Task: To learn about different biomes through the creation of a visual to be used as a
learning tool.
Grading:
Your project will be graded using the following rubric.
Information:
5 pts Environmental characteristics of the biome
5 pts. Animal and plant life (pictures say a thousand words)
5 pts Locations in the world
5 pts. Any challenges faced by this biome in the modern world
5 pts. A 5 Question quiz for the class to take to see if they learned the
material you presented
Visual
10 pts. Visual enhanced presentation by aiding in understanding. Overheads
followed prescribed guidelines. Visual did not interrupt the pace/flow of the
presentation.
5 pts. Visual was used but not effectively and detracted from presentation’s
pace and flow.
O pts. No presentation
Presentation Technique
20 pts. Excellent presentation skills, including but not limited to: good
posture, correct volume to be heard in all parts of the room, easy to follow
pace without dragging, and eye contact with audience. Serious
professional manner was employed.
-5 pts Each of the above that is missing or deficient
Effectiveness of visual as a teaching tool
20 pts. Visual’s information is complete with succinct wording, has an
easy to follow format, information is presented in a memorable fashion
without excessive distraction. Overall an excellent teaching tool that is a
great aid in preparation for a quiz
-5 pts each of the above lacking
Neatness of Visual
10 pts. Visual poster is exceptionally neat of construction without
excessive embellishment that detracts from the poster, all words are typed
in an appropriate size font
-2 pts. Each of the above that is missing
Timeliness
10 pts. Presentation was turned/given on time
3 pts. Presentation/visual was given the next class period after it was due.
0 pts. No presentation
Creativity
5 pts. Presentation was creatively done but the creativity did not detract from
the learning process.
Class participation during presentations
5 pts Very attentive during presentations, participated in class discussions,
asked at least 3 good leading questions.
Reflection paper
10 pts Reflection paper includes discussion of research sources, individual
effort/contribution, as well as something else I need to know when
evaluating the project
-3 pts. For each of the above that is missing



How are plants and animals adapted to their environments?
Do endangered species live there?
What environmental pressures exist in that biome?
Biome Project
The purpose of this project is to familiarize you with the details of a specific biome; its
climate, biotic factors, and its relationships to human activity. You will be working in
groups of 3 to 4 students over the course of several weeks. You will produce a variety of
different pieces of work for this project including a research paper, essay, and oral report.
The Team: Each group will work as a team of three or four students. It is very important
that you work together and insure that all members of the group participate. Your group
grade will reflect the contribution of each member of your team. The team must select a
Team Leader who will serve as the group liaison to me.
The Topic: Each group will select their biome and bring their selection to me for
approval. Only one team will be able to work on a specific project. If another group has
already selected the biome of your choice, you should have an alternative ready.
Research Paper: The research paper will be the major piece of this project. It will be a
comprehensive paper detailing several important aspects of your biome project and form
the basis of the groups oral report. The grade for the research project will represent 50%
of the project grade. This will be a group grade; all students will receive the same grade
for the paper.
The paper should be approximately 7 double spaced typed pages, using 10 to 12 point
font, with half inch margins all around. In addition, there should be a cover page and a
page of works cited. The cover page should have at least the title, group member names,
the class, and date. The text of the material should contain extensive end note citations
for all ideas, data, and statistics used in the paper that come from research materials. The
work cited page should contain at least 10 citations of different works cited. These may
be traditional text sources or internet sources. Only one encyclopedia may be used (text,
CD, or online). The topic covered in the paper should include the following:



Location of the Biome: where is this biome found. Be specific listing continents,
countries, and hemispheres. Maps would be helpful
Climate: describe the climate of the biome including seasonal changes and
extremes in temperature and rainfall.
Biotic environment: Give examples of the major life forms, animal and plant that
are typical and unique to the biome. Include a discussion of endangered species
where appropriate.


