Definition:

A biome is a large region of Earth that has a certain climate and certain
types of living things. Major biomes include tundra, forests, grasslands,
and deserts. The plants and animals of each biome have traits that help
them to survive in their particular biome. ... Each biome has many
ecosystems.

Biome # 1. Tundra:

Temperature
-40°C to 18°C

Precipitation
150 to 250 mm of rain per year

Vegetation
Almost no trees due to short growing season and permafrost; lichens,
mosses, grasses, sedges, shrubs

Location
Regions south of the ice caps of the Arctic and extending across North
America, Europe, and Siberia (high mountain tops)
Other
Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning "treeless
plain"; it is the coldest of the biomes

Example: Yakutsk, Russia

Temperature graph:

Click to enlarge
Precipitation graph:

Click to enlarge
Location map:

Click to enlarge

Description
The tundra is the coldest of the biomes. It also receives low amounts
of precipitation, making the tundra similar to a desert. Tundra is found
in the regions just below the ice caps of the Arctic, extending across
North America, to Europe, and Siberia in Asia. Much of Alaska and
about half of Canada are in the tundra biome. Tundra is also found at
the tops of very high mountains elsewhere in the world. Temperatures
are frequently extremely cold, but can get warm in the summers.
Tundra winters are long, dark, and cold, with mean temperatures
below 0°C for six to 10 months of the year. The temperatures are so
cold that there is a layer of permanently frozen ground below the
surface, called permafrost. This permafrost is a defining characteristic
of the tundra biome. In the tundra summers, the top layer of soil thaws
only a few inches down, providing a growing surface for the roots of
vegetation.
Precipitation in the tundra totals 150 to 250 mm a year, including
melted snow. That's less than most of the world's greatest deserts!
Still, the tundra is usually a wet place because the low temperatures
cause evaporation of water to be slow. Much of the arctic has rain and
fog in the summers, and water gathers in bogs and ponds.
Vegetation in the tundra has adapted to the cold and the short growing
season. Mosses, sedges, and lichens are common, while few trees
grow in the tundra. The trees that do manage to grow stay close to the
ground so they are insulated by snow during the cold winters.
Biome # 2. Northern Conifer Forest:

Temperature
-40°C to 20°C, average summer temperature is 10°C

Precipitation
300 to 900 millimeters of rain per year

Vegetation
Coniferous-evergreen trees (trees that produce cones and needles;
some needles remain on the trees all year long)

Location
Canada, Europe, Asia, and the United States

Other
Coniferous forest regions have cold, long, snowy winters, and warm,
humid summers; well-defined seasons, at least four to six frost-free
months

Example: Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada

Temperature graph:

Click to enlarge
Precipitation graph:

Click to enlarge
Location map:

Click to enlarge

Description
Between the tundra to the north and the deciduous forest to the south
lies the large area of coniferous forest. One type of coniferous forest,
the northern boreal forest, is found in 50° to 60°N latitudes. Another
type, temperate coniferous forests, grows in lower latitudes of North
America, Europe, and Asia, in the high elevations of mountains.
Coniferous forests consist mostly of conifers, trees that grow needles
instead of leaves, and cones instead of flowers. Conifers tend to be
evergreen, that is, they bear needles all year long. These adaptations
help conifers survive in areas that are very cold or dry. Some of the
more common conifers are spruces, pines, and firs.
Precipitation in coniferous forests varies from 300 to 900 mm annually,
with some temperate coniferous forests receiving up to 2,000 mm.
The amount of precipitation depends on the forest location. In the
northern boreal forests, the winters are long, cold and dry, while the
short summers are moderately warm and moist. In the lower latitudes,
precipitation is more evenly distributed throughout the year.

The northern coniferous forest or taiga is a 1300-1450 km

wide band south of the tundra. This extends as an east-west
band across North America, Europe and Asia. This area also
has long, cold winters, but summer temperatures may reach
10-12°C, and the summer and the growing season are longer
than in the tundra. Precipitation is higher than in the tundra,
ranging from 10 to 35 cm annually.

T
Biome # 3. Temperate Deciduous Forests:

Temperature
-30°C to 30°C, yearly average is 10°C, hot summers, cold winters

Precipitation
750 to 1,500 mm of rain per year

Vegetation
Broadleaf trees (oaks, maples, beeches), shrubs, perennial herbs, and
mosses

Location
Eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, and Japan

Other
Temperate deciduous forests are most notable because they go
through four seasons. Leaves change color in autumn, fall off in the
winter, and grow back in the spring; this adaptation allows plants to
survive cold winters.

