ESS Biomes

Desert

Temperature: Hot cold at night, Insolation: High, precipitation: Very low (less than 250mm a yr), limiting factors: Lack of water, poor soil, Productivity: low, Biodiversity: low, animals include camel, rattlesnake, scorpion

Tundra

Temperature: Very cold, Insolation: low, precipitation: low (mostly snow), Limiting factors: Permafrost, short growing season, Productivity: very low, biodiversity: low, caribou, Arctic fox, snowy owl

Taiga (coniferous forest)

Temperature: cold year round, long winters, insolation: moderate, precipitation: moderate (mostly snow), Limiting factors: poor, rocky soil; cold temps, Productivity: moderate, Biodiversity: low to moderate, include moose, wolf, lynx

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Temperature: High and low (-30 to 30C), warm summers, cool winters, Insolation: moderate, Precipitation: moderate to high year round (500-1500 mm), Limiting factors: Seasonal temperature changes, Productivity: high, Biodiversity: moderate to high, include deer, black bear, red fox

Grasslands

Temperature: warm to hot summers, cold winters, Insolation: high, Precipitation: moderate, wet and dry seasons, Limiting factors: drought, frequent fires, Productivity: moderate (600gm yr), Biodiversity: moderate, animals include bison, prairie dog, antelope

Tropical Rainforest

Temperature: Consistently warm (26-28C), Insolation: very high, Precipitation: Very high (2000-5000 mmyr-1) year round, Limiting factors: Nutrient-poor soil, Productivity: very high (40% NPP), Biodiversity: extremely high, animals include jaguar, sloth, toucan

Biome

collections of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions.