Biomes - Environmental Science - Ch. 2

These two abiotic factors determine the type of biome.

Temperature and Precipitation

This forested biome has a temperature range of -65° F to 70°F (-54 to 21° C), with precipitation amounts of 12 - 33 inches (30 - 84 cm), which falls mostly as rain in the short summer.

Boreal Forest/Taiga

This biome has permanently frozen ground (permafrost). The temperature ranges from an average of -34° C (-30° F) to 12°C (54° F). The precipitation is low 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches), which is why it is sometimes considered a cold desert.

Tundra

Low precipitation defines this biome. There is less than 25cm (10in) of rain per year. The temperatures range from 20°C (68°F) to 49°C (120°F). Often it is cold at night and warm during the day. Short winters and long summers are featured in this biome.

Desert

This biome has temperatures that range from 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F). Most of the 76-127cm (30-50in) of rain falls during the wet season with less than 10cm (4in) of rain falling during the dry season.

Savanna

This biome has extreme temperatures from -40°C (-40°F) in the winter to over 38°C (100°F) in the summer. While precipitation amounts of 25 - 89cm (10-35in) could support trees, wildfires ensure that tree growth is minimal.

Grasslands (e.g. prairie)

This forested biome has very large biodiversity and has no seasons. The temperature averages around 68 °F (20 °C) to 93 °F (34 °C). Humidity is high, as is rainfall with an average precipitation amount of over 250cm (100in) per year.

Tropical Rainforest

This forest is very moderate in temperature -30°C to 30°C (-22°F to 86°F) that vary over the four seasons. The precipitation amounts of 75-150cm (30-59in) support trees that lose their leaves in the fall. We live here.

Deciduous Forest

Abiotic Factors

Non-living factors in the environment (water, sunlight, temperature, soil, etc)

Biotic Factors

Living factors in the environment (plants, animals, fungi, protists, bacteria)

Animals found in the Tropical Rainforest

Jaguars, Monkeys, Toucans, Lots and lots of Insects

Animals found in the Deciduous Forest

White Tailed Deer, Bobcats, Turkeys, Blackbears

Animals found in the Taiga

Lynx, Snowshoe Hares, Moose

Animals found in the Tundra

Moose, Arctic Fox, Polar Bears, Snow Leopards

Animals found in the Desert

Snakes, Reptiles, Sand Cats

Animals found in the Grassland/Prairies

Prairie Dogs, Bison, Black-footed ferrets, Bobcats

Animals found in the Savanna

Lions, Elephants, Zebras

Deciduous

Trees and shrubs that lose their leaves at the end of the growing season

Coniferous

Trees that produce seed-bearing cones and have needles such as pines, spruces and firs.

Canopy

A leafy roof formed by tall trees

Permafrost

permanently frozen layer of soil beneath the surface of the ground

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Biome

A group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms

Temperate Rain Forest

This ecosystem has temperatures from 0 degrees celsius to 20 degrees celsius (32 degrees fahrenheit to 68 degrees fahrenheit). This ecosystem gets 200 cm to 350 cm (78 in to 138in) of precipitation a year.