Commercial Uses: Discuss the value that the biome has to commercial use by
humans. List the products and materials extracted or produced in the biome.
Negative Impact of Human Activity: Discuss the damage done to the biome by
human commercial and recreational activities.
The Essay: Each individual member of the team will be assigned an essay topic that
deals with a very specific topic related to their biome. The essay should be approximately
3 to 4 pages long and formatted in the same fashion as the research paper including a
works cited page. The essay will be worth 35% of the student's total grade. The topic for
the essay will be assigned by the teacher. If a student has a specific topic she would like
to pursue, she must speak to her teacher as soon as possible for approval.
The Oral Report: Each team will present the results of their research to the rest of the
class in an oral report. This report should be approximately 7 to 10 minutes long. All
members of the team must participate. It is up to the team to decide how to organize the
topics and format of the presentation. The oral reports should reflect important parts of
the group's research or the individual's essay. Note cards may be used, but student's
should avoid reading. Visual aids such as posters or power point presentations are not
required but are encouraged. The oral presentations is worth 15% of the individual
student's grade.
Biome Project
Working in groups of two, you will be researching a biome located somewhere in the
world. You will need to find out information on the geography and climate of the area,
some of the animals and plants that are native and how they fit into a food web. Once you
have found your materials, you will make a magazine, like Arizona Highway or Sunset
Magazine. It will explain your biome and its inhabitants to the readers who might want to
visit or are just curious about the area. As you go through this project, this web site will
give you links that can help you find information you might need. You are not limited to
these sites, but they will help you get started.
The Biome Project
Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified
according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by
adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell).
The importance of biomes cannot be underestimated. Biomes have
changed and moved many times during the history of life on Earth.
More recently, human activities have drastically altered these
communities. Increasing human activity over the past several decades
has rapidly altered or destroyed many ecological habitats, thereby
changing the biomes.
Biomes are classified in various ways. One can group biomes into five
major types: aquatic, deserts, forests, grasslands, and tundra. Biomes
may be broken down into smaller groups. The forest biomes can be
further divided into tropical and temperate forest, or rain forest
coniferous forest, and deciduous forest. The grasslands can be divided
into the savannah and temperate grasslands. Tundras can be broken
into arctic and alpine tundras.
"So what do we have to do?"
Very Simply, your team is going to describe what you find out about a Biome by – making dioramas,
posters, writing a descriptive page, and teaching the class about your Biome.
"How are we going to do all that?"
Here are the steps:
1. Choose a
Name:
BIOME:
Writer:
Presenter:
Artist 1:
Artist 2:




2. Choose roles:
Research your Biome on the Web

3. Work on
individual
responsibilities
Write the BIOME
PAGE
What does your
Biome look like?

Teach the class your
Biome in a
PRESENTATION

Make Diorama of
your Biome
4. Learn about other Biomes, take notes to
use for interpretation day.
5. Analyze of
Biomes
INTERPRETATION of Biomes.
Select Representative plants
and animals:

Design a Poster Board
showing the common plants
and animals in your biome
"When are we going to do all this stuff?"
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
1
2
3
4 Rough drafts of
5 Rough drafts of




Introduce
Biome Unit
Initial
Research
Choose
Biomes
9
8 Holiday
10


16

Begin
research

Review for
Midterm
Report
Presentation
Diorama
Drawings




Report
Presentation
Diorama
Drawings
11 12




MOMA
Field Trip
Due: Report
& Presen.
Notes
Final Written Report Drafts Due
Final Presentation Outline Due
PRESENTATION of your Biome
QUIZ of ALL Biomes
19 20
17 18





Begin
research
Review for Midterm

Midterm: Organic Chemistry to Biomes
"How will we be graded?"
There are two main parts: 1) Your individual role + = 75
2) Your group’s interpretation = 25 points
Individual Role: (A) Work days = 10 points each day X 3 days = 30 points
You earn these points by being on task and showing the work you got done.
(B) Your Role = 45 points
Find the rubric that matches your role below.
For a:
A
PRESENTER helps turn research into a 5-minute Presentation on your Biome.

Speaker knows information well-enough to answer questions about the Biome.
Out of
5
B



How has man's activities affected the biome.
Presentation includes visuals of your Biome’s special organisms and the whole
environment.
Information on multiple (2-3) organisms’ niches is included
10
5
5
C


Speaker refers to (but does NOT READ) notes during presentation.
Presentation is clear and accurate.
10
10
For a:
WRITER writes up research into the group’s FIELD GUIDE PAGE
Out of
A

Includes information on why this Biome is unique, or special in some way
5
B


How has man's activities affected the biome.
Information on multiple (2-3) organisms’ niches is included
10
10
C




