is usually in the mid to low 80’s°F and it is quite humid. At least 80
inches of rain falls each year, and some areas receive as much as 150 inches.
Seasons in the rainforests are determined by the amount of rain. Basically, there are
two seasons in the rainforest; rainy and “dry”. During the rainy season, it rains every
day. During the “dry” season it may rain every other day.
LEVELS OF THE RAINFOREST
Different animals and plants live in different parts of the Tropical Rainforest. Scientists
divide the rainforest into levels based on the living environment. Starting at the top,
the levels are:




EMERGENTS: Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy
height. This level houses birds and insects.
CANOPY: The upper parts of the trees. This leafy environment is
full of life in a rainforest and includes: insects, birds, reptiles, and
mammals.
UNDERSTORY: A dark, cool environment under the leaves but
over the ground.
FOREST FLOOR: Teeming with animal life, especially insects. The
largest animals in the rainforest generally live here.
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In the Tropical Rainforest most plant and animal life is not found on the forest floor but
in the leafy world known as the canopy. The canopy, which may be over 100 feet
above the ground, is made up of the overlapping tree branches and leaves.
Scientists estimate that 70-90% of life in the Tropical Rainforest is found in the trees
making this the richest habitat for plant and animal life. Many well-known animals
including monkeys, frogs, lizards, birds, snakes, sloths, and small cats are found in the
canopy. As you stand in the rainforest, only patchy light hits you. The canopy is so
dense it does not allow sun or much rain to pass through to the forest floor. Only
about one percent of sunlight ever hits the forest floor.
Small plants and ferns grow in the shade on the forest floor. Even though the floor is
usually covered by several inches of fallen leaves and decaying plant and animal
matter, the soil underneath is not rich in mineral content. This is because nutrients are
taken up by plants as soon as they become available.
ADAPTATIONS
Vegetation
In order to survive in the hot, wet tropics, plants of the Tropical Rainforest have had to
develop special features.
1. Bark
Because the weather is hot and wet, trees do not
need thick bark to slow down moisture loss and have
instead thin, smooth bark.
2. Lianas
Lianas are climbing woody vines that drape Tropical
Rainforest trees. They have adapted to life in the
rainforest by having their roots in the ground and
climbing high into the tree canopy to reach
available sunlight. Many lianas start life in the
canopy and send roots down to the ground.
3. Leaves
The leaves of forest trees have a drip tip (pointy, downward facing leaf shape that
enables rain drops to run off quickly) to help them cope with the exceptionally high
rainfall. Plants need to shed water so that fungus and bacteria does not grown on
them. Many leaves also have a waxy coating to prevent this fungal growth.
Rainforest leaves can also be quite large; this enables them to get available sunlight
in forest layers below the canopy.
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4. Buttresses
Buttresses are massive ridges near the base of some big trees that give
added support in shallow, wet soil. These large trees can have buttresses
that can rise 30 feet high before blending into the trunk. Why do they form?
Buttress roots provide extra stability since roots of Tropical Rainforest trees
are not typically as deep as those of trees in temperate (areas of the Earth
with a climate that is not extreme) zones.
5. Prop and Stilt Roots
Prop and stilt roots give support to plants growing in shallow, wet soils and are
characteristic of tropical palms. Although the tree grows fairly slowly, these aboveground roots can grow 28 inches a month and give extra support to the trees.
6. Epiphytes
Thousands of flowering plants such as orchids, philodendrons,
ferns and bromeliads grow onto trees so they get sunshine.
These plants are called epiphytes (epp-ee-fights). Epiphytes
are flowering plants whose roots are not in soil. The plants get
their food from the air and water.
7. Bromeliads
Bromeliads grow on the branches of trees. Their leaves form a
vase or cup that holds water. Small roots anchor plants to
supporting branches, and their broad leaf bases form a waterholding tank or cup. The cup can hold from half a pint to 12
gallons or more. The cups support a thriving eco-system of
bacteria, protozoa, tiny crustaceans, mosquito and dragonfly
larvae, tadpoles, birds, salamanders, and frogs.
8. Carnivorous Plants
Some Tropical Rainforest plants are carnivorous. Carnivorous plants get
some or most of their nutrients from trapping and consuming animals.
They have a cavity filled with either sweet or terrible smelling nectar that
attracts insects, especially ants and flies. Inside, the sides are steep and
lined with downward pointing hairs. Insects enter and lose their footing or
are prevented from leaving because of the hair. Rafflesia, a carnivorous
plant of the Indonesian Tropical Rainforests, produces the biggest flower
in the world.
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Animals
Since there are so many creatures living in the Tropical Rainforest there is a great deal
of competition for food, sunlight, and space.
1. Specialized eaters
Some animals have become very specialized. This means
that they adapted to eating a specific plant or animal that
few others eat. For example, parrots and toucans eat nuts,
and developed big strong beaks to crack open the tough
shells. Leafcutter ants climb tall trees and cut small pieces of
leaves which they carry back to their nest. The leaf pieces
are a bout 50 times their weight. The ants bury the leaf
pieces, and the combination of the leaves and the ants'
saliva encourages the growth of a fungus, which is the only
food these ants eat.
2. Camouflage
Many Tropical Rainforest animals use camouflage to
'disappear' in the rainforest. Stick insects are perfect examples
of this. There are some butterflies whose wings look like leaves.
Camouflage is of course useful for predators too, so that they
can catch prey that hasn't seen them.
Can you spot the stick ant in the picture to the left?
3. Poison
Some animals are poisonous, and use bright colors to warn predators to leave them
alone. There are several species of brightly colored poison arrow frogs. Native Central
and South American tribes used to wipe the ends of their arrows onto the frog's skin to
make their arrows deadly poisonous.
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4. Speed
The three-toed sloth is born with brown fur, but you
would never know this by looking at it. Green algae
makes its home in the sloth's fur and helps the sloth to
blend in with the tops of the trees in the canopy where it
makes its home. But green algae aren’t the only thing
living in a sloth's fur; it is literally "bugged" with a variety of
insects. 978 beetles were once found living on one sloth!
The sloth has other clever adaptations. Famous for its
snail-like pace, it is one of the slowest-moving animals on
earth. It can even take up to a month to digest its food! Although its tasty meat
would make a good meal for jaguars and other predators, most do not notice the
sloth as it hangs quietly in the trees, high up in the canopy.
5. Odors
An animal with no friends is the hoatzin. Often called the stinkbird, it
produces a horrible smell to scare away potential predators.
IMPORTANCE

The trees of the rainforests help stabilize the world's climate
by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
Excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is believed to contribute to climate
change through global warming. Therefore rainforests have an important role
in addressing global warming.

Tropical Rainforests are home to a large number of the world's plant and
animals species, including many endangered species. As forests are cut down,
many species are doomed to extinction. Some Tropical Rainforest species can
only survive in their natural habitat. Zoos cannot save all animals.

Rainforests help maintain the water cycle. The role of rainforests in the water
cycle is to add water to the atmosphere through the process of transpiration.
This moisture contributes to the formation of rain clouds which release the
water back on the rainforest. In the Amazon, 50-80% of moisture remains in the
ecosystem's water cycle. When the forests are cut down, less moisture goes
into the atmosphere and rainfall declines and sometimes leads to drought.
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
The roots of Tropical Rainforest trees and vegetation help anchor the soil. When
trees are cut down there is no longer anything to protect the ground and soils
are quickly washed away with rain. The process of washing away of soil is
known as erosion. As soil is washed down into rivers it causes problems for fish
and people. Fish suffer because water becomes clouded, while people have
trouble navigating waterways that are shallower because of the increased
amount of dirt in the water.
WHY ARE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS BEING DESTROYED?
