APES - Terrestrial Biomes

Desert - Climate

Hot days (up to 45°C), cold nights; less than 25 cm rain per year — very dry.

Desert - Soil & Productivity

Sandy or rocky soil, very low nutrients and organic matter; extremely low productivity.

Desert - Adaptations

Plants store water (succulents), have spines instead of leaves; animals are nocturnal and conserve water.

Desert - Decomposition & Human Impact

Decomposition is very slow; humans cause salinization from irrigation, overgrazing, and off-road damage.

Savanna - Climate

Warm year-round (20-30°C) with distinct wet and dry seasons; 50-130 cm rain per year.

Savanna - Soil & Productivity

Soils have moderate nutrients but lose them quickly to leaching; moderate productivity.

Savanna - Adaptations

Grasses regrow after fires, deep roots; animals migrate or burrow during dry season.

Savanna - Decomposition & Human Impact

Fast in wet season, slow in dry; agriculture, grazing, and poaching threaten ecosystems.

Tundra - Climate

Very cold (−30°C to 10°C) with less than 25 cm precipitation, mostly snow.

Tundra - Soil & Productivity

Poor, frozen permafrost limits root growth and drainage; very low productivity.

Tundra - Adaptations

Low-growing plants, thick fur, hibernation, migration, and fat storage in animals.

Tundra - Decomposition & Human Impact

Extremely slow decomposition; climate change and oil drilling damage fragile land.

Taiga - Climate

Long, cold winters and mild summers (−20°C to 20°C); 30-85 cm precipitation, mostly snow.

Taiga - Soil & Productivity

Acidic and nutrient-poor soil; moderate to low productivity.

Taiga - Adaptations

Evergreen conifers with needle leaves; flexible branches; animal hibernation and migration.

Taiga - Decomposition & Human Impact

Slow decomposition from cold and acidity; affected by logging, mining, and global warming.

Tropical Rainforest - Climate

Warm and stable year-round (25-27°C); over 200 cm of rainfall annually.

Tropical Rainforest - Soil & Productivity

Soil is nutrient-poor (rapid uptake and leaching); the most productive biome on Earth.

Tropical Rainforest - Adaptations

Broad-leaved evergreen trees with drip tips; layered canopy; specialized animals.

Tropical Rainforest - Decomposition & Human Impact

Extremely fast decomposition; deforestation and slash-and-burn farming cause habitat loss.

Temperate Grassland (Prairie) - Climate

Cold winters, hot summers (−10°C to 25°C); 25-90 cm precipitation per year.

Temperate Grassland - Soil & Productivity

Rich, deep, nutrient-dense soil; among the most fertile on Earth; moderate to high productivity.

Temperate Grassland - Adaptations

Deep roots survive droughts and fires; burrowing and grazing animals thrive.

Temperate Grassland - Decomposition & Human Impact

Moderate decomposition; agriculture and grazing cause erosion and soil loss.

Shrubland (Chaparral) - Climate

Mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers; 30-75 cm rain annually.

Shrubland - Soil & Productivity

Soils have low to moderate nutrients; moderate productivity.

Shrubland - Adaptations

Fire-resistant shrubs, small waxy leaves, nocturnal or burrowing animals.

Shrubland - Decomposition & Human Impact

Moderate decomposition; human impacts include urbanization and increased wildfires.

Temperate Rainforest - Climate

Mild (5-25°C) with 200-350 cm rainfall annually.

Temperate Rainforest - Soil & Productivity

Nutrient-rich but slightly acidic soil; very high productivity.

Temperate Rainforest - Adaptations

Large conifers (Douglas fir, redwoods); mosses, ferns, and epiphytes.

Temperate Rainforest - Decomposition & Human Impact

Rapid decomposition; logging and deforestation are major issues.

Temperate Deciduous Forest - Climate

Warm summers, cold winters (−5°C to 25°C); 75-150 cm rainfall annually.

Temperate Deciduous Forest - Soil & Productivity

Fertile soils enriched by decomposing leaf litter; high productivity.

Temperate Deciduous Forest - Adaptations

Trees shed leaves in winter; animals hibernate or migrate seasonally.

Temperate Deciduous Forest - Decomposition & Human Impact

Moderate to fast decomposition; logging, farming, and urbanization reduce biodiversity.