TUNDRA BIOME

Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia,
meaning treeless plain. It is noted for its frost-molded landscapes, extremely low
temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons. Dead
organic material functions as a nutrient pool. The two major nutrients are nitrogen and
phosphorus. Nitrogen is created by biological fixation, and phosphorus is created by
precipitation. Tundra is separated into two
types: arctic tundra and alpine tundra.

Characteristics of Tundra

1. Extremely cold climate

2. Low biotic diversity

3. Simple vegetation structure

4. Limitation of drainage

5. Short season of growth and reproduction

6. Energy and nutrients in the form of dead organic material

7. Large population oscillations

Arctic
Arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere, encircling the north pole and
extending south to the coniferous forests of the taiga. The arctic is known for its cold,
desert-like conditions. The growing season ranges from 50 to 60 days. The average
winter temperature is -34 C (-30 F), but the average summer temperature is 3-12 C
(37-54 F) which enables this biome to sustain life. Rainfall may vary in different regions
of the arctic. Yearly precipitation, including melting snow, is 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches).
Soil is formed slowly. A layer of permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost exists,
consisting mostly of gravel and finer material. When water saturates the upper surface,
bogs and ponds may form, providing moisture for plants. There are no deep root
systems in the vegetation of the arctic tundra, however, there are still a wide variety of
plants that are able to resist the cold climate. There are about 1,700 kinds of plants in
the arctic and subarctic, and these include:

low shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, and grasses

400 varieties of flowers

crustose and foliose lichen

All of the plants are adapted to sweeping winds and disturbances of the soil. Plants are
short and group together to resist the cold temperatures and are protected by the snow
during the winter. They can carry out photosynthesis at low temperatures and low light
intensities. The growing seasons are short and most plants reproduce by budding and
division rather than sexually by flowering. The fauna in the arctic is also diverse:

Herbivorous mammals: lemmings, voles, caribou, arctic hares and squirrels

Carnivorous mammals: arctic foxes, wolves, and polar bears

Migratory birds: ravens, snow buntings, falcons, loons, ravens, sandpipers, terns,
snow birds, and various species of gulls

Insects: mosquitoes, flies, moths, grasshoppers, blackflies and arctic bumble

bees

Fish: cod, flatfish, salmon, and trout

Animals are adapted to handle long, cold winters and to breed and raise young quickly
in the summer. Animals such as mammals and birds also have additional insulation from
fat. Many animals hibernate during the winter because food is not abundant. Another
alternative is to migrate south in the winter, like birds do. Reptiles and amphibians are
few or absent because of the extremely cold temperatures. Because of constant
immigration and emigration, the population continually oscillates.

Alpine
Alpine tundra is located on mountains throughout the world at high altitude where trees
cannot grow. The growing season is approximately 180 days. The nighttime temperature
is usually below freezing. Unlike the arctic tundra, the soil in the alpine is well drained.
The plants are very similar to those of the arctic ones and include:

tussock grasses, dwarf trees, small-leafed shrubs, and heaths

Animals living in the alpine tundra are also well adapted:

Mammals: pikas, marmots, mountain goats, sheep, elk

Birds: grouselike birds

Insects: springtails, beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies

DECIDOUS FOREST

The natural Earth is made up of numerous biomes, or areas defined by regional

plant and animal life. Each biome is dependent on a number of factors that
determine how the local flora and fauna adapts over time. Deciduous forests are
biomes that are classified by the seasonal weather patterns they experience in
that they go through all four seasons, with trees losing their leaves each fall and
winter. The deciduous forest biomes lies between regions and the tropics. This is
why the air masses from both the biomes contribute to the changes of climate in
this biome.

Because the trees in a deciduous forest lose their leaves each year, animals and
other plant life in these regions have developed special ways to deal with the
absence or presence of leaves above them. With different amounts of sun and
shade over the course of a year, the entire ecosystem of these areas has developed
a number of ways to adapt, from hibernation to seasonal flowering patterns. Oaks,
beeches, birches, chestnuts, aspens, elms, maples, and basswoods (or lindens) are
the dominant trees in mid-latitude deciduous forests. Snails, slugs, insects, and
spiders are common inhabitants of the deciduous forest. Birds are represented by
warblers, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, woodpeckers, hawks, and owls.