Every year an area of Tropical Rainforest the size of
New Jersey is cut down and destroyed. The plants
and animals that used to live in these forests either
die or must find a new forest to call their home. Why
are Tropical Rainforests being destroyed?
Humans are the main cause of Tropical Rainforest’s destruction or deforestation.
Humans are cutting down Tropical Rainforests for many reasons, including:





wood for both timber and for making fires
agriculture for both small and large farms
land for poor farmers who don't have anywhere else to live
grazing land for cattle
road construction
One of the leading causes of Tropical Rainforest
destruction is logging. Many types of wood used for
furniture, flooring, and construction are harvested from
Tropical Rainforests. When we buy certain wood
products, people in places like the United States are
directly contributing to the destruction of Tropical
Rainforests.
Every year thousands of miles of Tropical Rainforests
are destroyed for agricultural use. The two main groups
responsible for converting rainforest into farmland are
poor farmers and corporations. Poor farmers in many
parts of the world rely on clearing rainforest to feed
their families. Agricultural companies are clearing
more rainforest than ever before, especially in the Amazon where large tracts of
rainforest are being converted into soybean farms.
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Clearing for cattle pasture is the leading cause of deforestation in the Amazon
Rainforest which produces more beef than ever before. Besides raising cattle for
food, many landowners use cattle to expand their land holdings. By simply placing
cattle on an area of forest land, landowners can gain ownership rights to that land.
Poverty plays a major role in deforestation. The world's Tropical Rainforests are found
in the poorest areas on the planet. The people who live in and around rainforests rely
on these ecosystems for their survival. They collect fruit and wood, hunt wildlife to put
meat on the table, and are paid by companies that extract resources from forest
lands. Most rural poor never have the options that we in Western countries take for
granted. These people almost never have a choice to go to college or become a
doctor, factory worker, or secretary. They must live off the land that surrounds them
and make use of whatever resources they can find.
HOW CAN WE SAVE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS?
Tropical Rainforests are disappearing very quickly. The
good news is that there are a lot of people who want
to save rainforests. The bad news is saving rainforests
is not going to be easy. It will take the efforts of many
people working together in order to ensure rainforests
and their wildlife will survive for your children to
appreciate and enjoy.
Some steps for saving rainforests and, on a broader
scale, ecosystems around the world are to focus on
"TREES":

Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can
help save Tropical Rainforests.

Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have
been cut down.



Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.
Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife.
Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the
environment.
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Tropical Rainforest Vegetation Adaptations
General
Coloration: brightly colored fruits to attract animals and increase chances for seed
dispersal.
Large, dark-colored leaves: absorb maximum amount of sun for photosynthesis.
Shape of leaves: cupped at the base and pointed downward to allow for some
water to be held and the remainder to be run off to prevent fungus and mold.
Scent: obnoxious strong scents to deter herbivores from eating them.
Bromeliads (left)
Epiphytes: obtain moisture from the
humid air.
Kapok Tree (right)
Buttresses: provide support in mushy, wet soil.
Strangler Figs
(top)
and Lianas
(bottom)
Vines: grow on the trunks of trees
not in the ground, they obtain
their nutrients from the host plant
(example: strangler fig and liana).
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29
Grasslands
LOCATION
The Grasslands biome is a region
where grass is the dominant
vegetation. Precipitation is
moderate, somewhere between the
amount that temperate forests and
deserts receive. Grasslands are
found on every continent except
Antarctica and they cover
approximately 25% of the land area
of Earth. Much of the Grasslands
have been converted to farmland because of their rich topsoil. This rich topsoil is
where crops like wheat, rye, oats, barley, and corn are grown. There are different
types of Grasslands around the world. Tropical Grasslands are those that are located
closest to the equator. Temperate Grasslands grow in the middle latitude regions. All
other Grasslands are found in the interior of continents, far from large bodies of
water.
