Biomes

biomes

Various regions on earth that serve as hosts for ecosystems

deserts

• driest land biome

• experience a wide range of temps from day to night, exist on nearly every continent

• deserts that have inadequate rainfall does not have vegetative life except those that have well-adapted to that environment like cacti

• most wildlife is nocturnal and conserves energy & water during the day (very hot)

• temperature fluctuates a lot because water moderates temps

savanna

• found throughout South America, Australia, & Africa

• Savannas are grassy plains with scattered, drought-resistant trees

• savanna soil has low nutrients & temps run high

• many grazing species live in the savannas

taiga

• lengthy cold and wet winters

• found in Canada

• has gymnosperms as its prominent plant life

• have coniferous forests (pine/need0bearing trees)

temperate deciduous forests

• found in regions that experience cold winters where plant life is dormant & alternates w warm summers that provide enough moisture to keep large trees alive

• found in northeastern US, much of Europe, & eastern Asia

tropical forests

• found in South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia

• near the equator, they can be rainforests

• lowland areas that have dry seasons tend to be dry forests

• rainforest mainly consist of tall trees that form a thick cover, which blocks the light from reaching the floor (little growth)

• known for the rapid recycling of nutrients and contain greatest diversity of species

temperate grasslands

• found in regions with cold winters

• this biome’s soil is considered to be the most fertile

• this biome receives less water than tropical savannas

tundras

• experiences extremely cold winters, the ground freezes completely

• the upper layer of the ground is able to thaw during the summer months but the permafrost (land underneath) stays frozen throughout the year

• thus plants can’t form deep roots in this soil & dictates what plant life can survive

• most plants are short shrubs or grasses that can withstand these conditions

water biome

both freshwater & marine water biomes make up the majority of the surface of the earth