Climate

Since deciduous forests are defined by the fact that their trees lose leaves every
year with the change of the seasons, it goes without saying that the climate of most
deciduous forests is not extreme, but does change depending on the time of the
year.These areas will experience four clearly defined seasons a year, and each time
of the year promotes a range of different activity in both the plant and animal
life. Deciduous forests are also sometimes called Temperate Broadleaf Deciduous
Forests, which suggests that they are often found in temperate climate
zones.Deciduous forests are full of the quintessential fall trees, those that change
color before their leaves drop entirely during the winter. The deciduous forest in
the Northeastern United States attracts millions of people each year who wish to
experience the changing leaves. The deciduous forest regions have four
seasons. The temperature varies from cold winters to hot and dry summers. These
deciduous trees shed their leaves each fall.As leaves decay, the nutrients contained
in the leaves are absorbed by the soil. The leaves change color in autumn, fall off in
winter, and grow back in the spring.

The tree life in a deciduous forest is affected by the regions weather. Milder winters
will typically promote a larger diversity among tree species.

While deciduous forests are mostly found in temperate zones that experience the
four seasons, there are also some to be found in tropical, sup-tropical, and savanna
regions.

Locations

Deciduous forests occur in locations all over the world, including in both Northern
and Southern hemispheres. However, the worlds largest deciduous forests are
typically concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, with North America, Europe,
and parts of parts of Russia, China, and Japan.

However, there are deciduous forests in the Southern hemisphere as well, although
these are typically much smaller than those in the Northern. Parts of Australia,
southern Asia and South America are home to some deciduous forests, though the
animal life in these regions is typically different from those in the North.

Deciduous forests tend to thrive in areas that have mountains, and particularly in
places that have a range of types of soil.
Some famous deciduous forest locations are:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (USA)

Northeast China Plain (China)

The Manchurian mixed forest (Asia)

The European Temperate Deciduous Broadleaf Forest (Europe)

Temperature

Because deciduous forests are found all over the world, the temperatures found in
each will vary depending on location. However, since trees in these forests lose
their leaves once a year, the average temperature of a deciduous forest is typically
around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), with winters dropping much
colder.

Deciduous forests must have a period without frost on the ground for at least 120
days, but in some areas this is as much as 250 days without frost cover a year.

Precipitation

Rainfall will vary depending on location of forests, but in general, deciduous forests
will require enough rain to promote new leaf growth on trees and to provide
enough moisture for the lower plants and animals under the tree despite canopy
cover. Rain falls around the year in deciduous forests, and in some locations,
snowfall is common for winter precipitation.
Typically, the average rainfall for a deciduous forest is in the range of 30 to 60
inches annually.

Plants of Deciduous Forests

Obviously deciduous forests are home to a number of different tree types, with the
majority shedding their leaves each year. However, because these trees lose their
leaves, this means that the forests overhead canopy changes over the course of
the year, which greatly affects the kind of plant life that can survive these drastic
shifts of amount of sunlight and moisture.

The changing colors of tree leaves is one of the most notable features of deciduous
forests, as when the temperatures start to cool in the fall, the trees will basically
suck the chlorophyll out of their leaves to store for use during the colder and
darker winter months.

Deciduous forests are split into different levels dependent mainly on plant
height.Obviously trees that grow high will have more year-round access to sun than
some of the lower plants.

Tree Stratum: typically anything that grows over 60 feet

Oak

Maple

Beech

Birch

Elm
 Hickory

Walnut

Pine

Spruce

Ash

Small tree and sapling Stratum: smaller trees that dont reach above the canopy

Dogwood

Redbud

Shrub stratum: shorter than the smallest trees, so need to be able to adapt to
different amounts of shade over the year

Spring ephemerals are a certain type of plant that literally times its growth
to you guessed it the spring. By focusing growth on this short period,
these flowers take advantage of the warmer weathers and moisture of
spring, while still accessing the light from a sparser tree canopy. Bloodroot
is an example of a spring ephemeral.

Orchids and other interesting flowering plants in deciduous forests have

adapted over the years to reach light in different ways when the canopy is
full in the summer months. Some of these plants are able to use others to
reach out of the way light, and others have adaptations that allow them to
collect light as it moves across the floor.

Azaleas

Rhododendrons
 Primrose

Asian ginseng

Hazel

Daurian rose

Herb stratum: the shortest plants

Herbs

Lady fern

Wildflowers

Ground Stratum: Basically anything that exists on the ground level of a deciduous
forest

Lichen

Club moss

Moss

Carpet moss

Tawny milk-cap mushrooms

Animals of Deciduous Forests

The yearly change in amount of canopy cover also affects the animal life of
deciduous forests. While there are many animals that thrive in this biome, the
presence of humans and industry has affected the longevity of many species.

Birds have learned to migrate with the timing of the seasons, and return
to deciduous forests when the canopy is covered, which allows safe place
s to raise young and easy access to a number of insects. Spring warblers
and a number of woodpeckers are very common in deciduous forests.

