This document provides information about different biomes. It defines a biome as a distinct community of organisms occupying a distinct region, determined by abiotic factors like climate and precipitation. The major terrestrial biomes described include tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical grasslands, temperate grasslands, tropical rainforests, chaparral, and deserts. Each biome is characterized by its climate, vegetation, and common animal species.

1. What do you think, do they differ ?
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2. How are they
benefit to us ?
What are their
characteristics ?
Is there any
animal living
inside them ?
What is biome ?
How many
types of biomes
do we have ?
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3. Biome is:
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Areas that has distinct climate and
organisms /A community of organisms that
occupy a distinct region.

4. Terrestrial Biomes
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5. Biomes- Community in a food web all adapted to
particular abiotic conditions. So, the abiotic factors
determine the biome!
Major Terrestrial Biomes:
1. Tundra
2. Taiga
3. Temp Deciduous Forest
4. Tropical Grasslands
5. Temperate Grasslands
6. Tropical Rainforests
7. Chapparal
8. Desert

6. Biome Vegetation
Temperature & Precipitation
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7. Terrestrial Biomes Map
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8. 1.Tundra
■LOCATED IN THE FAR NORTHERN PARTS OF NORTH AMERICA,
EUROPE, AND ASIA
■CALLED THE PERMAFROST, PERMANENTLY FROZEN SUBSOIL
FOUND IN THE FARTHEST POINT NORTH, INCLUDING ALASKA
■COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE FROZEN DESERT BECAUSE IT
GETS VERY LITTLE RAINFALL, WHICH CANNOT PENETRATE THE
FROZEN GROUND
■HAS THE APPEARANCE OF GENTLY ROLLING TREELESS PLAINS
WITH MANY LAKES, PONDS, AND BOGS IN DEPRESSIONS
■INSECTS, PARTICULARLY FLIES, ARE ABUNDANT
■VAST NUMBERS OF BIRDS NEST IN THE TUNDRA IN THE
SUMMER TO EAT THE INSECTS AND MIGRATE SOUTH IN THE
WINTER
■PRINCIPAL MAMMALS INCLUDE REINDEER, CARIBOU, ARCTIC
WOLVES, ARCTIC FOXES, ARCTIC HARES, LEMMINGS, AND POLAR
BEARS
■THOUGH THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL ORGANISMS IN THE
TUNDRA IS HIGH, THE NUMBER OF SPECIES IS SMALL

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10. Tropical Rain Forest
THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST HAS THE GREATEST DIVERSITY OF ANIMAL SP ECIES OF
ANY BIOME.
■THIS BIOME IS FOUND NEAR THE EQUATOR WITH ABUNDANT RAINFALL, STA BLE
TEMPERATURES, AND HIGH HUMIDITY.
■ALTHOUGH THESE FORESTS COVER ONLY 4 PERCENT OF EARTH’S LAND SURFACE,
THEY ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF EARTH’S NET CARBON FIXATION
(FOOD PRODUCTION).
■IT HAS THE GREATEST PLANT SPECIES DIVERSITY OF ANY BIOME ON EART H. IT MAY
HAVE AS MANY AS 50 TIMES THE NUMBER OF SPECIES OF TREES AS DOES A
TEMPERATE FOREST.
■DOMINANT TREES ARE VERY TALL WITH INTERLACING TOPS THAT FORM A D ENSE
CANOPY, KEEPING THE FLOOR OF THE FOREST DIMLY LIT EVEN AT MIDDAY. THE
CANOPY ALSO PREVENTS RAIN FROM FALLING DIRECTLY ONTO THE FOREST FLOOR,
BUT LEAVES DRIP RAIN CONSTANTLY.
■MANY TREES ARE COVERED WITH EPIPHYTES, PHOTOSYNTHETIC PLANTS THAT
GROW ON OTHER TREES RATHER THAN SUPPORTING THEMSELVES. THEY ARE NOT
PARASITES BUT MAY KILL THE TREES INADVERTENTLY BY BLOCKING THE L IGHT.
■THIS BIOME HAS THE MOST ANIMAL SPECIES DIVERSITY OF ANY BIOME AN D
INCLUDES BIRDS, REPTILES, MAMMALS, AND AMPHIBIANS.

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12. Deserts
DESERTS EXPERIENCE THE MOST EXTREME FLUCTUATIONS IN
TEMPERATURE OF ANY BIOME
■IT RECEIVES LESS THAN 10 INCHES OF RAINFALL PER YEAR; NOT EVEN
GRASSES CAN SURVIVE.
■A DESERT EXPERIENCES THE MOST EXTREME TEMPERATURE
FLUCTUATIONS OF ANY BIOME. DAYTIME SURFACE
TEMPERATURES CAN BE AS HIGH AS 70°C. WITH NO MODERATING
INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION, HEAT IS LOST RAPIDLY AT NIGHT. SHORTLY
AFTER SUNDOWN TEMPERATURES DROP DRASTICALLY.
■CHARACTERISTIC PLANTS ARE THE DROUGHT -RESISTANT CACTI WITH
SHALLOW ROOTS TO CAPTURE AS MUCH RAIN AS POSSIBLE DURING
HARD AND SHORT RAINS THAT ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE DESERT.
■OTHER PLANTS INCLUDE SAGEBRUSH, CREOSOTE BUSH, AND
MESQUITE.
■THERE ARE MANY SMALL ANNUAL PLANTS THAT ARE STIMULATED TO
GROW ONLY AFTER A HARD RAIN. THEY GERMINATE, SEND UP SHOOTS
AND FLOWERS, AND DIE ALL WITHIN A FEW WEEKS.