Writing is in your own words
Any new term used is defined
The information is organized by basic questions
The information answers all basic questions, including information on one organism’s
niche, accurately and clearly
5
5
5
5
For a:
ARTIST 1 designs and creates the DIORAMA
Out of
A

The diorama shows craftsmanship, care and/or ingenuity
5
B



The diorama accurately portrays the available niches found in the BIOME.
The diorama indicates at least one food web found in the BIOME.
The diorama includes clues to the humidity and temperature of the environment.
5
5
10
C




The diorama accurately portrays the environment.
The diorama includes a models of plants and animals.
The diorama shows unique characteristics of the BIOME.
Sketch and name of the organisms is included along with the Biome page.
5
5
5
5
For a:
ARTIST 2 creates a poster depicting the fauna and flora of the BIOME
Out of
A

The poster shows craftsmanship, care and/or ingenuity
5
B


The poster accurately portrays the available niches.
The poster includes information about the location of the biomes world-wide The poster
includes clues to the humidity and temperature of the environment.
5
5
10




C
The poster accurately portrays the environment.
The poster includes common animals found in the BIOME.
The poster includes common plants found in the BIOME
Sketch and name of the organisms is included along with the Biome page.
5
5
5
5
Group Role:
For a:
A
PRESENTER helps turn research into a 5-minute PRESENTATION on your Biome.
Uses only notes from others’ presentations, without the "book" of Biome Pages to assist you.
Out of
5
Description is detailed.
B
Your analysis uses additional details to support your ideas
10
Your group needed the "book" of Biome Pages to help
C
You analysis includes an explanation of each unknown Biome’s environment and community
10
Your group needed the other class’ "Book" of Biome Pages to help your analysis.
TOTAL = 100
FOSSIL BIOMES
Biome Name
Tundra (Arctic & Alpine)
Dessert
Biome References: (Write the book titles and URLs of good references for
Biomes)
Grasslands
Savannah
Tropical Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forest
Deciduous Forest
Coniferous Forest
Oceans
To understand a world biome, you need to know:




What the climate of the region is like.
Where each biome is found and and what its geography is like.
The special adaptations of the vegetation.
The types of animals found in the biome and their physical and behavioral
adaptations to their environment.





















What is the largest animal in the coniferous forest?
Are there any special adaptations to life in the coniferous forest?
What animal is the most common?
What does it take to be a specialist on the coniferous forest?
How did you get interested in the study of the coniferous forest?
What is the average precipitation fall yearly in the coniferous forest?
What types of plants besides conifers live in the coniferous forests?
Are there different conifers in different parts of the world?
What types of animals live primarily in the coniferous forests?
How do pine trees provide animals homes?
How do pine trees reproduce?
What is the average age for a pine tree to live?
What types of animals live in a coniferous forest?
What in a pine tree makes the needles stay on?
Why is the sap from a coniferous forest different from say in deciduous trees?
How long does it take for a whole coniferous forest to grow?
What kind of animals live in a coniferous forest?
What kind of climate would you find a coniferous forest?
How many coniferous forests do you think are in New York?
How long does the average tree live to grow?
What kind of animals live or use the trees in a coniferous forest?






What kind of soil do the trees in this type of forest need?
What kind of products do the coniferous forest produce?
Where are most of the coniferous forest grow?
What's the ugliest tree you ever saw?
What tree has the biggest needles?
What's the most colorful coniferous tree you ever saw?
Questions For The Students:
Where is this biome found?
This biome is found in the upper areas of North America and Asia.
What geological events are related to the formation of this biome?
Tall mountains have supported vigorous tree growth and a large animal
population.
What animals are found in this biome?
Many animals like the white tailed deer, Reeve's muntjac, fox, mice, owls, and
squirrels are found in this area.
What is the weather and climate like in this biome?
The weather in this biome is very cold. It is stormy in the winter and hot. There
are usually many lightning storms in the summer.
What plant communities dominate this biome?
There are many plants in this biome, but three dominate more than others.
These are: pine, fir, and spruce trees. Mosses are also found almost anywhere
here.




Where do these grasslands grow?
How long does it take before grasslands are formed?
How many species of grassland animals are there?
What are some species of grassland animals?


















