Animal Facts and Biomes--Life Science jr high

steppe grassland biome

A dry, cold, grassland without much humidity that is found in all of the continents besides Australia and Antarctica. Located away from oceans and near mountain barriers. Warm to hot summers and cool to very cold winters; temperatures are often extreme in these midcontinental areas.

biome

A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms

arctic regions

A polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. Characterized by permafrost, a barren landscape, and a cold/dry climate. The thin layer of top soil thaws during the short summer months, but beneath that the ground is permanently frozen.

savanna grassland biome

A rolling grassland scattered with shrubs and isolated trees, which can be found between a tropical rainforest and desert biome. Not enough rain falls to support forests. Also known as tropical grasslands. Have warm temperature year round. There are actually two very different seasons here--a very long dry season (winter), and a very wet season (summer). In the dry season only an average of about 4 inches of rain falls.

alpine tundra biome

A type of natural region or biome that does not contain trees because it is at high elevation. The flora is characterized by dwarf shrubs close to the ground. The cold climate is caused by adiabatic cooling of air, and is similar to polar climate. Average temperatures range from 40 to 60°F in warmer months. In the winter the temperatures are well below freezing. Generally, as the altitude increases, the temperature gets colder. Temperatures in this biome are dynamic and can change from warm to freezing in one day. Precipitation is around 12 inches annually.

mountains

Alpine biomes that are found in regions worldwide, including the Andes, Alps, and Rocky Mountains. Usually lies between an altitude of about 10,000 feet (3,000 meters), and the place where the snow line begins. Generally, as the altitude increases, the temperature gets colder. Summer temperatures range between -12 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius. The average precipitation is 30 cm a year.

taiga biomes

An ecosystem characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces, and larches. Characterized by long winters and moderate to high annual precipitation. The world's largest land biome. Generally referred to in North America as boreal forest or snow forest.

grassland biomes

An ecosystem found in the dry temperate interiors of continents. This biome is characterized by rich soil, moderate rainfall, a hot, dry climate, thick grasses, and herds of grazing animals. There are 3 types: temperate, tropical (also known as savannas), and steppe.

freshwater aquatic biomes

An ecosystem made up of any of body of water that has less than 1% salinity such as lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. They cover roughly 20% of the Earth and are in various locations spread out all over the world. Most consist of moving water and contain many types of fish.

Tropical rainforest biome

An ecosystem that covers about 7% of the Earth's surface. They are found all over the world but the majority are in South America in Brazil. A few others can be found in Asia, Africa and the Pacific islands. The weather is rainy yet pleasant all year round, day or night. Average temperature ranges from 70 to 85°F Humidity is high--77% to 88% year-round. The yearly rainfall ranges from 80 to 400 inches and it can rain hard.

desert biomes

An ecosystem that forms due to the low level of rainfall it receives each year. Cover about 20% of the Earth. There are four major types in this biome - hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold. They are all able to inhabit plant and animal life that are able to survive there.

forest biomes

An ecosystem where there are a large number of trees. Depending on the type of trees in that area this biome can be further divided into five main categories: coniferous, deciduous, mixed leaved, Mediterranean, and tropical rainforest.

marine aquatic biomes

An environment characterized by the presence of salt water. Found in all of Earth's oceans and is the largest biome in the world. Includes oceans, coral reefs, estuaries.

Vertebrates

Animals with backbones. An animal of a large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.

Invertebrates

Animals without backbones. An animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusk, annelid, coelenterate, etc. Constitute an artificial division of the animal kingdom, comprising 95 percent of animal species and about 30 different phyla.