Example: Staunton, Virginia, United States

Temperature graph:

Click to enlarge
Precipitation graph:

Click to enlarge
Location map:

Click to enlarge

Description
Temperate deciduous forests are located in the mid-latitude areas
which means that they are found between the polar regions and the
tropics. The deciduous forest regions are exposed to warm and cold
air masses, which cause this area to have four seasons. The
temperature varies widely from season to season with cold winters
and hot, wet summers. The average yearly temperature is about 10°C.
The areas in which deciduous forests are located get about 750 to
1,500 mm of precipitation spread fairly evenly throughout the year.
During the fall, trees change color and then lose their leaves. This is in
preparation for the winter season. Because it gets so cold, the trees
have adapted to the winter by going into a period of dormancy or
sleep. They also have thick bark to protect them from the cold
weather. Trees flower and grow during the spring and summer
growing season.
Many different kinds of trees, shrubs, and herbs grow in deciduous
forests. Most of the trees are broadleaf trees such as oak, maple,
beech, hickory and chestnut. There are also several different kinds of
plants like mountain laurel, azaleas and mosses that live on the shady
forest floor where only small amounts of sunlight get through.

The deciduous forests are found in the temperate regions of

north central Europe, east Asia and the eastern United States,
that is, south of the taiga in the Northern Hemisphere. Such
forests occur in regions having hot summers, cold winter, rich
soil and abundant rain. Annual rainfall is typically around 100
cm per year.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

Common deciduous trees are the hardwoods such as beech,

maple, oak, hickory and walnut.
The fallen leaves provide food for a large variety of consumer
and decomposer populations, such as millipedes, snails and
fungi living in or on the soil..
The common herbivores of this biome are deer, chipmunks,
squirrels, rabbits and beavers. Tree-dwelling birds are
abundant in number and diversity. Important predators are—
black bears, bobcats, and foxes. Predatory birds are also
found, such as hawks, owls and eagles. The coldblooded or
ectothermic animals, such as snakes, lizards, frogs, and
salamanders are also common.
The temperate deciduous forest makes a very complex biome.
Many changes take place during the year, and a large variety
of species inhabit the soil, trees and air.
Biome # 4. Tropical Rain Forest:

Temperature
20°C to 25°C, must remain warm and frost-free

Precipitation
2,000 to 10,000 millimeters of rain per year

Vegetation
Vines, palm trees, orchids, ferns

Location
Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn
Description

Description
There are two types of rainforests, tropical and temperate. Tropical
rainforests are found closer to the equator where it is warm.
Temperate rainforests are found near the cooler coastal areas further
north or south of the equator.
The tropical rainforest is a hot, moist biome where it rains all year
long. It is known for its dense canopies of vegetation that form three
different layers. The top layer or canopy contains giant trees that grow
to heights of 75 m (about 250 ft) or more. This layer of vegetation
prevents much of the sunlight from reaching the ground. Thick, woody
vines are also found in the canopy. They climb trees in the canopy to
reach for sunlight. The middle layer, or understory, is made up of
vines, smaller trees, ferns, and palms. A large number of plants from
this level are used as common houseplants. Because of the small
amount of sunlight and rainfall these plants receive, they adapt easily
to home environments. The bottom layer or floor of the rainforest is
covered with wet leaves and leaf litter. This material decomposes
rapidly in the wet, warm conditions (like a compost pile) sending
nutrients back into the soil. Few plants are found on the floor of the
forest due to the lack of sunlight. However, the hot, moist atmosphere
and all the dead plant material create the perfect conditions in which
bacteria and other microorganisms can thrive.
Biome # 5. Chapparal:
LOCATION: The chaparral
biome is found in small sections
of most continents, including the
west coast of the United States,
the west coast of South America,
the Cape Town area of South
Africa, the western tip of
Australia and the coastal areas
of the Mediterranean. In Europe
it is called the maquis, Australia
has the mallee, Chile the
matorral, and South Africa calls it
fynbos. It is also called the Mediterranean Forest, Woodland, and Scrub
biome. The chaparral biome has many different types of terrain. Some
examples are flat plains, rocky hills and mountain slopes.

WEATHER: The chaparral is characterized as being very hot and dry. The
winter is very mild and is usually about 50°F (10°C). Most of the rain in this
biome comes in the winter. The summer is hot and dry at up to 100°F
(37.5°C). This makes fires and droughts very
common.