How many vertebrae are in a grown giraffe's neck?
What starts prairie fires? Why?
Why did the bison die off?
What kind of animals live on grasslands?
Where are most grasslands?
How many times each year does the rain fall?
What is your reason for studying the grasslands so intensely?
What lives mainly in the grasslands?
What is the smallest animal that lives in the grasslands?
What are the seasons like in the grasslands?
What is the average elevation of the grassland?
What plant life, besides grasses, lives in the grasslands?
What are the most popular animal in the grassland?
What are the most sparse animals that live in the grassland area?
What does the most popular one eat?
What is the biggest animal from the grassland? What is the smallest?
Do most of the animals in the grasslands eat grass?
Where is the largest amount of land in the same area (grassland)?



















What is the least/most common animal in the deciduous forest?
What is the oddest looking tree in the deciduous forest?
What is the biggest tree in the deciduous forest?
What other products besides wood are produced by things in the deciduous forest?
Do all deciduous trees change color during the fall?
What kinds of animals live in the deciduous forest?
What is the tallest broadleaf tree in the deciduous forest?
Do broadleaf leaves change color or fall off in warmer climates such as Florida?
What are the standards for the broadleaf tree to live and grow?
What is the lifespan of some of the broadleaf trees?
How much water do broadleaf trees take in each day?
Where does a gray squirrel live in a deciduous forests?
What is a deciduous forest?
What is the highest temperature a deciduous forest can reach?
What is the lowest temperature that it can reach?
Why aren't dec. forests all over the country, why arte they just on the
eastern coast?
Whay do some raccoons live in trees? Is it for protection?
Why do deciduous forests grow where there is 75-150 cm of rainfall?
Where is this biome found?
Deciduous forests are found in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are
found mostly around 0-50 degrees north latitude.
What geological events are related to the formation of this biome?
Geological events that happened in this area have mostly to do with glaciers
and the ice age. Thousands of years ago there was ice covering the New
England states and all the way down to Indiana. Eventually all the ice melted
and formed rivers and lakes in that area.
What animals are found in this biome?
Some animals found in this biome are deer, gray squirrels, mice, raccoons,
salamanders, snakes, robins ,frogs, and many kinds of insects. In the winter,
most of these animals migrate to the south.
What is the weather and climate like in this biome?
Deciduous forests have a moderate climate. They have four seasons, summer,
spring, fall, and winter. They have 4-6 months of summer. They get 75-150
centimeters of rain per year.
What plant communities dominate this biome?
There are many trees in deciduous forests. Some of them are oaks, maples,
beeches, hickories, and ashes. There are also many wild flowers such as
bluebells, primrose, and oxlip.
Where is this biome found?
The desert biome is found in northern Africa, western North America, western Asia, the
center of Australia, and on the west coast of South America.
What geological events are related to the formation of this biome?
Many mountain ranges influence deserts because they are so tall and wide. They do not
let much rain get into the desert. If you look on a map you will see that there is a desert
next to the Rocky Mountains in the United States, and a desert next to the Andes in South
America.
Wind is also another way deserts form. The wind that blows in the desert comes from far
away waters. As it is travels, the moistness leaves. By the time any wind reaches the
desert, it is very dry. Wind also helps in the formation of sand dunes. Sand dunes are
huge piles of sand blown there by strong gusts wind. Some sand dunes may be over 200
meters in height.
Canyons are another formation in the desert. Some canyons are called arroyos. Arroyos
are formed when it rains. As the water rushes downhill, it makes the levels that form
canyons.
What animals are found in this biome?
There are many animals in the desert. some are very large, like the kangaroo or the
gazelle. Both are big and have to travel long distances for water at a spring, or an oasis.
Camels are also extremely big. They have one or two humps used for storing water and
food.For this reason camels need very little water. Camels were often used as
transportation by people of the desert. Another fairly large animal is the addax. The
addax is a desert antelope. They live in the Sahara Desert. All addaxes are herbivores.
There are less than 200 of them left because of hunting and tourists.
Some animals slither or crawl along. Examples of these are snakes and lizards. Snakes
rarely drink water; they get their moisture from other prey that they eat. So do others, like
the kangaroo rat. Lizards are commonly found in the desert. They stay out of the sun and
move as little as possible.
There are also other animals in the desert. The fennec lives in northern Africa in the
Sahara Desert. They are a relative of the fox. They eat mice, small birds, lizards, and
insects. When necessary, they will eat fruit. One more desert animal is the jerboa. The
jerboa is a small, long distance jumper that lives in the desert. They are free drinking
animals and they eat plants, seeds, and bugs.
What is the weather and climate like in this biome?
The desert biome includes the hottest places in the world because it absorbs more heat
from the sun than land in humid climates do. Most deserts average less than 10 inches (25
cm) of precipitation each year. The amount may vary greatly from year to year.
Summer temperatures in the desert often reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. At night
,temperatures drop to 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Many deserts have mild winters,
while others have freezing temperatures and snow. It all depends on the desert you are in.
What plant communities dominate this biome?
Many different species of plants grow in the desert biome. The plants in the desert tend to
be widely scattered because of the lack of water. The plants that survive compete for the
small amount of water available. During the day the plant's stomata, or pores, close to
prevent evaporation. Some plants store water in their leaves, roots, and stems. Woody
desert plants have long root systems that reach deep water sources, while others have
spreading shallow roots that are able to take in surface moisture quickly from heavy dews
and occasional rains. Desert plants also tend to have small leaves. During dry periods,
many plants drop their leaves on the ground. Photosynthesis is then taken over by the
stems.
Some specific species of desert plants are the mesquite tree, which has roots that extend
as deep as 263 feet, and the sotol cactus which is commonly found in Mexican deserts.
There is also the barrel cactus which swells with water after rainfall and shrinks as it uses
it, and the saguaro cactus which grows in many parts of the desert in Arizona. These are
just four of the many desert biome plants.
Questions for the Experts
Why is the tundra climate very cold and dry?
What are some of the adaptions animals have to survive the very cold winters?
What do tundra animals eat?
Where is this biome found?
There are two kinds of tundras, Arctic and alpine. Arctic tundras lie near the
Arctic Ocean. They include Greenland, northern parts of Alaska, Canada, Europe
and Russia. The alpine tundra is located at the top of mountains across the
world.
What geological events are related to the formation of this biome?
Some geological events that have made the formation of this biome are the
movment of glaciers from the north.
What animals are found in this biome?
In the tundra biome there are many animals. They are wolves, lemmings,
caribou, musk oxen, polar bears, ptarmigans, snowy owls, geese, and plovers.
In the alpine tundra there are deer, elk, mountain goats and various species of
sheep.
What is the weather and climate like in this biome?
The weather in this biome is very cold and dry. It's sort of like a cold desert.
The temperature barely goes above freezing. The average annual precipitation
is less than 350 millimeters over most of the tundra. Some mountains situated
in the lower latitudes have a climate very similiar.
What plant communities dominate this biome?
Some plant life that dominates this biome are dwarf birches, willows, lichens,
mosses and grasses. Because the regrowth of plant life is slow, severe erosion
can damage land for a very long time.
Questions For The Experts:

