Grasslands have different names in different countries. In North America they are
called prairies, and extend from southern Canada to central Mexico and from the
mid-western United States to the Rocky Mountains. The pampas of Argentina (South
America) cover approximately one third of the country, and in Asia, Grasslands are
called steppes. In central Africa and Australia, they are savannas, and in southern
Africa, they are called veldts.
CLIMATE
Tropical Grasslands (eg: savannas) are found in parts of the tropics where there is not
enough rainfall throughout the year to create a rainforest. They are characterized by
two seasons: rainy and dry. During the rainy season, which lasts for six to eight months,
there is approximately 20 to 50 inches of rainfall. This season is followed by a drought,
which causes the habitat to dry out, and which provides kindling for fires. These fires
burn through the region and kill trees that may be trying to invade the Grasslands.
The fires, lack of rain, and poor soil conditions prevent the growth of most trees.
Most Grasslands are found in the temperate zone and therefore experience seasonal
changes. Average temperature for the prairie in January is 20°F and 70° F in July.
Temperate Grasslands receive most of their precipitation in late spring and early
summer and the annual precipitation varies between 10 and 30 inches. This is
enough to support the growth of grasses, but not enough to support trees. In the
prairies of the United States, the western Grasslands are drier than those Grasslands at
the eastern edge.
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SOIL
The soil of the temperate Grasslands is deep and dark. The upper layers are the most
fertile because of the buildup of many layers of dead branching stems and roots.
This organic matter, on the surface and in the dead roots, provides humus for the
living plants. Most savanna (tropical) soils, however, are very porous and have only a
very thin layer of organic matter. This allows the rains to drain quickly.
ADAPTATIONS
Vegetation
Grasslands are covered mainly in grass, but
also with other plants, wildflowers, and a
small number of trees and low shrubs. The
trees are more commonly found near rivers
and streams.
There are around 10,000 different species
of grass, ranging in size from small
1 inch plants to the giant 100 foot
bamboos. Grasses are flowering plants,
with usually small flowers that are not
brightly colored because grasses are
pollinated by the wind. The fruits of grasses
are called grains and each fruit contains a
single seed. Cereal grains are seeds that
are frequently used by humans for food or
animal feed.
Grasses have deep spreading root systems
that help anchor the plants and tap water
well beneath the surface of the ground.
The roots are also a very important storage place for nutrients. The leaves of grass
are long and thin, so they don’t lose moisture as quickly as big leaves do. Grasses
also are very successful because of the way in which they grow. Unlike most plants,
grasses grow from the crown, which is the base of the plant, not the top. This means
if grass is burned, eaten by animals or walked on, it is able to grow again easily from
the bottom. New leaves (blades of grass) sprout from the base of the plant.
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Animals
The most noticeable animals in Grassland biomes are usually mammals that graze on
the stems, leaves, and seeds of grass plants. Kangaroos graze in the savannas of
Australia. In Africa, communities of animals such as wildebeests, impalas, and zebras
thrive in the savannas. These animals are too large to hide in the grasses, so they
must protect themselves in other ways, such as by using speed or camouflage. Many
Grassland animals live in large groups, often called herds. Living in groups means
that there is protection from predators for the weaker members. There are more eyes
to spot danger, and strong members surround weaker ones.
Smaller animals can hide in the grass, and some, like gophers, mice, and prairie dogs,
live in burrows that they dig. Burrows protect these Grassland animals from predators
and provide safety until spreading wildfires have passed over them.
In North America, common prairie animals include: bison, pronghorn antelope,
black-tailed deer, mice, rabbits, grouse, badgers, skunks, meadowlarks, owls, snakes,
rattle-snakes, red-tailed hawks, and prairie dogs.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
There is a great concern for remaining Grasslands in temperate regions. Most of this
biome has been turned into farms or ranches because the soil in these areas is
incredibly rich in nutrients and the land is relatively flat and treeless. The result of this
overuse and consumption of the Grasslands by farms has eliminated once large
areas of natural Grassland. Plowing of Grasslands, combined with wind has lead to
huge dust storms, such as those which created the Great Dust Bowl in the American
Depression of the mid 1920’s. Finally, in drier areas, overgrazing and salt build-up
from irrigation of the land have turned these areas into near-wastelands as all
nutrients are washed away by erosion.
