Biomes Notes

Taiga (Boreal Forest):

Low precipitation & temperature, northern latitudes, poor soil, coniferous trees, acidic fallen needles create peat.

  • Threats: Deforestation, logging, mining, urbanization, parasites

  • Animals: Elk, Moose, Lynx, Wolf, Lemming, Snowshoe Hare.

Temperate Rainforest:

Coastal areas, mild winters, heavy rainfall, high species richness, poor soil, long growing season.

  • Threats: Clear-cutting, construction, logging

  • Animals: Mink, Foxes, Lynx, Beavers


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Temperate Seasonal Forest (Deciduous):

Wide temperature & precipitation variation, distinct seasons, fertile soil, high NPP, deciduous trees.

  • Threats: Climate change, invasive species, forestry practices, mining, logging, agriculture

  • Animals: Rabbits, Deers, Racoons, Bobcats, Black bears, Foxes.

Tropical Rainforest:

High temperature & precipitation, near equator, highest biodiversity, high NPP, poor soil, tree canopies.

  • Threats: Logging, deforestation, wildfires, slash & burn

  • Animals: Sloth, Jaguars, Parrots.

Shrubland (Chaparral):

Hot, dry summers; cold, moist winters; shrubs adapted to dry conditions, prone to fires.

  • Threats: Human development, pollution, drought, wildfires

  • Animals: Deer, Lizards, Foxes, Bobcats, Hawks, Deer, Gopher Snakes, Coyote.

Temperate Grassland (Prairie):

Large temperature variation, hot summers, cold winters, moderate rainfall, frequent wildfires, fertile soil, dominated by grass.

  • Threats: Global warming, GMOs, soil compaction/salinization, altered burning practices

  • Animals: Gazelles, Zebra, Prairie dogs, Wild horses, Sparrows, Snakes, Lions.

Savanna:

Warm temperatures, seasonal rainfall, porous soil, grassland & trees, near equator.

  • Threats: Overgrazing & erosion

  • Animals: Giraffes, Zebras, Buffalos, Wildebeast, Leopards, Hyenas, Elephants.

Desert:

High temperature, low precipitation, little vegetation, fragile ecosystem, low species diversity, slow nutrient cycling, poor soil.

  • Threats: Vehicle disturbances, sandstorms, drought, wildfires, climate change

  • Animals: Coyote, South African lions, Camels, Scorpion, Fennec fox, Rattlesnake, Lizards.

Tundra:

Extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor soil, very low species richness & NPP, permafrost, high Northern latitudes.

  • Threats: Climate change, exploration for oil/gas/minerals, oil spills, industrial activity

  • Animals: Musk oxen, Snowy owls, Lemmings, Arctic foxes, Mountain goats, Polar bears, Reindeer.




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Taiga (Boreal Forest) Characteristics

  • Low precipitation.

  • Low temperature (second coldest biome).

  • Low species diversity.

  • Found at Northern latitudes.

  • Poor soil, resulting in a short growing season.

  • Consists of mostly coniferous (evergreen) trees.

  • Acidic fallen needles from coniferous trees and moss inhibit full decay of organic matter, creating a thick layer of peat on the soil.

    • Peat is used to mine coal & natural gas.

Threats to the Taiga

  • Deforestation.

  • Logging.

  • Mining.

  • Drilling for oil.

  • Urbanization, leading to habitat fragmentation.

  • Trees getting diseased by parasites (can be brought naturally or through humans).

Taiga Plants & Animals

  • Coniferous trees:

    • Needles retain moisture, helping trees withstand cold winters.

    • Coniferous tree cones protect seeds.

    • Examples: Pine, Evergreen Spruce, Fir.

  • Animals: Elk, Moose, Lynx, Wolf, Lemming, Snowshoe Hare.

Temperate Rainforest Characteristics

  • Found often near coastal areas or regions with mild winters & heavy rainfall.

  • Warm summers, cool winters, avg. precipitation.

  • High species richness.

  • Poor soil.

  • Long growing season.

Threats to Temperate Rainforests

  • Clear-cutting for agriculture.

  • Human construction, such as highways.

  • Logging.

  • Old-growth forests here are in danger.

Temperate Rainforest Plants & Animals

  • Evergreen conifers.

  • Broadleaf evergreen or deciduous trees.

  • Tree species include Cedar, Cypress, Fir, Pine, Redwood, Spruce.

  • Mosses, ferns, some shrubs.

  • Animals: Mink, Foxes, Lynx, Beavers.

Temperate Seasonal Forest (Deciduous) Characteristics

  • Wide variation in temperature & precipitation.

  • Moderate temperature.

  • Strong species richness.

  • Contain primarily deciduous trees.

  • Have distinct seasons.

  • Very fertile soil which is enriched with decaying matter (deciduous trees shed leaves before winter).

  • High Net Primary Productivity (NPP) compared to most northern biomes.

Threats to Temperate Seasonal Forests

  • Climate change.

  • Invasive species.

  • Unsustainable forestry practices.

  • Strip mining.

  • Logging.