How many poison frogs are in Africa alone?
Is it non-stop rain, how long?
Are there poisonous plants?
How many species live in the tropical rain forest?
How many animals are extinct that once lived in the rain forest?
How did the slow loris adapt to the rain forest environment?
What kind of medicines are developed in the rain forest?
What food sources are there in the rain forest?
How come when you go above the canopy you can hurt your eyes, and when you
go above a regular, you can't?
What is hotter, a hot day in a desert or a hot day in a rain forest?
How come there are not a lot of lakes or ponds in a rain forest?
Where the tropical rain forests located in the world?
What are the forest layers in the tropical rain forest?
What types of animals live in the different layers of a tropical rain forest?
Do animals move much between the layers?
What is the silliest thing you have seen an animal do in the tropical rain forest?
Why was it doing it?
Which animal that lives in the tropical rain forest do you think is the most
fascinating? Why?
Are there certain animals that you think are smarter than others?
How many times have you visited the tropical rain forest? Which was the most
memorable, why?
Are there any body functions that are out of the ordinary that an animal in the
tropical rain forest does? (like getting rid of excess heat?)
What is the most ferocious bird out of all birds in the tropical rain forest?
What animals live under the ground in the tropical rain forests?
What is the most dangerous animal to be next to in this biome?
What was the weirdest behavior of an animal that you have seen in the tropical
rain forest?
What is the biggest animal in the tropical rain forest that you have seen?
What is the most colorful animal?
Where is this biome found?
What geological events are related to the formation of this biome?
What animals are found in this biome?
What is the weather and climate like in this biome?
What plant communities dominate this biome?
The geology of the biome will include its distribution around the world and the
geologic events and structures associated with the biome

The meteorology of the biome will include the Climate of the biome and why that
climate exists there.


