There are 6 major biomes
in the world:
• Rain Forest
• Desert
• Grassland
• Deciduous or Temperate
Forest
• Taiga or Boreal Forest
• Tundra
Rain Forest Biome
Rain Forest Biome Climate
• Almost constant
temperature 25°C (77°F)
• High humidity
• More than 200 cm
rainfall yearly
www.angelfire.com
Rain Forest Animals
More than any other biome - the
greatest variety (or diversity) and
number of animals live here. The
reason is the constant warmth and
supply of water and food.
 Small animals (monkeys, birds, snakes,
rodents, frogs, lizards, insects, etc) often
live only in the trees – never coming to
the ground

Rain Forest Plants
Emergent Layer
 Canopy
 Understory
 Forest Floor
 There is 12 hours of sunlight in a tropical
rainforest biome, but less than 2% of it
reaches the ground.
 Soil is very poor and infertile.
 “Jungle”

Desert Biome
Desert Biome
These areas
get very little
precipitation
and have
extreme
temperatures.
www.uwsp.edu
Desert Biome Climate
•
•
10°C – 38°C (50°F - 100°F)
Less than 25 cm (10 in)
rainfall yearly
Desert Animals
 Reptiles,
insects, birds, small
mammals.
 These animals seek shade,
burrow, and are active at night
(nocturnal).
 Get water from food: insects,
seeds, plants
Desert Plants
 Short
grasses, sagebrush,
creosote bushes, cacti
 Adaptations for survival: LONG
(20 – 30 ft) tap roots (root goes
deep into the ground to “tap”
into groundwater, large
horizontal root systems, and
the ability to store water
Grassland Biome
2 types of grassland biome
Prairies – found in
middle latitudes
www.lasr.net
Savannas – found
close to equator
www.ucmp.berkeley.edu
Grassland Biome Climate
•
•
•
0°C – 25°C (32°F - 77°F)
25-100 cm rainfall yearly
Very warm summers
Grassland (Prairie) Animals
prairie dogs –
many small mammals
which are herbivores
Buffalo,
Grassland (Savannah)
Animals
Some of the Earth’s largest animals:
elephants, giraffes, antelopes, cheetah,
lions, rhinoceros
 Many migrate because there is a long
dry season and a wet season.

Grassland (Prairie) plants
Grasses and other non-woody plants
which can grow very tall because the
soil is very fertile.
 Droughts are common – plants have
adapted to survive long periods without
water.
 Fires are common – in fact helps new
growth for many of these plants.

Grassland (Savannah) plants
Grasses and some short (scrub) trees.
Grasses can grow very tall because the
soil is very fertile.
 Have adapted to survive the long dry
seasons and intense wet seasons
 Grow quickly when the water is available
 Fires are common – in fact helps new
growth for many of these plants.

Deciduous Forest or
Temperate Forest Biome
Deciduous Forest Biome
•
•
Deciduous trees are trees
that lose their leaves.
50 cm - 200 cm
precipitation yearly (rain
and snow)
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Deciduous Forest Biome
• 4 distinct seasons
•
The summers are warm
and the winters are cool.
The average temperatures
in the summer are 28º C
(82º F) and in the winter
are 6º C (43º F).
Deciduous Forest Biome
•
These forests have several
layers of vegetation or
plants. These plants
include shrubs, moss, ferns,
and lichens because they
don’t need much light.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Deciduous Forest Biome
•
The trees in these forests
are hardwoods such as oak,
hickory, maple, beech,
birch, and sweet gum.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Deciduous Forest Biome
•
There is a diverse
population of animals in
these forests and a large
number of animals. They
are all adapted to survive
the season changes.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Deciduous Forest Biome Climate
•
Examples of animals
include cardinals, robins,
owls, deer, black rat snakes,
opossum, mice, squirrels,
raccoons, etc.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov
Deciduous Forest or
Temperate Forest Biome
Georgia is in a
deciduous forest
biome.
Taiga (Coniferous or
Boreal Forest)
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Climate
•
Very cold winters average
= -10º C or 14º F; warmer
summer temperatures,
average = 14º C or 57º F
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
Climate
•
45-125 cm precipitation
yearly
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
This is a forest of
conifers. Conifers are
trees that produce seeds
in cones. The pine tree
is a common
example.
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
Conifer leaves save
water with a thick,
waxy layer that covers
the leaves, or needles.
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
Conifers are
softwoods. Other
examples are fir,
spruce, and hemlock
(think Christmas
trees)
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
•
Most of the animals
are herbivores.
Most survive the brutal
winters by migrating or
hibernating.
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
Migration is the
movement of animals
from one habitat that will
no longer support them
to another
habitat that will.
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
Hibernation is when an
animal is inactive and slows
down its metabolism. It is
able to lower its body
temperature, slow down its
breathing, and/or lower its
metabolic rate.
Taiga/Boreal/Coniferous Forest Biome
•
Examples of herbivores are
squirrels, insects, birds,
snowshoe hares, moose, and
beavers.
• Examples of predators are
wolves, bears, great horned
owls, foxes, and lynxes.
Tundra Biome
Tundra Biome Climate
•
•
•
-40°C – 10°C (-40°F – 50°F)
Less than 25 cm
precipitation yearly
Tundra means “marshy
plain”
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
Tundra Biome
• Permafrost is soil
that stays frozen all
year. It is found
beneath the top,
thawed layer.
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
Tundra Biome
• Because of the permafrost
the top layer of soil is
always soggy. Because
the soil that is NOT frozen
is only a few inches deep,
only plants with shallow
roots can survive.
Tundra Biome
•
Plants are mosses,
grasses, shrubs, and
small, short trees.
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
Tundra Biome
•
In the summer there
are many insects and
birds that feed on the
insects. Before
winter these
birds migrate.
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
Tundra Biome Climate
•
Mammals of the
tundra include
caribou, foxes,
wolves, polar
bears, and
arctic wolves.
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
Tundra Biome
•
The mammals that
remain in the winter
grow thick fur coats.
www.blueplanetbiomes.org
Tundra Biome
•
Small mammals like
lemmings, hares, and
shrews are also
common.
www.blueplanetbiomes.org