The

G rasslands
In South America, theyre called pampas. In

Asia, theyre steppes. In Africa, theyre savannas.

In North America, grasslands are known as
prairies. No matter what they are called, they
all have one thing in common. Their vegetation
is primarily grass! The amount of rainfall an area
receives and the length of the rainy season limit
where grasslands are found.

feet into the ground. Tropical grasslands are

warm all year. The African savanna is tropical
grassland. Rhinos, gazelles, elephants, and zebras
graze on the grasses growing there. Carnivores
such as lions and cheetahs hide in the grass to
sneak up on their prey. Animals large and small
find shelter and safety in the grass.
Temperate grasslands are found on every
continent except Antarctica. The rainfall in
these grasslands averages between 10-30 in
(25-75 cm) per year. They have a growing
season and a dormant season. In the dormant
season, the grasses do not grow.

Tropical grasslands are found in the southern

hemisphere. During the rainy season, the rainfall
is 20-50 inches (50-130 cm). The rest of the year
is very dry. The grasses here can grow more
than seven feet tall. Their roots can grow several
Learning AZ All rights reserved.
www.readinga-z.com

Credits: top left: iStockphoto.com/sandsun; bottom right: Cavit Genctuerk/123RF

The temperature is too cold. When the

temperature reaches 50Fahrenheit (10C)
the grasses and other indigenous plants begin
growing. Some animals that live in temperate
grasslands, such as deer and bison, graze on
the grass. Others, such as mice, jackrabbits, and
prairie dogs, find shelter underground. Animals
that live in temperate grasslands have adapted to
survive in the wind and winter cold.
Some seasons bring unusually hot and dry
weather. As a result, grasslands can become
brown and dry. Fires can burn quickly through dry
grasslands, but the grass isnt killed. Grasses grow
from the bottom. So, if the stems at the tops of
the grasses burn off, the roots
can still produce growth. Fire
is actually good for grasslands.
Often fires are started naturally
by lightning. Throughout history,
people have set fires on
purpose to burn off the grasses.
Fire keeps unwanted trees and
shrubs from taking over. It
allows grasses to grow in the

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

places where trees would

otherwise have grown.

DID YOU

KNOW?
The African savanna

Most grasslands can

is home to many wellbe found between forests
known and amazing
types of animals.
and deserts. At one time,
a quarter of the Earths
surface was covered with grasslands. Now many
have been turned into farms. In fact, they provide
us with 80% of our agriculturally productive land.
The soil is rich and fertile. Grasslands are generally
flat or slightly hilly and open. Thus they are ideal
places for growing crops and grazing animals.
On the other hand, the more that farms take over
grasslands, the less space the wildlife has to live.
Poor farming practices can
destroy the land by ruining the
soil. Once-healthy grasslands can
be turned into barren spaces.
As with other habitats, it is
our responsibility to make sure
that grasslands continue to
thrive. People and animals alike
depend on grasslands
for survival.

Credits: Dreamstime.com

T he

a
l
n
t
d
e
s
W
A wetland habitat is covered or soaked with

water for most, if not all, of the year. Wetlands

have soil, but they are different from other land
habitats. Wetlands have water, but they are
different from other water habitats. They are
a little of both.

live there. Birds and other animals find shelter

and a place to raise their young. Some, such as
fish, frogs, and certain insects, lay their eggs in or
near the water. Their young can find food and
shelter among the plants. Some, such as toads
and dragonflies, begin life in the wetlands, but
they dont stay there.
Three types of wetland habitats are marshes,
swamps, and bogs.
The soil of an inland marsh sits under one
to six feet of water most or all of the year. The
vegetation in a marsh includes both annual and

Healthy wetland habitats are full of life. Some

plants are rooted beneath the water. Their stems
and leaves grow above the surface. Others grow
completely under the water. Floating
plants have stems that lie below the
surface, but their leaves grow above
it. All these plants add oxygen to
the water.
Food chains reach into every
part of wetland habitats. Plants provide
food for many animals and insects that