What percent of animals live or feed off fresh water?
Why do certain animals live in fresh water and certain in marine and why can't
they switch?
How long (or average age) does a fish live?
Where do they go when they die? (their bodies)
What are some adaptations an animal needs to live in fresh water?
What types of animals live in the freshwater biome?
Why don't lakes and streams get saltier over time like oceans do?
What types of animals live in fresh water?
What are some special adaptations that the plants which live in fresh water need
in order to survive?
Why is a lake said to be fresh water when it is connected to a salt water ocean?
If a freshwater animal goes into salt water will it die immediately or over a period
of time?
What, if any, animals can live in salt and fresh water?
If large amounts of salt were put into a fresh water lake would it become salt
water or change back?
Which is the most common animal in a fresh water lake?
What is the largest fresh water animal?
How do the animals survive the cold water in winter?
How did you get started in the fresh water subject?
What does it take to be a specialist in fresh water?
What is the loudest frog found in fresh water?
Are there any heterotroph plants?
What is the smallest, edible animal that lives in fresh water?



















Where is this biome found?
This biome is found all over the world on every continent.
What geological events are related to the formation of this biome?
In the mountains landslides may fill stream beds with earth and rock causing
ponds to form. Erosion tends to destroy ponds, but sometimes it creates
depressions that fill with water. Natural ponds often form near the deltas of
rivers when silt deposits become high enough to dam off parts of the stream.
They also form behind barrier dunes on ocean beaches.
What animals are found in this biome?
Some animals in this biome are the water boatman, ramshorn snail, bream,
pike, roach, belted kingfisher, mountain chickadee, bass, sunfish, aquatic
insects, trout, mussel, blackfly larva, brook trout, caddisfly, mayfly, and
rainbow trout.
What is the weather and climate like in this biome?
In the freshwater biome there are shallow water zones along the shore, an open
water zone where light is insufficient for photosynthesis, a deep water zone
which is less dense, and a bottom zone which is made of soft mud and silt. The
shallow water zone is the warmest because it gets the most light. The bottom
water zone is the coldest because very little sunlight gets to it.
What plant communities dominate this biome?
The plants that dominate the freshwater biome are algae, water moss, and plant
plankton.
this unit you will research a biome of your choice from the list below. As an Internet
unit you are encouraged to "explore" the bookmarked sites below to find information
about climate, biotic members, abiotic species, endangered species, and food chains
in the designated biome. This unit is intended to extend the classroom discussion
about the topic.
The biome of choice will be presented using the information attained from the
Internet sites into a MS PowerPoint presentation which will be demonstrated to the
class. You may wish to refresh your skills in PowerPoint by reviewing the site
PowerPoint in the Classroom. This lesson is intended to take 2-90 minute class
periods but may be finished before that time. Finally, you will critique a total of 6
presentations along with your own hoping to provide constructive feedback to each
presenter.
Tundra
Rainforest
Desert
Deciduous Forests Grasslands Coniferous Forest
Aquatic Fresh Water
Aquatic Salt Water
Students:
While you research your biome ask yourselves some of the following questions.
Feel free to jot the answers down on paper as you navigate each site.

Can I find a map and show where my biome is located on Earth?

What type of climate is there likely to be in my biome?

Can I name at least 5 different kinds of animals that live in my
biome?

What types of plants and other abiotic conditions constitute my
biome?

Are there any endangered species in my biome?

Can I describe one of the food chains in my biome?

