Biomes

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Biomes

• A major biological community that occurs over a
  large area of land is called a biome.
• Seven major biomes cover most of the Earths land
  surface.
• Different biomes have characteristics of
  temperature and precipitation.

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Tundra (Arctic)

• is an open, boggy biome
• covers one-fifth of the Earths land surface
• has a low annual precipitation usually less than
  10 inches
• water is unavailable most of the year because it
  is frozen
• permafrost (permanent ice) usually exists within
  3 feet of the surface
• inhabitants include foxes, lemmings, owls, and
  caribou

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Taiga (Subarctic)

• climates are cold and wet
• is also called the coniferous forest
• extends across vast areas of Eurasia and North
  America
• contains primarily spruce and fir coniferous
  trees
• is one of the largest biomes on Earth
• winters are long and cold
• precipitation falls primarily in the summer
• contains many large mammals (elk, moose, deer,
  wolves, bears, lynxes, and wolverines)

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(Temperate) Deciduous Forest

• has a relatively mild climate and plentiful rain
• sheds its leaves in the fall
• grows in areas with relatively warm summers and
  cold winters
• has annual precipitation ranging from 30 100
  inches
• covers much of the eastern US
• is home to deer, bears, beavers, raccoons, and
  many other familiar animals
• contains hard wood trees such as oak, hickory,
  and beech

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(Temperate) Grassland

• is also called a prairie
• has moderate climates halfway between the equator
  and the poles
• once covered much of the interior of North
  America
• is usually highly productive when converted to
  agriculture due to deep, fertile soil
• has herds of grazing animals like the bison

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Desert (Temperate or Tropical)

• has typically less than 10 inches of
  precipitation fall annually
• vegetation is characteristically sparse
• is most extensive in the interiors of continents
• makes up less than 5 percent of North America

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Savanna (Tropical)

• is the worlds great dry grasslands
• is found in tropical areas that have relatively
  low annual precipitation or long dry seasons
• generally has 35 60 inches of rainfall per year
• has a fluctuation in temperature during the year
• has seasonal drought
• is an open landscape with widely spaced trees
• has many animals that are active only during
  rainy seasons
• contains huge herds of grazing mammals

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(Tropical) Rain Forest

• is the richest biome in terms of number of
  species, having more than 2 million
• has 80 180 inches of rainfall per year
• has a high primary productivity even though they
  exist mainly on quite infertile soils