Mediterranean forest biome

Characterized by dry summers and rainy winters, although in some areas rainfall may be uniform. Temperatures range from 30-60 F in the winter and 50 to 72 F in the summer. About 20 inches of rainfall a year. Globally rare--found only in the Mediterranean, south-central and southwestern Australia, the fynbos of southern Africa, the Chilean matorral, and the Mediterranean ecoregions of California.

tundra biomes

Coldest of the biomes. Name comes from the Finnish word tunturi, 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. There are two types: alpine and arctic.

arctic tundra biomes

Ecosystem that has an extremely cold, dry climate characterized by short, cool summers and bitterly cold winters. A vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia, and North America in which the subsoil is permanently frozen. High latitude areas near the poles. Annual precipitation averages 6-10 inches. The average winter temperature is -30° F and the average summer temperature is 37-54° F

aquatic biomes

Ecosystems that depend on water. There are two types: freshwater (ponds, rivers, streams, lakes with little or no salt content) & marine (oceans)

tropics

Equatorial region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. It is characterized by generally warm or hot temperatures year-round, though much variation exists due to altitude and other factors. Biomes in this area include rainforests , dry forests, savannas, marshes, and wetlands, depending upon their respective moisture regimes.

coastal desert biome

Found in areas that are moderately warm to cool. Winters typically are cool and brief, and summers are long and warm. Temperatures in the winter is generally 41°F or below. In the summer the weather heats up to between 55° and 75°F. Support a wider variety of plant life than others in this biome group. Average annual rainfall is usually 3 - 5 inches. Located on the west coasts of continents between 20° to 30° latitude. Examples are the Namib in Africa and the Atacama in Chile.

coniferous forest biome

Found predominantly in areas with warm summers and long, cold winters. Some are in areas with more mild winters. Moderate to high annual precipitation. Trees such as pine, cedar, fir. The understory also contains a wide variety of herbaceous and shrub species. Also called a boreal forest or taiga.

deciduous forest biome

Has four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. Winters are cold and summers are warm. Receives between 30 and 60 inches of precipitation a year. Found in the eastern part of the United States and Canada, most of Europe and parts of China and Japan.

cold desert biome

Have short, moist, and quite warm summers with fairly long, cold winters. The average winter is 28 to 39° F and the average summer is 70-79° F. Receives quite a bit of snow in the winter. The average yearly precipitation ranges from 5- 10 inches. Found in Antarctic, Greenland, and Nearctic realm. Also in Great Basin area of the western United States.

Barbary apes Barbary leopards mouflon Iberian lynx brown bears wolves Spanish imperial eagles Algerian and Corsican nuthatchs lizards chameleons tortoises snakes

Name some animals that live in the Mediterranean forest biome

mountain goats sheep elk fox snow leopard pikas marmots grouse-like birds beetles grasshoppers butterflies chinchillas

Name some animals that live in the alpine tundra biome

arctic hare polar bear arctic fox caribou snowy owl arctic ground squirrel marmot reindeer arctic wolf lemming snow geese wolverine loons tundra swan

Name some animals that live in the arctic tundra biome

moose cougars garter snakes eagles bob cats geese rabbits lynx frogs beaver squirrels owls deer foxes wolves black bears

Name some animals that live in the coniferous forest biome

insects spiders slugs frogs turtles salamanders hawks cardinals snowy owls woodpeckers white-tailed deer raccoons opossums porcupines red foxes black bears

Name some animals that live in the deciduous forest biome

frogs mosquitos turtles raccoons shrimp crab tadpoles snakes beavers minks crocodiles otters ducks catfish trout bass tilapia

Name some animals that live in the freshwater aquatic biomes

whales dolphins sea otters sea turtles barracudas bluefish cod flounders tarpons tunas halibuts octopus squid jellyfish starfish stingrays crabs shrimp prawns lobsters krill barnacles coral reefs sea anemones

Name some animals that live in the marine aquatic biomes

ermines squirrels urials wolves deer foxes boars moles blackbird minks eagles panda bears wallabys marmots chipmunks bats leopards coyotes black bears

Name some animals that live in the mixed-leaf forest biome

foxes lynxes bears minks squirrels wolves caribou reindeer moose

Name some animals that live in the taiga biome

antelopes pronghorn bison coyotes badgers quails grouses blackbirds owls hawks grasshoppers snakes (Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer, Prairie Rattlesnake, Western Hog-nosed Snake, Plains Garter Snake, etc.) spiders leafhoppers