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

Credits: main: Leonidikan/Dreamstime.com; inset: Deyan Georgiev/123RF

perennial plants. Annual grasses and flowers live

for a season. Perennial plants continue to grow
year after year. Migrating birds stop to feed at
marshes along the way. Numerous animals can
find food in a marsh. There are plenty of plants
for many types of fish, frogs, turtles, and insects.
These herbivores, in turn, are food for carnivores
such as mink, otters, and egrets. Other wetland
animals, such as muskrats and crayfish, eat both
animals and plants.
Swamps are wetlands with lots of woody
plants such as trees and small shrubs. The water
in a swamp may be moving like a slow river.
Or, during certain times of the year, it may be

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

standing still. Plant life

DID YOU
KNOW?
thrives on the nutrients in
Some species of
the thick black swamp soil.
water lilies have
Animals such as freshwater
leaves that are
shrimp, crayfish, and fish
7 feet (2.1 m) across.
munch on the plants that
grow in a swamp. Skunk cabbage, a large, quickgrowing plant, is a favorite for some insects. They
are attracted to its foul smell.
The water in a bog doesnt come from rivers
and streams. Instead, it comes mostly from rain
and snow. A bog can form when sphagnum
(sfayg-num) moss grows over a lake or pond
and slowly fills it in. Or, it may be the result of a
blanket of sphagnum moss growing on dry land.
As the moss gets thicker, it traps water beneath it.
Decaying moss and other plants form a material
called peat. Over time the mat can become so
thick and dense that it can support the weight
of a moose! People mix peat moss into the soil in
their gardens to improve their soil. In some places
in the world, peat is burned as fuel. Bogs are
home to some unusual plant life. These include
the carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants.

Credits: Chris Cheadle/Alamy

The

Taiga
Taiga is the Russian word for coniferous forest.

The taiga, or boreal forest, stretches across

northern Asia, Europe, and North America. It is
also found in the highest regions of the Sierra
Nevada and Rocky mountains. Together, the
taiga makes up one-third of the worlds forests.

The climate of the taiga is cold and harsh.

Some snow falls in winter, but not a lot. Whatever
rain falls comes during the humid summer
months. Its not warm enough for water to
evaporate quickly. In many places, a layer of
permanently frozen soil lies just beneath the
surface. Below that is bedrock. There is no place
for water to drain, so it collects in shallow bogs.

The needle-like leaves do not fall off in winter,

unlike the broad leaves on oak or maple trees.
Instead they stay as long as several years. They
drop gradually as new needles replace them.
Having needles gives conifers an advantage
during the taigas short growing season. In the
spring, they can start photosynthesis as soon as
the temperature allows. Broadleaf trees need to
wait until they can grow leaves.
The taigas cold climate slows down
decomposition of plant material on the forest
floor. As a result, fewer nutrients make it into the
soil. A thick, wet
layer builds up,

Coniferous plants such as fir, pine, and

spruce trees are most common. Tall and thin,
they grow closely together, shutting out the sun.
Learning AZ All rights reserved.
www.readinga-z.com

Credits: top left: Maxim Loskutnikov/123RF; bottom right main: Tom Mackie/Alamy; bottom right inset: Tami Freed/Dreamstime.com

adding to the sponginess of the ground. Not many

plants can grow in these conditions! But, mosses,
lichens, short grasses, and mushrooms thrive in
the taiga. They even grow on the surface of the
bogs, making them look like solid ground. Some
parts of the taiga are open. Thats where youll
find broadleaf trees and bushes along with the
conifers. Youll also find them where the taiga is
recovering from being burned or cut down.
Only animals that can adapt to the cold
conditions can survive in the taiga. Large
predators include bears, lynx, and wolves. Siberian
tigers live in a small area of taiga in Asia. Finding
food can be difficult for large herbivores such as