Amphibious creatures thrive in deciduous forests, both because they can

easily find shelter in old and worn wood, but also because they can access
pools of moisture and vary amounts of sun and shade. Salamanders in
particularly are a common sight.

Insects are essential components of the deciduous forest biome because

they are responsible for pollinating much of the plant life. Bees are found
in nearly every forest, and butterflies, moths, and flies also serve
pollinating purposes.

Red-crowned crane

Owls

Hawks

Squirrels

Sable

Black bears

Wolves

Leopard
 Lynx

Siberian tiger

Otters

Red panda

Cougars

Deer: Though not typically though of as forest dwelling animals, deer have
adapted to areas that have been changed by the presence of
humans. Unfortunately, deer can be harmful to new growth in forests, so
they have become a concern for long-term preservation of deciduous
forests

Humans: Most temperate forests have become attractive homes for

people over the course of social and cultural development. Most of the
trees in deciduous forests have long served lumber purposes, making
many parts of the world prone to deforestation. Also, because these areas
are home to many people, roads and development have encroached
further on both the plant and animal life in the area.The adaptable and
fertile oil of deciduous forests has also made it attractive as agricultural
land, another concern for forest preservationists.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST
The tropical rainforest is one of the worlds most threatened biomes, despite
being home to some of the most diverse and unique species on the
planet. Many of the worlds most colorful creatures reside in rainforests, and
animals from tiny organisms to large wild cats find homes amongst the range
of plant life.

For many years tropical rainforests were safe from the presence of man,
other than native tribal individuals who lived harmoniously with the land, but
the problem of mans encroachment on rainforests for lumber, agriculture,
and development is having serious effects on the long-term survival of these
regions.
Climate
Tropical rainforests are defined by the fact that they are hot and wet, typical
of tropical climates. Found near the equator where it is warm, these regions
have rainfall year-round, with little to no dry season. The climate of tropical
rainforest biome is perfect for plant and animals growth. The hot and humid
conditions create an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and other
microorganisms. They cover about 6% of the Earths surface and are found
all over the world but mostly in South America in Brazil. Even though they
cover small percentage of land on Earth, they are home to the largest
number of plant and animal species in such a concentrated area.

Location
Tropical rainforests are found in the worlds hottest and wettest areas,
namely those closest to the equator. The worlds largest tropical rainforests
are in Amazon basin in South America, lowland regions in Africa, and the
islands off of Southeast Asia. While they are found in abundant in Sumatra
and New Guinea, small areas are also found in Central America and parts of
Australia.

Some of the worlds best-known rainforests are:

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil

El Yunque, a rainforest in Puerto Rico that attracts millions of

tourists

The Congo basin in Africa

Temperature
Tropical rainforests are warm and humid. The temperature ranges from 21
to 30 degrees celsius (70 to 85F).

The average annual temperature of tropical rainforests is above 20 C.

These areas often receive lots of sun due to their location around the earths
equator.On average, rainforests receive about 12 hours of sun a day, but
most of that is concentrated on the canopy cover of the highest trees.

Precipitation
It is right there in the name rainforests are known for lots of precipitation
every year.Rainfall in the tropical rainforest is year round, particularly as
there are little to no seasonal changes to weather. Tropical rainforests
receive annual precipitation amounts of 60 to 160 inches (152 to 406
cm). Some rainforests in the world experience annual rainfall amounts of
almost 400 inches (over 1,000 cm). It can downpour as much as 2 inches (5
cm) in an hour.Rainforests are typically classified by the amounts of
precipitation they receive.

Lowland equatorial evergreen rain forests receive the most rainfall

each year, with averages of more than 80 inches annually. These
rainforests are typically located closest to the equator.

Deciduous and semi-evergreen seasonal forests have more variation

in wet and dry seasons, with summers typically having higher rainfall
and winters a bit lower. These can be found in coastal parts of
Africa, India, the Caribbean, and parts of Central and South America.
 Montane rainforests (also sometimes known as cloud forests) are
found in mountainous areas that are much cooler.

Flooded forests: these types of rainforests closely resemble swamps,

with almost constant water saturating the ground.

What is interesting about the amount of precipitation in rainforests is that

because they are so moist, the soil is typically less full of nutrients because
they are being flushed out by constant rain. Therefore, many plants have
adapted to reach and store nutrients off the ground.

Plants of the Tropical Rainforest

The combination of lots of moisture and consistent year-round warm
weather makes tropical rainforests particularly lush areas of plant life. It is
estimated that tropical rainforests are home to a staggering 15 million
different species of plants and animals, making them some of the worlds
most diverse locations. Almost two-thirds of all of the worlds flowering
plants are found in rainforests.

