Terrestrial Environments Around the World

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Terrestrial Environments Around the World

• Foss Science Environments Kit

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Biomes

• Cover large areas of land
• The same biomes may occur in different parts of
  the world.
• Specific types of biomes have a similar climate,
  soil conditions and average annual rainfall no
  matter where they occur in the world.

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Biome 1Tropical Rainforest

• Has more species of life than any other
  terrestrial environment.
• Contains 2 million to 20 million species of
  animals 80 of life forms in the rainforest
  havent even been identified yet!
• Located in Australia, Asia, Africa, Central and
  South America, the Caribbean Islands, and the
  Pacific Islands.
• Climate is constantly warm and moist (lots of
  rainfall!)
• Trees form a canopy which blocks out light on the
  forest floor
• Soil is shallow and not fertile trees give
  plants the nutrients they need
• More animals that live in the rainforest live in
  the trees than on the ground
• Rainforests are being destroyed to create
  farmland and to use the trees for lumber

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Biome 2Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Have variable climates (change during the year)
  and deciduous trees that shed their leaves in
  fall and grow new ones in the spring
• Animals and plants are able to adapt to changes
  in heat, moisture and food. Some hibernate,
  others grow thick coats of fur, and many of the
  birds migrate south.
• Receives more rain than any other biome except
  the rainforest.
• Soil is very rich and is used for farmland when
  trees are cleared.
• Many are found in the Eastern United States.

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Biome 3Savanna

• Made up of grasslands that have fairly infertile
  soil
• Found mostly in the tropics
• Often have a season of heavy rainfall followed by
  a season of drought
• Some areas have trees and tall grasses that grow
  to be 10 feet high. In other savannas, grass
  grows in short clumps and there are few trees.
• Grasses have deep roots. If the area catches on
  fire, grass above the ground is burned, but the
  deep roots are protected and allow it to grow
  back quickly.
• Wide variety of animal life zebras, antelope,
  wildebeests, lions, hyenas, and cheetahs.

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Biome 4Temperate Grassland

• 25 of the Earths land surface
• Flat or hilly country cover much of North
  America
• Found in the interiors of continents
• Climate is very dry summers are hot and winters
  are often very cold
• Grassland soil is very rich in nutrients
• Animals have developed ways to survive in the
  harsh, extreme conditions

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Biome 5Artic Tundra

• A cold, dry biome located in the far north just
  below the polar ice cap.
• Very low temperatures and little rainfall or snow
• 20 of the Earths land surface is tundra.
• Soil is permanently frozen called permafrost.
• The growing season is short and plants grow
  slowly trees dont grow there
• Animals adapt to harsh climate conditions of the
  tundra polar bears, caribou, ground squirrels,
  musk oxen
• Alpine tundra is a biome with conditions similar
  to the Arctic tundra but are found at the tops of
  tall mountains all over the world.

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Biome 6Desert

• Moisture evaporates quicker than rainfall can
  replace it.
• Many types of soil and terrain rocky, sandy,
  flat or mountainous
• 20 of Earths land surface is desert
• The hottest places on earth!
• Fewer plant and animal species live here have
  to be able to adapt to the harsh weather
  conditions
• Many animals are nocturnal.
• Plants are found far from one another. They
  store water in their root systems or stems.
• Receives very little rainfall per year.