elk and caribou. They

DID YOU
KNOW?
feed in the taiga during
the summer, then migrate
Just one mature tree can
absorb 48 pounds (22 kg)
to warmer areas for the
of carbon dioxide per
winter. Beavers build
year and release enough
lodges in taiga ponds.
oxygen to support two
human beings.
Smaller animals such as
rodents stick close to the
ground. The insect population explodes in
the spring. Birds that went south for the winter
return to feast.
The trees of the taiga do something very
important for all life on our planet. Green plants
produce the oxygen that we and other animals
breathe. They also remove carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere. The taiga produces about
one-fourth of the oxygen we breathe. When
the taigas growing season begins in the spring,
worldwide oxygen levels increase. At the same
time, carbon dioxide levels drop.
The trees in large sections of the taiga are
being harvested. Climate change is also a threat.
If the frozen soil thaws, it will change which plants
and animals can live there.

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

Credits: Ocean/Corbis

The Hot

Desert

Not many plants or animals can survive in a

hot desert. Deserts receive less than 20 inches

(50 cm) of rainfall per year. Often it comes in
a few intense storms that cause flooding. The
temperatures in a hot, dry desert can range
from 120F (49C) in the summer sun to -0.4F
(-18C) during a winter night.
All living things need water to survive. They
also need food, and animals need shelter. If it
werent for the beautiful indigenous plants of the
desert, nothing would be able to survive at all.

it keeps desert animals alive as well. Humans and

other animals make good use of desert plants!
The barrel cactus stores water in its pulpy
stem. The more water it stores, the rounder it gets.
Native Americans stewed the barrel cactus for
food. They made fishhooks from its pointy spines.
In an emergency, its pulp can be used for water.
The seeds from the tall, bushy ironwood
tree provide food for doves, quail, and small
rodents. The shade
beneath it is as much
as 15F cooler than
the surrounding area.
Birds and reptiles are
attracted to both the

Since there is so little rain in the desert,

desert plants need to collect and store every
drop they can. Beneath the sandy surface, roots
spread out in all directions to pull in any moisture
that seeps down. Different types of plants store
water in different ways. It keeps them alive, and

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

Credits: main: Joao Virissimo/Dreamstime.com; inset: iStockphoto.com/Frank Leung

shade and the insects hovering around. The tree

protects many species of plants growing in its
shade in soil enriched by its fallen leaves. Rabbits,
bighorn sheep, and other herbivores depend on
it for food.
Only one kind of moth can pollinate the
Joshua tree. The moths larvae feed on its seeds.
Native Americans used the trees hollow centers to
hold nuts and berries. They used its bark for dishes
and bowls. Pioneers used the wood as fence posts.
Its pulp was used to make paper.
Hummingbirds feed on the honey-like nectar
made by ocotillo (oh-cuh-TEE-yo) flowers. Ocotillo
spines are very sharp.
For this reason, people
use the plant as fencing.
The spines keep other
people and animals from
getting through.
The palo verde tree
drops seeds that are eaten
by desert rodents. Birds
use the tree for nesting
sites and roosts, and some
Learning AZ All rights reserved.
www.readinga-z.com

use it for shelter. Native

Americans used the
seeds and flowers
for food. They made
necklaces out of the
seeds and red dye from
its flowers.

DID YOU

KNOW?
The saguaro
cactus is Arizonas
state flower.

A saguaro (suh-WAHR-oh)
cactus can live for 200 years.
Desert rats and mice eat
this cactus. Bats, bees,
wasps, and butterflies drink
its nectar. Woodpeckers peck holes in the cactus
and make their homes inside. They may peck two
or three holes before they decide which one
to live in.
Inside the trunk and roots of the soaptree
yucca (YUCK-uh) is a soapy substance. Native
Americans used it as soap. They made baskets from
the fibers in the plants strong leaves. Ranchers
feed the yucca to their cattle during droughts.
The hot deserts indigenous plants support life
in many different ways. Without them, people and
other animals would not be able to live there.
Credits: left: Dreamstime.com; right: iStockphoto.com/Loretta Hostettler