Because there are many large trees in the rainforest that receive year-round
sunlight and precipitation, the canopy cover does not change during the year
as it does in other forest biomes. Rainforests typically have three major levels
of plant growth, depending on their height to the ground and how much sun
and moisture reaches them.

The Canopy: This is the highest level of the rainforest, basically a roof
formed by the branches and leaves of the areas largest trees. Most of the
trees reach over 120 feet in height, and combined with their dense cover can
mean that little to no sunlight reaches lower areas of the rainforest. Trees at
the highest level must be able to tolerate extreme sunlight and changing
wind patterns.

Large evergreen trees typically dominate the sunlight of the

rainforest canopy.

Smaller orchids, bromeliads, and types of moss and lichen are also
found in the canopy level, living in harmony with the larger trees.

The Understory: This includes mid-range trees and smaller plants. This area
typically receives only about 5% of the sunlight in the area, because of the
density of overhead canopy. Even the largest plants in this area dont
typically grow over 10 feet (3 m.).

Shrubs

Herbs

Vines

The strangler fig is a plant that has adapted to the lower amounts of
sunlight that reach the rainforest under layers. When birds eat the
trees fruit, they spread seeds through waste and by dropping them
on the branches of higher trees. This plant is able to take root on the
host tree branch, drop a long root to the ground, and eventually
strangles the host tree as it grows, by taking over its sunlight.

The Ground Stratum: Self-explanatory, the ground layer includes all of the
vegetation that receives the least amount of light and is lowest to the
ground. It is estimated that only 2% of sunlight actually reaches the
rainforest floor. The ground in a rainforest is almost always covered by shade
due to the canopy, so vegetation is more sparse and restricted at the ground
layer. The bottom layer is covered with leaf litter. The hot and humid
conditions allows dead leaves to decompose quickly sending nutrients back
into the soil. But in the tropical rainforest, the plants grow so fast that they
quickly consume the nutrients from the soil and the leftover nutrients are
then leached away by abundant rainfall which leaves the soil infertile. You
will find few plants on the bottom layer of forest due to lack of sunlight.

Fungus is the most common plant life at the ground level, because
fungus is able to thrive in dark, moist areas. It is often found all over
the ground layer, near decaying organic matter and on trees.

Animals of the Tropical Rainforest

Rainforests are home to organisms big and small, due to their consistent
warm temperatures, ample amounts of moisture, and incredibly vast
amounts of plant life.There are more living organisms in tropical rainforests
than there are in any other biome of the world.
The smallest organisms in a rainforest are bacteria and other similar
organisms that thrive in the hot and moist environment. These tiny creatures
make quick work of decomposing fallen leaves, wood, and other dead
organic material, which is different from other forests in that there is little to
no permanent layer of organic nutrients covering the soil.

A fascinating thing about some of the animals of the rainforest is that

because the trees and plant life stay lush and fertile all year round, there are
literally animal species in trop1ical rainforests who never touch the ground,
remaining in the trees for their entire lives. For those that do live in the
ground, the amazing vegetation from cloud cover to ground cover allows for
numerous places to find protection from predators and the elements, as well
as a constant source of food and nutrients.

The presence of humans in rainforests can vary. In recent decades the

number of rainforests in the world has been decimated by both the lumber
industries and for agricultural uses.

Small rainforest animals

Monkeys

Sloths move incredibly slowly and primarily hang from the trees,
using their movements and body as camouflage amongst the
trees. Sloths have also become attractive for certain types of algae
to grow on, further camouflaging the sloths and allowing algae to
reach nutrients.

Snakes: large Boa Constrictors often live in the understory stratum,

amongst the trees. Smaller species often can be found on the
ground layer.
 Rodents

Insects

Frogs

Birds many birds live in the canopy layer of the forest, receiving food
and shelter from the canopy tree cover. Toucans have adapted their
distinctive beaks as a way to reach tree fruit from a distance, since
the birds are often too large to settle on these tree branches.

Mid- to large-size rainforest animals

Tapir

Rhinoceros

Gorilla

Leopards: typically live in the understory layer of rainforests

GRASSLAND BIOME

Grasslands are characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large

shrubs or trees. In the Miocene and Pliocene Epochs, which spanned a period
of about 25 million years, mountains rose in western North America and
created a continental climate favorable to grasslands. Ancient forests declined
and grasslands became widespread. Following the Pleistocene Ice Ages,
grasslands expanded in range as hotter and drier climates prevailed
worldwide. There are two main divisions of grasslands: (1) tropical grasslands,
called savannas, and (2) temperate
grasslands.

