Biomes

Environmental Science Test 2, 3, 4

Deciduous forest (climate)

• Four distinct seasons

• Snow and rain

• Warm, wet summers

• Cold, dry winters

Chapparral/temperate shrublands (climate)

• Hot, dry summers

• Mild, wet winters

• Cool

• Moist

Tundra (climate)

• Low winter temperatures

• Winter lasts 8-9 months

• Short and cool summers

• Summer temperatures above freezing

• Low precipitation

• Minimal evaporation

Tropical rainforest (climate)

• Stable, warm and humid all year round

• Humidity above 80 degrees

Savannah (climate)

• Tropical

• Wet and dry

• Warm all year

• Alternates wet and dry season (drought) 

• Wet seasons (rainfall, summer)

Desert (climate)

• Minimal rainfall (0-24 in)

• Low atmosphere humidity

• Very hot during the day

• Cold at night

Taiga (climate)

• Winter 6-7 months of the year

• Warm summers

• Short fall and spring

• Cold most of year

Biomes listed in order of equator outwards (climate)

• Tropical rainforest

• Savanna

• chaparral/temperate shrubland

• Deciduous forest

• Desert

• Taiga

• Tundra

Biomes moving north to south (climate)

Tundra →Taiga→Deciduous

Tundra (facts)

• Coldest temperatures

• Permafrost

• Lack of trees

• Short summers

• Limited plant life

Taiga (facts)

• Long, cold winters

• Short, mild summers

• Dominated by coniferous evergreens

Deciduous (facts)

• Longer and warmer growing seasons that is suitable for deciduous trees

• Oaks and maple trees

• Have broad leaves that shed and grow in spring

• Increasing precipitation

• Decreasing temperature

Forest→Chapparal→Desert→Savannah→Rainforest

Forest (facts)

• Dense canopies of trees and significant rainfalls

• Have different types of latitudes

  • Tropical rainforests

  • Temperate forests

  • Boreal forests

Chapparal/Temperate Shrubland (facts)

• Hot, dry summers

• Mild winters

• Vegetation dominated by shrubs and adapted to periodic fires

Deserts (facts)

• Very dry areas that recieve little precipitation

• Found at various latitudes

Savannas (facts)

• Tropical grasslands with scattered trees

• Wet and dry seasons

Rainforests (facts)

• Tropical are found near the equator

• Most biodiverse

• High temperatures

• Lots of rainfall