How does man influence my biome and how can we make it a
better place so all animals and plants can be preserved with the
delicate balance of nature being preserved?
Title and Name-------------------5
Map-World Location-----------10
Climate-----------------------------10
Biotic-------------------------------10
Abiotic------------------------------10
Endangered Species------------10
Food Chain------------------------10
Colorful-----------------------------10
Pictures (web addresses)--------5
Animated presentation----------10
Sound---------------------------------5
5 to 8 slides------------------------5
Total Point Value:
100
The overall purpose of the biome unit is to appreciate the delicate balance of nature
and integrate Internet research into the 7th grade science curriculum while students
perfect their skills in MS PowerPoint. By the end of this unit the student will be able to
understand the following and make/present a multimedia project to the class:
Organism
Type of
Organism
Biome
Wolverine
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Polar Bear
Consumer
Tundra
Sponges
Consumer
Marine
Bison
Consumer
Grasslands
Wallaby
Consumer
Desert
Termite
Decomposer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Racoon
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Earthworm
Decomposer
Coniferous
Forest
Sea Urchin
Consumer
Marine
Arctic Fox
Consumer
Tundra
Two-toed Sloth
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Kangaroo Rat
Consumer
Desert
Grizzly Bear
Consumer
Grasslands
Flying Squirrel
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Mussels
Consumer
Marine
Shagbark Hickory Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Scarlet Macaw
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Tumbleweed
Producer
Desert
Long-horned
Beetle
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Caiman
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Army Ants
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Blackhaw
Viburnum
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Succulent Plants
Producer
Desert
Indian Pipe
Decomposer
Coniferous
Forest
Lichen
Producer
Tundra
Pronghorn
Antelope
Consumer
Grasslands
Crab
Consumer
Marine
Starfish
Consumer
Marine
Lynx
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Reindeer Moss
Producer
Tundra
Short-eared Owl
Consumer
Grasslands
Red-tailed Hawk
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Cottontail Rabbit Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Harpy Eagle
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Pyroloxia
Consumer
Desert
Burrowing Owl
Consumer
Grasslands
Snowshoe Hare
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Cotton Grass
Producer
Tundra
Turkey Vulture
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Pocket Mice
Consumer
Desert
Amazon Umbrella
Consumer
Bird
Tropical Rain
Forest
Kelp
Marine
Producer
Zebra Swallowtail
Consumer
Butterfly
Deciduous
Forest
White-tailed Deer Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Phytoplankton
Producer
Marine
Algae
Producer
Marine
Strangler Fig
Producer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Liverwort
Producer
Coniferous
Forest
Arctic Willow
Producer
Tundra
Purple
Coneflower
Producer
Grasslands
Scorpion
Consumer
Desert
Moose
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Arctic Birch
Producer
Tundra
Big Blue Stem
Producer
Grasslands
Mesquite Tree
Producer
Desert
Leaf-cutter Ants
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Spider Monkey
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Desert Bighorn
Consumer
Desert
Bull Snake
Consumer
Grasslands
Snowy Owl
Consumer
Tundra
Fisher
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Chipmunk
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Ptarmigan
Consumer
Tundra
Common Raven
Consumer
Tundra
Cougar
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Mahogany
Producer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Python
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Saguaro
Producer
Desert
Garter Snake
Consumer
Grasslands
Compass Plant
Producer
Grasslands
Jack Rabbit
Consumer
Desert
Wood Tick
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Black Orchid
Producer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Pileated
Woodpecker
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
American
Woodcock
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
White Pine
Producer
Coniferous
Forest
Fern
Producer
Coniferous
Forest
Jellyfish
Consumer
Marine
Bob-o-Link
Consumer
Grasslands
Rattlesnake
Master
Producer
Grasslands
Cactus Wren
Consumer
Desert
Seahorses
Consumer
Marine
Hammerhead
Shark
Consumer
Marine
Black-capped
Chickadee
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
White-tailed
Hawk
Consumer
Desert
Upland Sandpiper Consumer
Grasslands
Cowbird
Consumer
Grasslands
Arctic Hare
Consumer
Tundra
Paper Birch
Producer
Coniferous
Forest
Snapping Turtle
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Bracket Fungus
Decomposer
Deciduous
Forest
Wolf
Consumer
Tundra
Prairie Dock
Producer
Grasslands
Coyote
Consumer
Grasslands
Prickly Pear
Cactus
Producer
Desert
Morpho Butterfly Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Redbud Tree
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Sugar Maple
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Porcupine
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Red Crossbill
Consumer
Confierous
Forest
Prairie Dog
Consumer
Grasslands
Caracara
Consumer
Desert