Savanna
Savanna is grassland with scattered
individual trees. Savannas of one sort or
another cover almost half the surface of
Africa (about five million square miles, generally central Africa) and large
areas of Australia, South America, and India. Climate is the most important
factor in creating a savanna. Savannas are always found in warm or hot
climates where the annual rainfall is from about 50.8 to 127 cm (20-50 inches)
per year. It is crucial that the rainfall is concentrated in six or eight months of
the year, followed by a long period of drought when fires can occur. If the rain
were well distributed throughout the year, many such areas would become
tropical forest. Savannas which result from climatic conditions are
called climatic savannas. Savannas that are caused by soil conditions and that
are not entirely maintained by fire are called edaphic savannas. These can
occur on hills or ridges where the soil is shallow, or in valleys where clay soils
become waterlogged in wet weather. A third type of savanna, known
as derived savanna, is the result of people clearing forest land for cultivation.
Farmers fell a tract of forest, burn the dead trees, and plant crops in the ashes
for as long as the soil remains fertile. Then, the field is abandoned and,
although forest trees may recolonize, grass takes over on the bare ground
(succession), becoming luxuriant enough to burn within a year or so. In Africa,
a heavy concentration of elephants in protected parkland have created a
savanna by eating leaves and twigs and breaking off the branches, smashing
the trunks and stripping the bark of trees. Elephants can convert a dense
woodland into an open grassland in a short period of time. Annual fires then
maintain the area as a savanna.

The soil of the savanna is porous, with rapid drainage of water. It has only a
thin layer of humus (the organic portion of the soil created by partial
decomposition of plant or animal matter), which provides vegetation with
nutrients. Savannas are sometimes classified as forests. The predominant
vegetation consists of grasses and forbs (small broad-leaved plants that grow
with grasses). Different savannas support different grasses due to disparities
in rainfall and soil conditions. Because the savanna supports such a large
number of species competing for living space, usually only one or a few kinds
of grass are more successful than the others in a particular area. For example,
in drier savannas such as those on the Serengeti plains or Kenyas Laikipia
plateau, the dominant grasses on well-drained soils are Rhodes grass and red
oat grass; throughout the East African savannas, star grasses are dominant;
the lemon grasses are common in many western Uganda savannas.
Deciduous trees and shrubs are scattered across the open landscape. One
type of savanna common in southwestern Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda,
known as grouped-tree grassland, has trees growing only on termite mounds
the intervening soil being too thin or poorly drained to support the growth of
trees at all. Frequent fires and large grazing mammals kill seedlings, thus
keeping the density of trees and shrubs low. Savannas receive an average
annual rainfall of 76.2-101.6 cm (30-40 inches). However, certain savannas
can receive as little as 15.24 cm (6 inches) or as much as 25.4 cm (10 inches)
of rain a year.

Savanna has both a dry and a rainy season. Seasonal fires play a vital role in
the savannas biodiversity. In October, a series of violent thunderstorms,
followed by a strong drying wind, signals the beginning of the dry season. Fire
is prevalent around January, at the height of the dry season. Fires in savannas
are often caused by poachers who want to clear away dead grass to make it
easier to see their prey. The fires do not devastate the community. Most of the
animals killed by the fires are insects with short life spans. A fire is a feast for
some animals, such as birds that come to sites of fires to eat grasshoppers,
stick insects, beetles, mice, and lizards that are killed or driven out by the fire.
Underground holes and crevices provide a safe refuge for small creatures.
Larger animals are usually able to run fast enough to escape the fire. Although
the dry stems and leaves of grasses are consumed by fire, the grasses deep
roots remain unharmed. These roots, with all their starch reserves, are ready
to send up new growth when the soil becomes more moist. The scattered
shrubs can also subsist on food reserves in their roots while they await the
time to venture above the soil again. Unlike grasses and shrubs, trees survive
a fire by retaining some moisture in all their above-ground parts throughout the
dry season. Sometimes they have a corky bark or semisucculent trunk
covered with smooth resinous bark, both being fire resistant. A fire leaves
scorched earth covered with a fine layer of powdery black ash in its wake.
During March, violent thunderstorms occur again, this time heralding the rainy
season. When the rains come, savanna bunch grasses grow vigorously. Some
of the larger grasses grow an inch or more in 24 hours. The savannas
experiences a surge of new life at this time. For example, many antelope
calves are born. With so much grass to feed on, mothers have plenty of milk.
Calves die if the rains fail to come.

Other animals (which do not all occur in the same savanna) include giraffes,
zebras, buffaloes, kangaroos, mice, moles, gophers, ground squirrels, snakes,
worms, termites, beetles, lions, leopards, hyenas, and elephants.