  • Clearing land for agriculture.

Temperate Seasonal Forest Plants & Animals

  • Broadleaf deciduous trees: Oak, Hickory, Hemlock, Maple, Willow.

  • Wildflowers.

  • Animals: Rabbits, Deers, Racoons, Bobcats, Black bears, Foxes.

Tropical Rainforest Characteristics

  • High temperature, located near the equator.

  • High precipitation.

  • Only 2 seasons (rainy + dry), winter is absent.

  • Highest biodiversity among terrestrial biomes.

  • High NPP.

  • Poor soil, infertile because plants use up the nutrients quickly.

  • Rapid decomposition.

  • Contain tree canopies.

Threats to Tropical Rainforests

  • Logging.

  • Deforestation & clearing land for agriculture.

  • Wildfires.

  • Use of slash & burn techniques.

Tropical Rainforest Plants & Animals

  • 2/3 of the world’s species are found in Tropical Rainforests.

  • Tall evergreen trees.

  • Lianas (vines), ferns, mosses, orchids.

  • Variety of snakes, amphibians, and reptiles.

  • Many species of birds, small mammals, insects.

  • Fruit trees.

  • Animals: Sloth, Jaguars, Parrots.

Shrubland (Chaparral) Characteristics

  • Hot, dry summers.

  • Cold, moist winters.

  • Dominated by shrubs that have adapted to dry conditions.

  • Prone to fires.

  • Found in California, Australia, Southern South America, and Southern Africa.

Threats to Shrublands

  • Human development.

  • Pollution.

  • Severe drought.

  • Wildfires.

Shrubland Plants & Animals

  • Variety of shrubs.

  • Acacia, Prickly pear, Caranday, Yucca.

  • Animals: Deer, Lizards, Foxes, Bobcats, Hawks, Deer, Gopher Snakes, Coyote.

Temperate Grassland (Prairie) Characteristics

  • Large temperature variation.

  • Hot summers & cold winters.

  • Moderate rainfall.

  • Frequent wildfires, leading to fertile soil.

  • Long growing season.

  • Dominated by grass.

  • Seasonal drought, wildfires, & grazing by large mammals prevent woody trees from growing there.

  • Rainfall influences height of vegetation, wetter regions = taller grass.

Threats to Temperate Grasslands

  • Global warming, which can transform them into deserts.

  • GMO varieties could invade native grassland.

  • Soil compaction due to overgrazing.

  • Soil salinization & desertification.

  • Planting trees deliberately.

  • Altered burning practices.

Temperate Grassland Plants & Animals

  • Mostly grasses: Purple Needlegrass, Rye, Buffalo grass, Wild oats, Foxtail.

  • Few species of trees: willows, oaks, cottonwoods.

  • Animals: Gazelles, Zebra, Prairie dogs, Wild horses, Sparrows, Snakes, Lions.

Savanna Characteristics

  • Warm temperatures.

  • Seasonal rainfall.

  • Porous soil, leading to rapid drainage of water.

  • Mostly grassland & trees.

  • Found in areas near the equator.

Threats to Savannas

  • Overgrazing.

  • Erosion.

Savanna Plants & Animals

  • Mostly grasses and small broadleaf plants: Elephant grass, Whistling thorn.

  • Some deciduous trees and shrubs: BaoBab tree, Jackalberry tree, Candelabra tree.

  • Animals: Giraffes, Zebras, Buffalos, Wildebeast, Leopards, Hyenas, Elephants.

Desert Characteristics

  • High temperature.

  • Low precipitation, making it very dry.

  • Little to no vegetation.

  • Very fragile ecosystem.

  • Low species diversity.

  • Slow nutrient cycling, resulting in low bacterial activity in soil.

  • Poor soil.

Threats to Deserts

  • Human vehicle disturbances, which take years to recover.

  • Sandstorms.

  • Drought.

  • Wildfires.

  • Climate change, which makes them even hotter.

Desert Plants & Animals

  • Succulents & cacti: only plants that don’t need much water can survive here, such as Saguaro Cactus, Agave, Common sage, Brittlebush.

  • Joshua tree.

  • Animals: Coyote, South African lions, Camels, Scorpion, Fennec fox, Rattlesnake, Lizards.

Tundra Characteristics

  • Extremely low temperatures.

  • Little precipitation.

  • Poor soil nutrients.

  • Very low species richness & NPP.

  • Simple vegetation structure because not many species can survive there.

  • Low ecosystem stability.

  • Short growing season.

  • Has permafrost.

  • Found in high Northern latitudes.

  • 2 types: Arctic & Alpine.

Threats to Tundras

  • Climate change, leading to melting permafrost.

  • Exploration for oil, gas, & minerals.

  • Oil spills.

  • Industrial activity.

Tundra Plants & Animals

  • Can only support shallow-rooted plants: Lichens, Mosses, Small woody shrubs.

  • Labrador tea, Arctic moss, Bearberry.

  • Animals: Musk oxen, Snowy owls, Lemmings, Arctic foxes, Mountain goats, Polar bears, Reindeer.