PLANTS: Most chaparral plants have large, hard

leaves, which hold moisture. The plants are also
very well adapted to fires. Plants in the chaparral
often have root systems designed to get as much
water as possible. Shallow roots extend horizontally
under the surface of the soils and are good at
catching water when it falls as rain; taproots extend
deep into the soil to capture groundwater. Some
examples of plants in the chaparral are toyon,
chamise, poison oak, scrub oak, Yucca and other
shrubs, trees and cacti. The maquis contains plants
such as myrtle, hawthorn, and broom. The
Australian mallee is more open than these other
types of chaparral and consists mainly of dwarf
eucalyptus trees. The fynbos is also composed
mainly of scrub and shrubs, such as heathers and protea plants.
ANIMALS: The animals are all
mainly grassland and desert
types adapted to hot, dry
weather. A few examples from
California are: coyotes, jack
rabbits, mule deer, alligator
lizards, horned toads, praying
mantis, honey bees and
ladybugs. In Europe one might
find wild goats, sheep, cattle,
mouflon, horses, lynx, wild
boar, rabbits, vultures and
eagles. There are also many
small mammals, reptiles and insects, just like in California. The fynbos of
South Africa also has many butterfly species that rely on this habitat.

PEOPLE AND THE CHAPARRAL: In California, a main concern associated

with the chaparral is the large human populations that live in and around this
biome. In Santa Barbara we live in the chaparral habitat. The hills surrounding
the city are chaparral. The islands off the coast are chaparral. With people
living in this dry biome, we have to be concerned about fire. Fire occurs
naturally, but can also be caused by human activity. There are many
endangered and sensitive species living in this region. Surrounding Santa
Barbara, we have two National Parks to help protect the important chaparral
habitat. The Los Padres National Forest stretches from the hills northward to
Monterey County, and the Channel Islands National Park includes the five
northern Channel Islands off the coast. Both of these parks contain many
natural and cultural resources, including unique species and Native American
artifacts.
Biome # 6. Tropical Savannah:
LOCATION: Savannas are comprised mostly of grasses and a few scattered trees.
They cover half the surface of Africa, large areas of Australia, South America, and India.
That is a lot of the earth’s surface! Savannas can result from climate changes, soil
conditions, animal behavior, or agricultural practices. Humans create savannas by
burning grasslands and cutting down trees so they can plant crops. Large animals, like
elephants, can turn a forest into a savanna by knocking trees down, stripping the bark
from the trees, and tramping on tree seedlings.

WEATHER: An important factor in the savanna is climate. The climate is usually warm
and temperatures range from 68° to 86°F (20 to 30°C). Savannas exist in areas where
there is a 6 - 8 month wet summer season, and a 4 - 6 month dry winter season. The
annual rainfall is from 10 - 30 inches (25 - 75 cm) per year. During the dry season,
lightning often strikes the ground, igniting the dry grasses
that cover the savanna.

PLANTS: The savanna is dominated by grasses such as

Rhodes grass, red oats grass, star grass, lemon grass,
and some shrubs. Most savanna grass is coarse and
grows in patches with interspersed areas of bare ground.
You won’t see many trees in the savanna because of
little rainfall. Occasionally, you’ll find individual trees or
small groves of trees. These mostly live near streams
and ponds. The Acacia tree is an interesting plant in the
savanna. It has an umbrella shape, with branches and
leaves high off the ground that giraffes like to eat.
Baobab trees also live in the savanna. They deal with dry
conditions by storing water between the bark and meat of
the tree.

ANIMALS: There are many different types of animals

that live in the savanna. The species found in savannas
vary by the geographic location of the biome. Animals native to African savannas
include African elephants, zebras, horses, and giraffes. Many animals in the savanna
are herbivores, which means they eat plants, and there is plenty of grass in the
savanna. During the rainy months animals thrive in the savanna, but the rainy season is
only half the year. During the dry season, surface water from the rain is quickly
absorbed into the ground by thirsty soils. The competition for water during the dry
season is so intense that most birds and many of the large mammals migrate elsewhere
in search of water. Depending on the severity of the drought, the migration may be to a
place nearby, or far away. The dry season is often associated with fires. Many insects
with short life spans die in these fires, but the birds and larger animals are usually able
to fly or run to safety. Although small burrowing animals probably can’t outrun the
flames, they often survive the fire by digging deep into the ground and remaining there
until the flames are gone. Some birds, such as the Fork-tailed Drongos, don’t flee the
fires; they actually fly to the fires. For these birds fire means dinner. They eat the fleeing
or flame-roasted insects.