Name some animals that live in the temperate grassland biome

anacondas monkeys toucans macaws herens cougars pumas jaguars orangutans gorrilas sloths parrots frogs piranhas (fish) millions of species of insects and spiders

Name some animals that live in the tropical rainforest biome

elephants giraffes zebras rhinoceroses buffalo lions leopards cheetahs baboons crocodiles antelopes meerkats ants termites kangaroos ostriches snakes (rock pythons, black mamba, common browns, egg eaters, adders)

Name some animals that live on the savanna

bison horse (wild) pronghorn guanaco (relative to camels--only in Argentina) Bactrian camel (Asia) Gazelle (Asia) marmots wild sheep

Name some animals that live on the steppe grassland

coyotes warthogs meerkats hyenas cheetahs badgers toads lava lizards chameleons grasshoppers ants sidewinder snakes great horned owls golden eagles bald eagles

Name some coastal desert animals

salt bush rice grass black sage chrysothamnus camelthorn ringwood wild ebony Welwitschia mirabilis

Name some coastal desert plants

badger bald eagle bison coyote gopher snake antelope jackrabbit mule deer prairie dogs

Name some cold desert animals

bunch grass sage brush blackbrush shadscale Mormon-tea greasewood cowberry cup lichen

Name some cold desert plants

fennec foxes dung beetles Bactrian camels Mexican coyotes sidewinder snakes thorny devil lizards tortoises big horn sheep rattlesnakes horned lizards ground squirrels gila monsters roadrunners Gambel's quail blacktailed jackrabbits scorpions cactus wrens pronghorns bobcats

Name some hot & dry desert animals

Turpentine Bush Prickly Pears Brittle Bush Yuccas Creosote bush Joshua tree Saguaro Cactus Organ Pipe Cactus Ocotillo Cactus Barrel Cactus Cholla Lupines California Golden Poppies

Name some hot & dry desert plants

holm oaks arbutuses olive trees laurels carob trees pine trees junipers cypresses rock roses mastic trees myrtle rosemary

Name some plants that grow in the Mediterranean forest biome

tussock grasses small-leafed shrubs dwarf trees bristlecone pine trees ornamental grasses sedges forbs cushion plant mosses lichens beargrass pygmy bitterroot alpine purple fringe

Name some plants that grow in the alpine tundra biome

bearberry labrador tea diamond leaf arctic moss arctic willow caribou moss tufted saxifrage pasque flower

Name some plants that grow in the arctic tundra biome

pine fir hemlock spruce redwood cypress cedar saskatoon berry shrub salal shrub nootka rose bush thimbleberry bush foxgloves stinging nettle silky lupine

Name some plants that grow in the coniferous forest biome

maple oak birch magnolia sweet gum beech mosses lichens ferns

Name some plants that grow in the deciduous forest biome

water lilies algae duckweed cattails reeds milkweed tamarack cypress trees mangroves tape grass willows river birch bulrush stonewort

Name some plants that grow in the freshwater aquatic biomes

oaks beeches maples birches pines firs spruces lilacs azalea holly rhododendron

Name some plants that grow in the mixed-leaf forest biome

Spruce trees Fir trees Pine trees Blueberry Bushes Cowberry Bushes Bilberry Bushes Lichens Mosses Maple trees Elm trees Willow trees Oak trees

Name some plants that grow in the taiga biome

Ceiba Rubber tree Cecropia Kapok Banana tree Strangler Fig (Teak) Giant Red Cedar (Curtain Fig) Cathedral Fig Açai Palm Rattan Palm ferns lichens mosses orchids bromeliads bougainvilleas pitcher plants

Name some plants that grow in the tropical rainforest biome

lemon grass Rhodes grass star grass Bermuda grass acacia tree baobab tree jackalberry tree

Name some plants that grow on the savanna

short and tall grasses rhubarb tumbleweed sagebrush milk vetch sweet vernal small shrubs small trees such as poplars and aspens (very scarce, only near water source)

