BIOMES

BY LAUREN MORAN

DESERTS
Description: Deserts are found across the planet along two fringes parallel to the equator at 2535 latitude in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Deserts are arid or dry regions and receive less than 10 inches of rain per year. Location: In dry plains on the earth near mountain ranges, specific locations include the U.S, Africa and Iran. Climate: Precipitation is scarce, it rains below 25 cm per year, it gets up to 38c in the day time and 0c at night. Plant & Animal Life Species: Cactuses have stems to store water, their leaves have a waxy coating that prevents water loss. Adaptation would be to conserve water. Reptiles have thick scaly skin that prevents water loss most animals in the desert have a way to adapt to their environment. Plant & Animal Life: Live in harsh conditions such as the heat and the dryness of the desert climate, adaptation would be to conserve water in their bodies. Human Impact: Destruction of plant life, which takes a long time to grow back, then animals would not have a habitat to live in. Source Page: Book, environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/habitats/desert-threats/ .

TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
Description: Are located in the belt around the earth near the equator, they help regulate world climate and play vital roles in the nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon cycles. Are always humid and warm and get about 200 to 450 cm of rain a year, get good amounts of sunlight year-round and maintain a constant temperature all year. Location: Located near the equator, specific locations on earth include Central America, Australia, and Africa. Climate: Tropical rainforests are a type of tropical climate in which there is no dry season all years have an average precipitation values of at least 250cm. Tropical rainforest climates have no pronounced summer or winter; it is typically hot and wet throughout the year and rainfall is both heavy and frequent. One day in an equatorial climate can be very similar to the next, while the change in temperature between day and night may be larger than the average change in temperature along the year. Plant & Animal Life: Many species of animal life can be found in the rain forest. Common characteristics found among mammals and birds include adaptations to a life in the trees. Other characteristics are bright colors and sharp patterns, loud vocalizations, and diets heavy on fruits. Plants have made many adaptations to their environment. With over 80 inches of rain per year, plants have made adaptations that helps them shed water off their leaves quickly so the branches don't get weighed down and break. Many plants have drip tips and grooved leaves, and some leaves have oily coatings to shed water. To absorb as much sunlight as possible on the dark understory, leaves are very large. Plant & Animal Species: The Anteater lives in the tropical rainforests it uses its long tongue to get food more easily, the keithii flower is a plant that smells like rotting flesh and attracts insects to the flower to pollinate it. Human Impact: People cut down some of the rainforest and that caused a change in the ecosystem. Source Page: Book

TUNDRA'S
Description: Biome located in northern arctic regions of the earth. The winter is too cold and dry to permit the growth of trees in the this biome. In certain areas the deeper layer of soil called permafrost are permanently frozen throughout the year. Location: In the northern arctic regions on planet earth Climate: It gets really cold in the winter, and there are short summers in this biome. The winter temperatures average about -30 F throughout most of the true Arctic including the North Pole. The coldest weather occurs in northeastern Siberia. Rainfall in many arctic regions totals six to ten inches a year, including melted snow. This is less rain than falls on some of the world's greatest deserts! Much of the arctic has rain and fog in the summer. In spite of the low annual rainfall, arctic lands may be very wet underfoot because the moisture evaporates slowly and drainage conditions are poor. Plant & Animal Life: Animals migrate throughout the tundra during the winter months, but many animals are active also such as foxes. Plants include mosses and lichens, soil is thin in the tundra. Some adaptations would be of the animals thick fur to keep them warm and plants the roots are wide so they can anchor to the ground. Plant & Animal Species: Caribou migrate throughout the tundra in search of food an adaptation would be there fur is thick to keep them warm. Mosses are throughout the tundra and a adaptation would be there roots to keep them planted to the ground. Human Impact: Overhunting, Global Warming, Oil drilling, and Overdevelopment Source Page: Book

TEMPERATURE DECIDUOUS FORESTS

Description: Trees drop their broad, flat leaves each fall. These forests once dominated regions on the earth including North America, Asia, and Europe. Location: These forests are located between 30 degrees and 50 degrees north latitudes on the earth. Climate: The range of temperatures can be extreme and the growing season lasts for only 4 to 6 months. In the summer temperatures can get to 38 degrees Celsius and winter temperature can be below freezing. Plant & Animal Life: Animals of this biome are adapted to use the forest plants for food and shelter. Plant life in this biome are adapted to survive seasonal changes, the plants grow in layers like tall trees. Plant & Animal Species: Deer would be an animal from the temperature deciduous forest they feed on leaves and shrubs, their adaptation would be there hooves and the fur on their bodies. Trees for example pine trees are adapted to any seasonal change, these trees grow in this biome. Human Impact: Humans cut down the trees in these forests for timber and that effects the habitat for animals. Source Page: Book

TAIGAS
Description: The Northern coniferous forest that stretches in a broad band across the Northern
Hemisphere just below the Artic Circle. Location: The Northern Hemisphere below the arctic circle on the earth Climate: Winters are long 6 to 10 months and have average temperature that are below freezing and often fall to 20 below 0 . Plant growth is most abundant during the summer months because of large amounts of precipitation and sunlight. Plant & Animal Life: Plant life in the taigas is plants have waxy coating to prevent loosing water. Animal life is just survival during the winter months. Plant & Animal Species: Rabbits have fur to make them camouflage and fur to keep them warm. Pine trees have a waxy coating to prevent water loss, would be an adaptation. Human Impact: Over hunting, forest destruction Source Page: Book

SAVANNAS
Description: A tropical biome dominated by grasses, shrubs, and small trees. Location: Parts of Africa, western India, northern Australia, and some parts of South America. Climate: Rain falls mainly during the wet season, which lasts for only a few months of the year. Tropical savanna climates have monthly mean temperature above 18 C (64 F) in every month of the year and typically a pronounced dry season, with the driest month having precipitation less than 60 mm. Plant & Animal Life: Plants must be able to survive prolonged periods of time without water in this type of biome. Animals of the savanna give birth only during the rainy season when food is most abundant. Plant & Animal Species: Elephants of the savanna are grazing herbivores which means that they search of food, One adaptation would be that their skin is very good to protect them. Trees of the savanna have to go months without water so they have a way to save up water in their roots to prevent water loss. Human Impact: Tourisms is one good thing some bad examples would be the overuse of fossil fuels. Source Page: Book

CHAPARRAL
Description: Is a temperate shrub land biome, in all parts of the world. Location: Located In all 5 parts of the world, the middle latitudes about 30 degrees north and south of the equator. Climate: Mediterranean climate, moderately dry, coastal climates, with little or no rain in the summer. Plant & Animal Life: Animals in the chaparral would be quail, lizards, mule deer and etc. Plants in the chaparral would be chemise, manzanita, and shrubs. Plant & Animal Species: A common adaptation for animals would be camouflage. A common adaptation for plants would be that most plants are adapted to fire. Human Impact: Building buildings and factories, forest fires and non-native species. Source Page: Book