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33
34
Name ______________________________________________ Date ________ Period _____
Grasslands
Answer the following questions based on information found on pages ____________:
*** Correct any false statements
1.
There are around ______________ different species of grass.
A) 11,000
2.
B) 1,000
C) 10,000
D) 110,000
Trees that do grow in Grasslands are more commonly found where?
_____________________________________________________
3.
True ____ False ____ The leaves of grass are long and wide, so they don’t lose
moisture so easily.
4.
Some South American Grasslands are called ______________________.
5.
Annual precipitation in a temperate Grassland varies between _______ and
________ inches.
6.
True ____ False ____ Grasses have small flowers which are brightly colored and
attracted to insects.
7.
Wildebeests are Grassland animals that live in:
A) steppes
8.
B) prairies
C) savannas
D) veldts
Why has so much of the Grasslands been converted to growing crops?
__________________________________________________________________________
9.
Savannas are found in:
A) Southern Africa B) temperate zones C) central Mexico D) parts of the tropics
10.
True ____ False ____ Burrows protect some Grassland animals from predators.
11.
The fruits of ______________________ are called grains.
12.
Which type of Grassland has two seasons – rainy and dry? ____________________
13.
Grasses grow from which part of the plant? __________________________________
14.
True ____ False ____ Grasses have shallow spreading root systems that help
anchor the plants.
15.
What are three ways that Grassland animals protect themselves?
a. ___________________________________
b. ___________________________________
c. ___________________________________
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The Desert
LOCATION
Deserts are biomes that receives less
than 10” of precipitation per year.
Deserts cover about 20% of the Earth’s
surface and can be found all over the
globe. Many people think Deserts are
mostly made of sand. However, 85% of
Desert land is covered with a thin sandy
or gravelly soil (pebbles and rocks) that
contains little organic material.
Approximately 15% percent of Desert
land is actually covered by sand.
There are 10 major Desert regions on the earth. The 3 largest deserts in order of size
are:
1.
Great Sahara Desert
Africa
3.2 million square miles
Almost as big as the US
2.
Great Outback
Australia
598,458 square miles
About the size of Alaska
3.
Arabian Desert
Asia
501,933 square miles
The continent of North America is home to the smallest of the 10 major Deserts - the
Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Desert is 119,692 square miles (twice the size of New
Jersey) and can be found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico.
CLIMATE
A Desert is a region that averages less than 10 inches of rainfall a year and supports
little plant life. Some Desert areas receive no rain for years. The rain that does fall on
the Desert often comes in a few violent storms, and much of the moisture runs off or
disappears into the dry sands. When rain does come, it quickly drains away. Any
water that remains on the ground evaporates rapidly. Some Deserts even get some
precipitation (any form of water that falls from the clouds) in the form of snow.
There are hot and cold Deserts. The cold Deserts have hot summers but fairly cold
winters. The hot Deserts are hot during the day all year round.
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Why are Deserts hot during the day and cold at night?
Deserts are hot during the day and cold at night due to the lack of cloud cover and
moisture (water vapor).
DESERT REGIONS
HUMID REGIONS
Daytime:
Lack of clouds and water vapor allow
great amounts of the suns energy to
reach the ground. Temperatures in the
100’s (F) are not uncommon.
Daytime:
Clouds and water vapor prevent much of
the suns energy from reaching the
ground.
Nightime:
Lack of cloud cover allows daytime heat
to escape.
Nighttime:
Clouds act as a blanket trapping in the
daytime heat and preventing it from
escaping.
Result:
Large difference between daytime and
nighttime temperatures.
Example: In the Sahara (Africa)
temperature once fell from midday high
of 126°F to a nighttime low of 26°F.
Result:
Small difference between daytime and
nighttime temperatures.