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■Most animals are active at night or during a brief early-morning period or late afternoon,
when the heat is not so intense. During the day, animals remain cool by burrowing
underground or hiding in the shade.
■Cacti can expand to hold extra water and have modified leaves called spines, which
protect against animals attacking a cactus for its water.
■As an example of how severe conditions in a desert can be, in the Sahara desert, there are
regions of hundreds of miles across that are completely barren of any vegetation.
■Characteristic animals include rodents, kangaroo rats, snakes, lizards, arachnids, insects,
and a few birds. Here is a sample climate graph to analyze.

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15. Temperate Grasslands
■COVER HUGE AREAS IN BOTH THE TEMPERATE
AND TROPICAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD
■CHARACTERIZED BY LOW TOTAL ANNUAL
RAINFALL OR UNEVEN SEASONAL OCCURRENCE
OF RAINFALL, MAKING CONDITIONS
INHOSPITABLE FOR FORESTS
■PRINCIPAL GRAZING MAMMALS INCLUDE
BISON AND PRONGHORN ANTELOPE IN THE
UNITED STATES, AND WILDEBEEST AND GAZELLE
IN AFRICA
■BURROWING MAMMALS, SUCH AS PRAIRIE
DOGS AND OTHER RODENTS, ARE COMMON
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

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17. Check point
1. WHAT IS A BIOME?
2. WHAT ARE THE MAJOR TERRESTRIAL
BIOMES?
3. WHAT ARE THE ABIOTIC FACTORS THAT
DICTATE TERRESTRIAL BIOMES?

18. Temperate
Deciduous Forest
■found in the northeast of north
america, south of the taiga, and
characterized by trees that drop their
leaves in winter
■includes many more plant species
than does the taiga
■shows vertical stratification of
plants and animals—some species
live on the ground, some in the low
branches, and some in the treetops
■rich soil due to decomposition of
leaf litter
■principal mammals include
squirrels, deer, foxes, and bears that
are dormant or hibernate through the
cold winter

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20. Tropical Grasslands (Savannas)
CENTRAL S.AMERICA, CENTRAL
AFRICA, N.AUSTRALIA, INDIA
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: DRY
SEASON: 34 °C (93 °F)
CLIMATE: THERE ARE TWO
SEASONS, WET IN THE SUMMER,
DRY IN THE WINTER.
LANDFORMS: FLAT PLAIN WITH
SMALL HILLS

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The taiga—the conifer forest—is the largest terrestrial biome.
Conifer Forest—Taiga or Boreal Forest
■Found in northern Canada and much of the world’s northern regions including Alaska, Russia,
and northern Europe
■Dominated by conifer (evergreen) forests, like spruce and fir
■Landscape is dotted with lakes, ponds, and bogs
■Abundance of rainfall allows trees to dominate the landscape
■Has very cold winters
■Is the largest terrestrial biome
■Characterized by heavy snowfall; trees are shaped with branches directed downward to
prevent heavy accumulations of snow from breaking their branches
■Principal large mammals include moose, black bear, lynx, elk, wolverines, martens, and
porcupines
■Flying insects and birds are prevalent in summer
■Has greater variety in animal species than does the tundra
■Seasonal temperature ranges of more than 70°C

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24. 4. WHICH BIOME HAS MORE NUTRIENT RICH SOIL- RAIN
FORESTS OR GRASSLAND
6. WHAT TWO FACTORS HELP DETERMINE THE TYPE OF
VEGETATION IN AN ECOSYSTEM?
7. HOW ARE TUNDRA AND DESERT BIOMES SIMILAR?
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IN WHICH BIOME DO PLANTS TEND TO HAVE THE
DEEPEST ROOT SYSTEMS?
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DESCRIBE TWO ADAPTATIONS ANIMALS HAVE TO HELP
THEM SURVIVE IN THEIR BIOME.
Check point

25. 4. WHICH BIOME HAS MORE NUTRIENT RICH SOIL- RAIN FORESTS OR
GRASSLANDS? GRASSLANDS- SLOW DECAY RETURNING NUTRIENTS
TO THE SOIL
5. WHAT ARE EPIPHYTES? PLANTS THAT USE THE SURFACE OF A
TREE TO GROW.
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WHAT TWO FACTORS HELP DETERMINE THE TYPE OF VEGETATION
IN AN ECOSYSTEM? TEMPERATURE & PRECIPITATION
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HOW ARE TUNDRA AND DESERT BIOMES SIMILAR? LOW
PRECIPITATION
8. IN WHICH BIOME DO PLANTS TEND TO HAVE THE DEEPEST ROOT
SYSTEMS? TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS (TALL PRAIRIE GRASSES)
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DESCRIBE TWO ADAPTATIONS ANIMALS HAVE TO HELP THEM
SURVIVE IN THEIR BIOME. CAMOUFLAGE, NOCTURNAL, THICK SKIN,
BODY ARMOR, LONG NECKS & TONGUES