Tropical
Rainforest

The

W hich habitat takes up only 6% of Earths

land surface, yet is home to over half of Earths

species of plants and animals? The answer
is the tropical rainforest. The climate is warm
and steamy. A tropical rainforest receives
anywhere from about 50 to 260 inches
(125 to 660 cm) of rain every year. In other
words, it is a perfect environment in which to
grow plants. The Amazon tropical rainforest
is the largest in the world. It stretches
across 2.6 million square miles and spans
nine South American countries.

the heavy rains. The upper canopy houses the

smaller trees. Flowering vines wrap themselves
around these trees and connect them to each
other. This level has so much food available that
many animals never go down to the ground.
Below the canopy is the understory. The
understory is full of young trees, shrubs, and
other plants. The bottom layer of a rainforest
is the forest floor. Almost no sunlight is able to
reach it. Therefore, the least number of plants
and other vegetation grow in this layer.
Rainforests are vital to Earths survival as
a planet. They soak up and store rainwater like

There are four main layers in a

rainforest. The emergent layer has the
tallest trees, some of which are over 200
feet high. Their widespread branches
shelter the trees in the lower layers from

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

Connecting Passage

Credits: main: Erkki Alvenmod/123RF; inset: Mikael Damkier/Dreamstime.com

the medicines we use now have come from plants

that grow there. The indigenous people take what
they need. They dont take anything that cannot
grow back naturally.

a sponge. Rain that falls to the dark forest floor is

drawn up through the trees and is then released
into the atmosphere as clouds and mist. The water
contained in the clouds and mist falls back into
the rivers and lakes. Without the rainforest, Earth
would have many more droughts.
Indigenous people have always lived in and
around rainforests. They depend on them for
food. Coffee, bananas, chocolate, and many
types of spices and nuts were originally found in
rainforests. The trees provide shelter for people
and animals. Rubber and other useful fibers come
from tropical rainforest plants. More than 25% of

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

Large areas of tropical rainforest are being

cut and burned. The purpose is to turn them
into farmland. But, in a tropical rainforest, plant
nutrients are stored in trees and other vegetation
rather than in the soil. The roots of the trees bind
the soil together. They keep the soil from washing
away in heavy rains. When
DID YOU
KNOW?
a tree dies, the nutrients are
recycled into other trees. If the
A coniferous
rainforest tree
trees are removed, the nutrients
known as the
go with them and the soil washes
monkey puzzle
away. The soil that is left behind
can live over
1,000 years.
does not have enough nutrients
for plants to grow.
The tropical rainforest contributes to the
health of Earth. About 20% of the worlds oxygen
is produced in the Amazon. It also absorbs
massive amounts of carbon dioxide. The tropical
rainforest helps balance the climate of the
entire planet.

Connecting Passage

Credits: Frans Lanting/Corbis

Student Response Sheet

Individual Reading

Name
Key Question

How do plants support life?

On Your Own
1. Read the Key Question. Then read the passage. Look for details about
the habitat that will help you answer the Key Question. Highlight those
details in the passage.
2. Now look back at your passage. Write the details you highlighted on the
Web below.

Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail

Ways In Which Plants Support Life

Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail

3. Think about the Key Question. Write your answer to the Key Question
using what you learned in the passage you read.

My First Answer

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com

Student Response Sheet

Team Discussion

Name
Key Question

How do plants support life?

Share Your Ideas
Meet with your team. Talk about each passage your team read.
1. Tell the team about the habitat you read about in the passage. Show the
Web you made.
2. Look at the Webs your team members made. Compare the details in each of
the passages by looking at all the Webs. Answer these questions together.

How are the plants in this habitat important to the people and other
animals that live on Earth?

What might happen if the plants in the habitat were to disappear?

N
 ext, write the details that will help answer the Key Question on the Web
below. Write only the details that are in every passage your team read.
Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail

Ways In Which Plants Support Life

Supporting Detail

Supporting Detail

Answer the Key Question

Review your teams Web. As a team, write an answer to the Key Question.
Use what you learned from the passages to support your answer.

How do plants support life?

Our Teams Answer

Learning AZ All rights reserved.

www.readinga-z.com