Name some plants that grow on the steppe grassland

algae sea grasses phytoplankton seaweed marsh grasses sea cabbage kelp mangroves

Name some plants that live in the marine aquatic biomes

purple needlegrass wild oats grass foxtail grass ryegrass buffalo grass sunflowers crazy weed asters blazing stars coneflowers goldenrod clover wild indigo thistle Joe Pye weed

Name some plants that live in the temperate grassland biome

kangaroo rats skunks rabbits grasshoppers ants chuckwalla lizards rattle snakes desert tortoise burrowing owl California thrasher

Name some semiarid desert animals

creosote bush bur sage white thorn cat claw mesquite brittle bushes lyciums jujube

Name some semiarid desert plants

*Porifera--Sponges *Cnidarian--Jellyfish *Platyhelminthes--Flatworms *Nematoda--Roundworms *Annelida--Segmented worms *Mollusca--Clams, oysters, squid, snails, slugs, octopus *Arthropods--Insects, crabs, lobster, ticks, arachnids, scorpions *Echinoderms--Starfish, sea urchins, sand dollars *Protozoa--amoebas, paramecia

Name some types of invertebrates

*Antigonia--fish, eels, seahorses *Amphibia--frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, caecilians *Reptilia--snakes, crocodiles, alligators, turtles, tortoises, lizards *Aves--birds, ostriches, ducks, geese *Mammalia--humans, cats, dogs, wolves, lions, tigers, elephants, seals, bears, horses, rhinoceroses, cows, pigs, giraffes, camels, deer, hippopotamuses , whales, dolphins, sea lions, monkeys, apes, gophers, mice, rats, squirrels, hamsters, bats, platypuses, spiny anteaters

Name some types of vertebrates

mixed-leaf forest biome

Occur in areas with distinct warm and cool seasons that give them moderate annual average temperatures (37 to 60 °F). Occur in relatively warm and rainy climates, sometimes also with a distinct dry season. Found in central China, eastern North America, Europe, Eastern Asia, Japan, southwest Chilean coast, southeast Australian coast. Annual rainfall of 24 to up to 59 inches.

temperate grassland biome

Plains and prairies cover fertile soils. Warm to hot summers with cold winters and moderate rainfall. Located in the middle latitudes.

semiarid desert biome

Summers are usually long and dry, and the winters normally have little rainfall. Summer temperatures are between 68-86°F on average. During the evenings, temperatures are cool, around 50° F. Rainfall is very low, 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches yearly. Found in Europe, North America, Russia and northern Asia.

oceans

The largest of all the ecosystems. The ocean regions are separated into separate zones: intertidal, pelagic, abyssal, and benthic. All four zones have a great diversity of species.

hot & dry desert biome

Warm throughout the fall and spring seasons and very hot during the summer (104-122 degrees F or hotter.) The winter average temperatures are between 55-70 degrees F. Daytime to nighttime temperature differences can be drastic. Rainfall can be as little as 1" per year and up to 4" per year. Can be found in North America, Central America, South America, southern Asia, Africa, and Australia. Well-known biomes of this type include the Mojave and the Sahara. The Sonoran is just as hot but wetter than most in this biome, receiving 4"-15" average annual precipitation, mostly during the summer monsoon season.

They do not have a backbone. They are multicellular (except for protozoa) They have no cell walls, like all other animals. They reproduce by two reproductive cells, or gametes, coming together to produce a new organism of their species.

What are characteristics of invertebrates?

At some point in their development all have: *a notochord--a cartilaginous skeletal rod supporting the body in all embryo and some adults. *a dorsal hollow nerve cord--develops into the central nervous system (brain & spine) *pharyngeal slits--openings in the pharynx that develop into gill arches in bony fish and into the jaw and inner ear in terrestrial animals *a post-anal tail--an extension of the body that runs past the anal opening. In some species, like humans, this feature is only present during the embryonic stage. *a thyroid gland

What are characteristics of vertebrates?

seashore

Wildlife habitats that exist by oceans from the Tropics to the Arctic and Antarctic. This biome provides varied habitats in different parts of the world, and sometimes even within the same beach.