Biomes
What are biomes?
Goal:
Goal:
A biome is a large region that has a similar ecosystem. Specific plant and animal species live in that environment, and biomes also have certain climate patterns. The climate in a biome determines what plant and animal species live in that area.
Below is a map of the different biomes around the world.
Study the slides to learn about each biome.
 |
Tropical Forest
Located in the tropics near the equator, tropical forests have tall trees and millions of plant and animal species. This makes it the most diverse biome. Savanna
Savannas are covered with grasses and scattered trees and shrubs. They are found between desert and tropical forest biomes. This means savannas are close to the equator. Many herding animals live and graze in savannas because of the plentiful grasses and trees found there. Desert
Deserts are dry areas that receive little rainfall. A hot desert can be 100°F during the day and 32°F at night. Few plants and animals can adapt to these dry conditions. Most plants, like cactus, store water to survive. Some deserts are extremely hot, while others are extremely cold. Antarctica is the world's largest cold desert, and the Sahara in Africa is the world's largest hot desert. Chaparral
Known as shrubland, this biome is found in small numbers on each continent. Whether on plains, hills, or mountains, chaparral is covered with bushes that have small, hard leaves to hold moisture during hot, dry times. Grassland
Grasslands are wide, flat area of land covered with grasses and wildflowers. A variety of animal species live on grasslands. Broadleaf Forest
Broadleaf forests have deciduous trees with big leaves that change color and drop in autumn. These forests have milder temperatures than rainforests. They are usually located halfway between the equator and the north or south poles, and they experience all four seasons. Coniferous Forest
Coniferous forests have trees that grow needles instead of leaves, such as pine, cypress, and fir trees. These kinds of forests are found in colder regions. Tundra
Tundras are treeless plains, and they are located near the north pole. The permafrost layer located just under the ground remains frozen throughout the year. Few plants and animals live in this biome. Polar Ice
This area is covered by ice most of the year. It is the coldest place on Earth. |
 |