White Flowering
Dogwood
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Cooper's Hawk
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Elk
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
White Oak
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Barred Owl
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Bot Fly
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Stingray
Consumer
Marine
Camel
Consumer
Desert
Prairie Chicken
Consumer
Grasslands
Flea
Consumer
Grasslands
Duck Louse
Consumer
Tundra
Least Weasel
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Pawpaw Tree
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
May Apple
Producer
Deciduous
Forest
Dolphin
Consumer
Marine
Brazil Nut Tree
Producer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Sheep Tapeworm Consumer
Desert
Camel
Consumer
Desert
Mushrooms
Decomposer Grasslands
Gopher
Consumer
Grasslands
Lemming
Consumer
Tundra
Broad-winged
Hawk
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Cod
Consumer
Marine
Decay Snake
Consumer
Confierous
Forest
Tundra Swan
Consumer
Tundra
Rabbit
Consumer
Grasslands
Elf Owl
Consumer
Desert
Jaguar
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Sperm Whale
Consumer
Marine
Desert Tortoise
Consumer
Desert
Mice
Consumer
Grasslands
Dung Beetle
Decomposer Tundra
Timberwolf
Consumer
Flies
Decomposer Desert
Kit Fox
Consumer
Desert
Kapok Tree
Producer
Tropcal Rain
Forest
Fox Squirrel
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Herring
Consumer
Marine
Flying Fish
Consumer
Marine
Lizard
Consumer
Desert
Grizzly Bear
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Zooplankton
Consumer
Marine
Black Vulture
Consumer
Deciduous
Forest
Agouti
Consumer
Tropical Rain
Forest
Snake
Consumer
Desert
Lion
Consumer
Grasslands
Fly Maggot
Decomposer Tundra
Red Fox
Consumer
Coniferous
Forest
Caribou
Consumer
Tundra
Bacteria
Decomposer Marine
Coniferous
Forest
The Importance and
Conservation of Biomes
Because we share the world with many other species of plants and animals, we
must consider the consequences of our actions. Over the past several decades,
increasing human activity has rapidly destroyed or polluted many ecological
habitats throughout the world. It is important to preserve all types of biomes as
each houses many unique forms of life. However, the continued heavy
exploitation of certain biomes, such as the forest and aquatic, may have more
severe implications.
Forests are important as they are home to the most diverse biotic communties
in the world. Hidden within these biomes are potential medicines and many
thousands of unseen and undiscovered species. Also, forests have a global
climate-buffering capacity, so their destruction may cause large-scale changes
in global climate.
Logging has depleted many old-growth temperate forests. The increased
demand for homes, paper, and other wood products have not allowed for much
conservation. More recently, people have begun to realize that logging has
cleared much of these forests. Wiser use of the forests and efforts to replant
trees have helped to slow down the depletion of these communities.
Tropical forests have fallen victim to timber exploitation, slash and burn
farming, and clearfelling for industrial use or cattle ranching, particularly in
Latin America. Our increasing demand for meat products has spurred these
events. For years, this destruction was occuring at a rapid rate. Over half of the
world’s original tropical forests are already gone. Public attention to this
exploitation have helped to alleviate the problem somewhat, though many
challenges are still to be faced.
Aquatic biomes are probably the most important of all the biomes. Their
medium, water, is a major natural resource. Water is the basis of life, it
supports life, and countless species live in it for all or part of their lives.
Freshwater biomes supply us with our drinking water and water for crop
irrigation. The world’s oceans have an even greater effect on global climate
than forests do. Water has a high capacity for heat, and because the Earth is
mostly covered with water, the temperature of the atmosphere is kept fairly
constant and able to support life. In addition to this climate-buffering capacity,
the oceans contain several billion photosynthetic plankton which account for
most of the photosynthesis occuring on Earth. Without these, there might not be
enough oxygen to support such a large world population and complex animal
life.
Freshwater biomes have suffered mainly from pollution. Runoff containing
fertilizer and other wastes and industrial dumpings enter into rivers, ponds, and
lakes and tend to promote abnormally rapid algae growth. When these algae
die, dead organic matter accumulates in the water. This makes the water
unusable and it kills many of the organisms living in the habitat. Stricter laws
have helped to slow down this thoughtless pollution.
Overfishing and pollution have threatened to make oceans into ecological
disaster areas. Industrial pollutants that are dumped upstream of estuaries have
rendered many marine habitats unsuitable for life. Again, tighter regulations
have been used to prevent further destruction of the ocean biomes.
By educating people about the consequences of our actions, we can all gain a
better understanding of how to preserve the earth’s natural biomes. The areas
that have been destroyed the most will never regain their original forms, but
conservation will help to keep them from getting worse.