ADAPTATIONS
Animals and plants must adapt to extremes in heat and cold. They must also be able
to store water or survive on the moisture provided by the plants and animals that they
eat. Most of the Deserts have a large amount of specialized vegetation and animals
as well.
Vegetation
The amount and kinds of plants vary according to where a Desert is located. Short
grasses can be found in nearly all Deserts. Desert plants include sagebrush, creosote
bushes, and cacti. Desert plants have many adaptations to capture water in order
to survive. A common adaptation is the development of ways to store water in the
roots, stems, leaves, or fruit. Plants that store water in this way are called succulents,
one of which is the cactus. Some plants have developed very long roots that go
deep into the ground to reach underground water. Others have developed
spreading root systems lying just below the surface and stretching widely. This gives
the plant many tiny roots that capture water when it rains.
Desert plants have small, shiny and textured leaves which limit water loss. Small or
spiny leaves limit the surface area exposed to the drying heat. Glossy leaves reflect
the sun's rays, reducing leaf temperatures, and evaporation rates. Waxy leaves
prevent moisture from escaping. Some plants only open their leaf pores at night
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when it is cool and evaporation is lowest.
Examples of Desert plants are the Mojave Aster, Mulga Tree, cacti, Yucca’s, and
Welwitschia. Welwitschia is interesting because this desert plant has an estimated life
span of anywhere between 400 and 1,600 years. Some of the biggest plants are
thought to be as old as 2,000 years. A full grown Welwitschia
consists of just two leaves, a short, thick, woody trunk base
and roots. The two leaves keep growing and growing as the
plant ages and never shed. The leaves spread out along the
ground and get withered by the wind but also collect
morning dew that the plant absorbs to help it survive in the
harsh Desert climate.
Animals
Deserts are home to many reptiles, insects, birds, and small mammals. Few large
animals have adapted to Desert life because their size makes it difficult to find shelter
from the heat and they are not able to store water.
In order to survive, Desert animals have developed a number of ways to adapt to the
constantly changing temperature and dry conditions. The most common behavioral
adaptation is staying in the shade of plants or rocks or by burrowing underground in
the heat of the day. Many Desert animals are nocturnal: they stay inactive in shelter
during the day and hunt at night when it is cool. Some animals, such as the kangaroo
rat, get all the moisture they need from the insects, plants, and seeds they eat, and
do not need to drink water. Most pass little moisture out of their bodies like the Desert
tortoise. They do not have sweat glands and pass only small amounts of
concentrated urine.
Fat increases body heat, so some desert animals have concentrated the body's fat in
one place, such as a camel’s hump, rather than having it all throughout the body.
Animals such as the Kit Fox and Jack Rabbit have very large ears. These ears not only
help to detect predators, they also act as a sort of radiator and help the animals
reduce their body heat.
Estivation is much like hibernation. However, in estivation animals slow down their
body processes and sleep through the hottest and/or driest season when food and
water are scarce. An animal may hibernate to survive a cold winter, and estivate to
survive a particularly hot or dry time in the desert. Some animals, especially reptiles
and amphibians, can also estivate and some toads spend months estivating. When
the rains come and pools form, the toads quickly emerge out of the desert sands. In
a short time, they must mate, lay eggs, and eat enough insects to survive until the
next rains come.
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THE PRESENCE OF MAN IN THE DESERT
People have learned how to live in the Desert. Desert dwellers usually live in small
family groups or tribes. They are nomadic which means they travel in search of water
and food. They camp in one particular spot for only as long as the area’s limited
resources will support them. Many Native American tribes chose to make the Desert
their home.
The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is famous for being the driest Desert. One area
had rain in the year 1570 and then again in 1971! Other parts of this Desert have
never had a recorded rain. Some of the people living near this Desert don’t have
roofs on their houses. It never rains, and a roof would trap heat in the house, so they
do without!