There are also some environmental concerns regarding savannas such as

poaching, overgrazing, and clearing of the land for crops.
Temperate Grassland
Temperate grasslands are characterized as having grasses as the dominant
vegetation. Trees and large shrubs are absent. Temperatures vary more from
summer to winter, and the amount of rainfall is less in temperate grasslands
than in savannas. The major manifestations are the veldts of South Africa, the
puszta of Hungary, the pampas of Argentina and Uruguay, the steppes of the
former Soviet Union, and the plains and prairies of central North America.
Temperate grasslands have hot summers and cold winters. Rainfall is
moderate. The amount of annual rainfall influences the height of grassland
vegetation, with taller grasses in wetter regions. As in the savanna, seasonal
drought and occasional fires are very important to biodiversity. However, their
effects arent as dramatic in temperate grasslands as they are in savannas.
The soil of the temperate grasslands is deep and dark, with fertile upper
layers. It is nutrient-rich from the growth and decay of deep, many-branched
grass roots. The rotted roots hold the soil together and provide a food source
for living plants. Each different species of grass grows best in a particular
grassland environment (determined by temperature, rainfall, and soil
conditions). The seasonal drought, occasional fires, and grazing by large
mammals all prevent woody shrubs and trees from invading and becoming
established. However, a few trees, such as cottonwoods, oaks, and willows
grow in river valleys, and some nonwoody plants, specifically a few hundred
species of flowers, grow among the grasses. The various species of grasses
include purple needlegrass, blue grama, buffalo grass, and galleta. Flowers
include asters, blazing stars, coneflowers, goldenrods, sunflowers, clovers,
psoraleas, and wild indigos.

Precipitation in the temperate grasslands usually occurs in the late spring and
early summer. The annual average is about 50.8 to 88.9 cm (20-35 inches).
The temperature range is very large over the course of the year. Summer
temperatures can be well over 38 C (100 degrees Fahrenheit), while winter
temperatures can be as low as -40 C (-40 degrees Fahrenheit).

The fauna (which do not all occur in the same temperate grassland) include
gazelles, zebras, rhinoceroses, wild horses, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, jack
rabbits, deer, mice, coyotes, foxes, skunks, badgers, blackbirds, grouses,
meadowlarks, quails, sparrows, hawks, owls, snakes, grasshoppers,
leafhoppers, and spiders.

There are also environmental concerns regarding the temperate grasslands.

Few natural prairie regions remain because most have been turned into farms
or grazing land. This is because they are flat, treeless, covered with grass,
and have rich soil.

Temperate grasslands can be further subdivided. Prairies are grasslands with

tall grasses while steppes are grasslands with short grasses. Prairie and
steppes are somewhat similar but the information given above pertains
specifically to prairiesthe following is a specific description of steppes.

Steppes are dry areas of grassland with hot summers and cold winters. They
receive 25.4-50.8 cm (10-20 inches) of rainfall a year. Steppes occur in the
interiors of North America and Europe. Plants growing in steppes are usually
greater than 1 foot tall. They include blue grama and buffalo grass, cacti,
sagebrush, speargrass, and small relatives of the sunflower. Steppe fauna
includes badgers, hawks, owls, and snakes. Today, people use steppes to
graze livestock and to grow wheat and other crops. Overgrazing, plowing, and
excess salts left behind by irrigation waters have harmed some steppes.
Strong winds blow loose soil from the ground after plowing, especially during
droughts. This causes the dust storms of the Great Plains of the U.S.
 TAIGA BIOME

The taiga biome is one that has very long and cold winters. They summers are short
and they are cool in temperature. The cool air masses from the arctic can move in
rapidly. The average temperature in the summer is from 64 degrees to 72 degrees.
However, in the winter months it can be -14 degrees. Taiga biome makes up 29% of the
worlds forest cover.

From 64 to
72 F. In
winter -14
Climate F

Coniferous,
pines, oak,
maple and
Plants elm trees.

Mooses,
lynx, bears,
wolverines,
foxes,
Animals squirrels.
There is heavy snowfall in the winter months. During the
North summer it is humid and rainy. The average annual rainfall is
America
and
approximately 33 inches for the taiga biome. There is often
Location Eurasia. no cloud cover in this biome so the temperatures can drop
very fast at night. It does warm up enough in the spring
though for flowers to melt and the ice to melt into the ponds.

The taiga biome is the home of the needle leaf forest regions. It is a lonely existence in
this area. As a result many of the animals in this area often suffer from struggles to find
enough food to survive. It may surprise you to discover that this particular biome is the
largest one in the world. You will find it over various areas of North America and
Eurasia. The largest taiga biomes are found in Russia and Canada.

TAIGA BIOME CHARACTERISTICS

There isnt very much annual precipitation that occurs in the taiga biome. There is
some though in the summer months. This tends to create problems due to the heavy
bark found on the trees there. The outbreak of fires during the summer months in the
taiga biome is very high. During the colder time of the year, there are extremely cool
winds that make it hard to survive in such conditions.