PEOPLE AND THE SAVANNA: Some

environmental concerns with savannas
include poaching or hunting, overgrazing,
and destruction of land for commercial
crops. Many animals in the savanna, such
as the rhinoceros and zebra, are
endangered and threatened with extinction
due to hunting, poaching, and habitat loss.
The savanna is often damaged when it is
used as pastureland for non-native
domestic cattle. Cattle grazing also limits
the amount of food available for wildlife.
Biome # 7. Grassland:

Temperature
Dependent on latitude, yearly range can be between -20°C to 30°C

Precipitation
About 500 to 900 mm of rain per year

Vegetation
Grasses (prairie clover, salvia, oats, wheat, barley, coneflowers)

Location
The prairies of the Great Plains of North America, the pampas of
South America, the veldt of South Africa, the steppes of Central
Eurasia, and surrounding the deserts in Australia

Other
Found on every continent except Antarctica

Example: Ingeniera White, Argentina

Temperature graph:

Click to enlarge
Precipitation graph:

Click to enlarge
Location map:

Click to enlarge

Description
Grasslands are generally open and continuous, fairly flat areas of
grass. They are often located between temperate forests at high
latitudes and deserts at subtropical latitudes. Grasses vary in size
from 2.1 m (7 ft) tall with roots extending down into the soil 1.8 m (6
ft), to the short grasses growing to a height of only 20 to 25 cm (8 to
10 in) tall. These short grasses can have roots that extend 1 m (about
3 ft) deep.
The height of grass correlates with the amount of rainfall it receives.
Grasslands receive about 500 to 900 mm of rain per year compared to
deserts, which receive less than 300 mm and tropical forests, which
receive more than 2,000 mm. While temperatures are often extreme in
some grasslands, the average temperatures are about -20°C to 30°C.
Tropical grasslands have dry and wet seasons that remain warm all
the time. Temperate grasslands have cold winters and warm summers
with some rain.
The grasses die back to their roots annually and the soil and the sod
protect the roots and the new buds from the cold of winter or dry
conditions. A few trees may be found in this biome along the streams,
but not many due to the lack of rainfall.

Some grasslands occur in temperate areas of the earth and

some occur in tropical regions. Temperate grasslands usually
possess deep, rich soil. They have hot summers cold winters
and irregular rainfall. Often they are characterized by high
winds. The main grasslands include the prairies of Canada
and U.S.A., the pampas of South America, the steppes of
Europe and Asia, and the veldts of Africa.
Biome # 8. Desert:

Temperature
Average of 38°C (day), average of -3.9°C (night)

Precipitation
About 250 mm of rain per year

Vegetation
Cacti, small bushes, short grasses

Location
Between 15° and 35° latitude (North and South of the equator);
examples are Mojave, Sonoran, Chihuahua, and Great Basin (North
America); Sahara (Africa); Negev (Middle East); and Gobi (Asia)

Other
Perennials survive for several years by becoming dormant and
flourishing when water is available. Annuals are referred to as
ephemerals because some can complete an entire life cycle in weeks.

Example: El-Oasr el-Akhdar, Egypt

Temperature graph:

Click to enlarge
Precipitation graph:

Click to enlarge
Location map:

Click to enlarge

Description
The desert biome is characterised by its very low rainfall,
which is usually 25 cm per year or less. Most of this limited
moisture comes as short, hard showers. Primarily the deserts
of the world are located in the south-west U.S.A., Mexico,
Chile, Peru, North Africa (Sahara desert), Asia (Tibet Gobi
Thar) and central Western Australia. Deserts generally have
hot days and cold nights, and they often have high winds.
The reason for the difference of temperature between day and
night is due to the lack of water vapour in the air. Deserts are
characterised by scanty flora and fauna. Desert organisms
must meet some initial requirements if they are to survive.
The plants must be able to obtain and conserve water.
In order to meet these requirements, many adaptations have
been made by desert plants. Such adaptations are—reduced
leaf surface area, which reduces evaporation from the plants,
loss of leaves during long dry spell; small hairs on the leaf
surfaces, and the ability to store large amount of water.
The examples of important desert plants are—yuccas, acacias,
euphorbias, cacti, many other succulents and hardy grasses.
Many of the small plants are annuals.

Animals also must meet the requirements of heat, cold and

limited water. Many desert animals are nocturnal in habit,
and are active mainly at night. Many reptiles and small
mammals burrow to get away from the intense heat of
midday. The other common desert animals are the
herbivorous kangaroo, rat, ground squirrel, and jack rabbit.
The important predators are—coyotes, badgers, kit fox, eagles,
hawks, falcons and owls. Ants, locusts, wasps, scorpions,
spiders, insect-eating birds, such as swifts and swallows, seed-
eating quails, doves and various cats are other common desert
anima