Modern people are moving into the Desert biomes. Desert sands can grow good
crops if water can be made available. This is done through irrigation canals and
deeply drilled wells. Some Desert regions are also rich in minerals such as gold, silver,
and copper. Mining activities, as well as the grazing of domestic livestock takes up a
large amount of Desert land.
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40
41
Biomes Vocabulary
1.
adaptation
2.
3.
aquatic
biome
4.
5.
burrow
camouflage
6. chlorophyll
7. climate
8. cryptic
coloration
9. hibernating
10. migration
11. nocturnal
12. perennial
13. precipitation
14. renewable
resource
15. temperate
16. terrestrial
17. transpiration
18. vegetation
19. weather
20. Tundra
21. altitude
22. permafrost
23. snow line
24. tree-line
GENERAL
Features that allow organisms to live and reproduce in their
environment.
Living in or growing in water.
Large areas of the Earth that share similar climate, plants and
animals.
A hole or tunnel dug in the ground for protection
An unchanging body covering that allows an organism to appear
to be part of the natural surroundings and therefore become less
obvious to their predators and prey.
Green pigment in leaves used in photosynthesis.
Overall weather in an area over a long period of time.
Changes in the coloring of an animal’s body covering (feathers, fur
or skin) to best blend into their surroundings.
The process by which animals slow down their body processes and
sleep through the coldest season when food is scarce.
An animal’s regular, seasonal journey in search of food, shelter or
habitat.
Animals that stay inactive in shelter during the day and hunt at
night when it is cool.
A plant with a growing season of 3 or more years.
Any form of water that falls from the clouds.
Resources that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural
processes.
Areas of the Earth with a climate that is not extreme.
Living on land.
The process through which plants release water from their leaves
during photosynthesis.
Plant life.
The condition of the atmosphere at a certain time and place.
TUNDRA
Biome characterized as a frozen desert where permafrost exists.
Only found in the northern hemisphere.
Elevation above the Earth’s surface.
A condition where only the top few inches of soil thaw out during
the summer. The rest of the ground is permanently frozen.
The line on a mountain that is always covered with snow and ice.
The elevation above which trees cannot grow.
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25. taiga
26.
27.
28.
29.
clear-cutting
conifers
deforestation
selective cutting
30. temperate
deciduous forest
31. deciduous
32. tropical rainforest
33. bromeliads
34. buttresses
35. carnivorous plants
36. drip tip
37. emergent’s
38. epiphytes
39. lianas
40. prop and stilt roots
41. grasslands
42. crown
43. herds
44. desert
45. estivation
46. nomadic
47. succulents
TAIGA
Biome that is also called the boreal forest. Located south of the
Tundra. The dominant vegetation is coniferous.
The process of removing all of the trees from an area of land.
Cone-bearing trees.
The removal of trees by humans.
The process of thinning the forest by cutting and removing only
middle-aged or mature trees.
TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST
Biome with a climate that is not extreme. The climax vegetation is
deciduous.
Broadleaf plants that shed their leaves seasonally.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
Biome with consistent yearly temperatures where all precipitation is
rain (80-150”). Located on or near the equator.
Grow on the branches of trees. Their leaves form a vase or cup
that holds water.
Massive ridges near the base of trees that give big trees added
support in shallow, wet soil.
Plants that get some or most of their nutrients from trapping and
consuming animals.
Pointy, downward facing leaf shape that enables rain drops to run
off quickly.
Giant trees that are much higher than the average canopy height.
Flowering plants whose roots are not in soil. The plants get their
food from the air and water.
Climbing woody vines that drape rainforest trees.
Give support to plant growing in shallow, wet soils.
GRASSLANDS
Biome with grass as the dominant vegetation.
The growing point of grass which is the base of the plant.
Animals live in large groups.
DESERTS
Biome that receives less than 10” of precipitation per year.
The process by which animals slow down their body processes and
sleep through the hottest and/or driest season when food and
water are scarce.
People that travel in search of water and food.
Plants that store water in the roots, stems, leaves or fruit.
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