The rich forest are of the taiga biome takes over where the tundra biome ends. During
the longer parts of summer, there can be up to 20 hours of daylight given. The
temperatures though can severely dip and rise over the course of any 24 hour period.
Therefore, you must be ready for what this particular biome offers.

The quality of the soil found in the taiga biome is very poor. They lack the essential
nutrients to support large trees. The soil is also very thin here due to the cold weather.
The leaves that fall from the smaller trees though due offer a type of natural fertilizer
that can be very beneficial to the soil. However, the needles from the evergreens have
acid in them and that further result in the quality of the soil further deteriorating in
those areas.

TAIGA BIOME FLORA AND FAUNA

Due the fact that food sources are even more difficult during the winter, animals in the
taiga biome have adapted to this. For example many of them migrate to warmer
locations during the winter. They do so for shelter just as much as they do for the
ability to find food. Other animals in the taiga biome remain there all winter. However,
they hibernate so they dont need to forage for food during the winter months.

There isnt nearly as many plants or animals that live in the taiga biome as others.
However, what you will find a huge abundance of are insects. Birds often come to the
taiga biome to feed on these insects. They also will breed in this area before going back
to their permanent location. It is believed that more than 32,000 species of insects live
in this particular biome.

There are more than 300 species of birds found in the taiga biome. They nest in this
area so that they can successfully feed on those insects. Studies show that only about
30 species of these birds remain there in the winter months. The rest migrate to
warmer climates.

There are several types of animals that seem to do well in the taiga biome. Most of
them are predatory animals that feed on other animals that also live in that biome.
These animals include the lynx, bobcat, and wolverine. They are able to eat a variety
of foods including elk, deer, mouse, rabbits, and squirrels.

The American Black Bear is found in the taiga biome. It consumes a variety of
different foods including twigs, leaves, and plants. Only about of what they eat is in
the form of small prey and left over carcasses. They do hibernate in the winter time so
that they dont have to forage for food during that difficult period of time in the taiga
biome.
You will notice that many of the animals that live in the taiga biome are able to change
their color based on the time of year. That helps them to remain camouflaged from
predators. They also have thicker coats in the winter, and they will shed them in the
summer months.

Coniferous trees are very common in the taiga biome. This is why it is often referred to
as the boreal forest. These types of trees include Douglas Fir, White Spruce, and
Hemlock. There are also lots of lichen and moss that grow in the taiga biome. They
offer a great source of food for the insects that live in this environment.

The coniferous trees have long thin needles and they are known as evergreens. They
have wax on the needles and that helps to offer them protection from the harsh winds
of the taiga biome. These types of trees dont shed their leaves during the winter
either. Instead, they remain part of the tree all year long. You will also find that they are
close together in this region. That helps them to avoid damage from the wind too.

The Balsam Fir also is found in the taiga biome. They can grow to be up to 80 feet tall
which is remarkable. They can also end up living for up to 200 years. Depending on the
location, many of the lower branches can die. However, the rest of the tree is still
strong and thriving. These particular trees feed the might moose throughout the winter
months. Without them, those animals wouldnt be able to survive in the taiga biome.

TAIGA THREATS

Everything is in careful balance between the plants and animals that live in the taiga
biome. That is the way that it should be. However, actions from humans such as heavy
hunting of the American Black Bear or Moose can cause problems. The cutting down of
coniferous trees in the taiga biome can also prevent these animals from being able to
find enough food to survive there.
The Balsam Fir trees are often cut down to be used as lumber. They are used to make
logs for cabins, pulpwood, and even Christmas trees for the holidays. However, if they
are cut away in too large of numbers then the taiga biome isnt going to have that
careful balance that it really needs for all living there to thrive.

Many regions of the taiga biome are threatened due to logging efforts. This is especially
true in Russia and Canada. There are also issues with some of the insects living in these
regions causing plagues among the trees. They can leave the trees brittle, prevent
them from growing, and deplete them on the nutrients necessary for survival.

CHAPARRAL BIOME

The chaparral biome is one that is found in areas of every single continent.
However, many people dont realize it is the same. That is because there are several
different types of terrain that this particular biome is associated with. In some areas
they are flat plains but in other regions there are hills. Still yet, others consist of
mountain terrain areas. They really are lovely areas with lots to offer.
A chaparral biome is created when cool water from an ocean merges with a landmass
that is at a high temperature. You will find them about 30 to 40 degrees below and
above the equator. They are found just beyond the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn. The major chaparral biomes are found along the coast of Baja and
California. They are also found in various areas around the Mediterranean Sea.

Climate 30-40 F

Cactus,
poison oak,
scrub oak
Plants and shrubs.

