Biomes

There are two main divisions of Grasslands

1) tropical grasslands, called savannas, and 2) temperate grasslands

Arctic Tundra

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: 1) low shrubs, sedges, reindeer mosses, liverworts, and grasses 2) 400 varieties of flowers 3) crustose and foliose lichen Fauna: Caribou, Arctic hares, Arctic foxes, Wolves, Polar bears

Steppes

Are dry areas of grassland with hot summers and cold winters. Areas of occurrence are: North America and Europe

Biomes

Biomes are defined as "the world's major communities, classified according to the predominant vegetation and characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular environment" (Campbell).

Boreal Forests (Taiga)

Boreal forests, or taiga, represent the largest terrestial biome. Occuring between 50 and 60 degrees north latitudes. Boreal forests can be found in the broad belt of Eurasia and North America: two-thirds in Siberia with the rest in Scandinavia, Alaska, and Canada. Seasons are divided into short, moist, and moderately warm summers and long, cold, and dry winters.

The Desert Biome

Deserts cover about one fifth of the Earth's surface and occur where rainfall is less than 50 cm/year. Most deserts have a considerable amount of specialized vegetation. Specialized vertebrate and invertebrate animals are abundant. Soils often have abundant nutrients because they need only water to become very productive and have little or no organic matter. Four types of deserts: Hot and Dry, Semiarid, Coastal, Cold

The Aquatic Biome

Fishies n' shit.

The Grassland Biome

Grasslands are characterized as lands dominated by grasses rather than large shrubs or trees.

Alpine Tundra

Located on mountains throughout the world at high altitude where trees cannot grow. Unlike the arctic tundra, the soil in the alpine is well drained. The plants are very similar to those of the arctic. Animals living in the alpine tundra are also well adapted: 1) mountain goats 2) sheep 3) elk

Hot and Dry Desert

Rainfall is usually very low and/or concentrated in short bursts between long rainless periods. Evaporation rates regularly exceed rainfall rates. Soils are course-textured, shallow, rocky or gravely with good drainage and have no subsurface water. Plants are mainly ground-hugging shrubs and short woody trees. Dominant animals are burrowers and kangaroo rats. example: Sonoran Desert

Savanna

Savanna is grassland with scattered individual trees. Areas of occurrence are: Africa, Australia, South America, and India.

Temperate Grassland

Temperate grasslands are characterized as having grasses as the dominant vegetation. Areas of occurrence are: South Africa, Hungary, Argentina and Uruguay, the Soviet Union, and North America.

Coastal Desert

The cool winters of coastal deserts are followed by moderately long, warm summers. The soil is fine-textured with a moderate salt content. It is fairly porous with good drainage. Some plants have extensive root systems close to the surface where they can take advantage of any rain showers. All of the plants with thick and fleshy leaves or stems can take in large quantities of water when it is available and store it for future use. In some plants, the surfaces are corrugated with longitudinal ridges and grooves. When water is available, the stem swells so that the grooves are shallow and the ridges far apart. As the water is used, the stem shrinks so that the grooves are deep and ridges close together. Fauna includes coyote and badgers, toads, birds (great horned owl, golden eagle and the bald eagle), and reptiles (lizards and snakes).

The Forest Biome

There are three major types of forests, classed according to latitude: 1) tropical 2) temperate 3) boreal forests (taiga) Temperate forests occur in eastern North America, northeastern Asia, and western and central Europe. Well-defined seasons (spring, summer, winter, fall) with a distinct winter characterize this forest biome.

Cold Desert

These deserts are characterized by cold winters with snowfall and high overall rainfall throughout the winter and occasionally over the summer. The soil is heavy, silty, and salty. The main plants are deciduous, most having spiny leaves. Widely distributed animals are jack rabbits, kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice, grasshopper mice, and antelope ground squirrels.

Tropical Forests

Tropical forests are characterized by the greatest diversity of species. They occur near the equator, within the area bounded by latitudes 23.5 degrees N and 23.5 degrees S. One of the major characteristics of tropical forests is their distinct seasonality: winter is absent, and only two seasons are present (rainy and dry).

The Tundra

Tundra is separated into two types: 1) arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere, encircling the north pole and extending south to the coniferous forests of the taiga. 2) alpine tundra is located on mountains throughout the world at high altitude where trees cannot grow. 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.

Semiarid Desert

example: Great Basin As in the hot desert, rainfall is often very low and/or concentrated. Cool nights help both plants and animals by reducing moisture loss from transpiration, sweating and breathing. Furthermore, condensation of dew caused by night cooling may equal or exceed the rainfall received by some deserts. The soil can range from sandy and fine-textured to loose rock fragments, gravel or sand. The spiny nature of many plants in semiarid deserts provides protection in a hazardous environment. The large numbers of spines shade the surface enough to significantly reduce transpiration. The same may be true of the hairs on the woolly desert plants. Many plants have silvery or glossy leaves, allowing them to reflect more radiant energy. These plants often have an unfavorable odor or taste. Fauna include the kangaroo rats, lizards and snakes; and birds such as burrowing owls