Jackals,
lizards,
Bobcats,
cougars,
Animals deer.

Mexico,
Europe and
the CHAPARRAL BIOME CHARACTERISTICS
Northern
part of With a chaparral biome you will find that there is a very wet
Location Africa.
winter and also a very dry summer. The climate changes often
with the emergence of different seasons. They summers can be dry enough to create a
drought. This dry period can extend for up to five months out of the year. These dry
conditions make the risk of fires breaking out very high.

These fires are usually the result of lightning striking in the area. However, there are
times when they are started by people being careless. Occasionally those fires may be
set intentionally too. While it can be hard to get the fires under control, studies show
they really are an essential part of controlling the balance of living things in this
particular biome.

The fact that many homes have been built on the edges of these biomes such as in
California, it can be a huge threat when such fires break out. Evacuations may be
required and homes may be damaged or destroyed. Even so, many people love the
beauty of the chaparral biome and want to be able to be surrounded by it.

What is interesting is that many of the plants found in the chaparral biome have leaves
that are made from highly flammable materials. That is why the fires are able to spread
so quickly rather than just from the dry conditions. What is also interesting though is
that those are also the plants that have the ability to withstand the fires. They have
heavy bark and deep roots so it isnt long after the fire that they are able to thrive
again.

The temperatures in the chaparral biome is about 30 degrees in the winter time. It can
be up to 100 degrees in the summer months. There is from 10 to 17 inches of rainfall
annually in the chaparral biome. They are found in a mid latitude climate The average
temperature in these areas is 64 degrees.

Most of the animals found in the chaparral biome are active at night. It is too hot for
them to be very active during the day. There are some exceptions though such as the
various lizards. Reptiles seem to do very well in the heat.

CHAPARRAL BIOME FLORA AND FAUNA

The extreme conditions found in the chaparral biome are very different just like day
and night. As a result, animals and plants that live here have to be highly adaptable.
There are quite a few different types of animals that do very well in the conditions of
the chaparral biome. They include the Jackal, Mule Deer, and Coyotes.

There are smaller living creatures too including the Lady Bug and Praying Mantis.
Honeybees are very popular in the chaparral biome. The animals that live in this biome
are able to survive with very little water. They are also able to do well in the heat of the
summer and the cooler winter temperatures. Some of them though including species
of birds migrate during the winter months.
There are a couple of different types of plants that are able to do very well in a
chaparral biome. Sclerophyll plants are often found in the woodland areas of such a
biome. The eucalyptus are able to grow in the forests. This is very typical along the
chaparral biome of Australia. Cactus is plentiful in the chaparral biome.

You will notice that many of the forms of plants that live in this particular biome have
leaves that are small and hard. They are able to retain water due to the design. That
helps them to survive in the very hot and dry summer conditions. Others have needle
like leaves that allow them to draw moisture out of the air.

If that reminds you of plants you find in the desert biomes you are very right. In fact,
the chaparral biome usually borders a desert biome. There is often a great deal of
overlapping. In fact, this is why some people think that it does rain often in the desert
they are misinformed about the particular biome they are referring to.

While you will find some plants in this biome as well as the desert biome, they are
usually going to be larger in this one. That is due to the additional amount of rainfall.
There are plenty of shrubs that are found in this type of environment. There are trees
too but many of them are considered dwarfs due to the small size of them. There are
plenty of different types of grasses that can grow in the chaparral biome.

Even plants with seeds have become highly adaptive to the chaparral biome fires.
Some of these plants only will spout after the dormant seeds have been touched by
fire. This is a great example of how the living elements of a biome are able to fit very
well with what they have to work with.

Cork oak trees grow in many chaparral biomes around Europe and the Northern part
of Africa. They offer plenty of economic income from the oak being harvested. The
process is very interesting as it involves the cork on the outer shell of the trees being
removed. However, the roots and the entire tree remain upright.
THREATS AND CONSERVATION

The introduction of tools, humans, and materials to be able to get the cork processing
done faster and more efficiently continue to be a threat to the natural environment. It
is interesting how such introductions can quickly become upsetting to the natural
balance of things. However, many of the animals in these locations have been able to
successfully adapt so far.

There is no denying that the chaparral biome is very lovely and inviting. However,
development of this natural area happens to be the biggest threat to it. The view is
great and the warm temperatures are inviting. The fact that many people want to live
in California near the coast is also a draw to such regions. They dont want to be in the
busy areas of California so they choose this location instead.

Another big threat to the chaparral biome is pollution, especially in the California area.
With people building homes and even industry getting closer to them, the air pollution
is a factor. There are also issues with animals being hunted or venturing into areas
where their habitat overlaps with that of humans.