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Vocabulary

Deciduous: Trees which shed leaves annually, often in winter.

Evergreen: Trees or plants that retains its green leaves throughout the year.

Humus: Humus is the organic component of soil formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant
material by soil microorganisms. It is mainly found in rainforests.

Conifers: Trees which bear cones and needle-like leaves. They are found in places with cold climates.

Hibernate: Animals in cold climates hibernate in winter (stay dormant/sleep) to maintain energy without
eating.

Migrate: Animals in cold regions move to south (As it is warmer) during the winters.

Permafrost: Soil which had been frozen due to extremely cold temperatures. This happens in Tundra
biome and prohibits plants from growing.

Annuals (plants): They are plants with life cycle that lasts only one year. They grow, bloom, produce
seeds and die in one growing season.
1. List the eight biomes and write a brief description of each, including temperature, precipitation,
location, and main plants/animals.

The eight biomes are:

i. Tundra
The temperature is extremely cold and around freezing point all year round. It receives
little precipitation throughout the year. It rings around Arctic Ocean, and is situated near
the ice caps. Main plants consist of mosses, lichens, grasses and shrubs. The main
animals include Caribou, Lynx, Snowy owl and polar bears.

ii. Taiga
Taiga has warm humid summers and long cold winters. It receives long duration of snow
(during winter) and short duration of rainfall (during summers) throughout the year at an
average of 40 inches. Main plants consist of conifers and evergreen trees. The main
animals consist of Lynx and Wolverine.

iii. Temperate deciduous forest

Temperate deciduous forest has an average temperature around 10C and moderate
precipitation. It occupies the eastern half of the United States and a large portion of
Europe. The vegetation includes hardwood trees such as maple, beech, oak and hickory
and animals include deer, raccoons and salamanders.

iv. Scrub forest (also known as Chaparral)

The annual rainfall in the chaparral biome may reach 20-30 inches and summers are dry.
It is mainly found in California, Mediterranean Sea and along the southern coast of
Australia. The vegetations are vineyards, oaks, shrubs and California Lilac.

v. Grassland
Grasslands have average precipitation of 20 inches and temperature is moderate. It is
found in all continents except Antarctica. The vegetation includes short shrubs and other
crops such as grasses and herbs. The animals may include herds of animals such as bison
and their predators, cheetahs and etc.

vi. Desert
Deserts have generally extremely high temperatures and very low precipitation (annual
precipitation less than 10 inches). It is found in most continents. An example is Sahara
desert. Plants include cacti, sagebrush and mesquite. Animals include desert rats and
 snakes.

vii. Tropical rain forest

Tropical rain forests have high precipitation and temperatures throughout the year. They
are found between the tropics of cancer and tropics of Capricorn. The vegetation found
includes tall palm trees, ferns and other grasses. Animals include a huge range of exotic
birds and monkey.

viii. Temperate rain forest

The temperate rain forest combines high annual rainfall with a temperate climate.
The Olympic Peninsula in North America is a good example. An annual rainfall of
as much as 150 inches (381 cm) produces a lush forest of conifers.

2. Why is it important to know if it ever freezes in a biome?

It is because it is also a determinant of biomes, even if not as important as temperature.

3. Where are rainforests found in the Americas?

Tropical rainforests are found in central and south Americas.

4. Why is the soil so poor (no fertility) in tropical rainforests?

The high rainfall reaches soil minerals below the reach of plant roots. The warmth and moisture
cause rapid decay so little humus is added to the soil.

5. Where are most Temperate deciduous forests located?

Most Temperate deciduous forests are located in the eastern half of the United States and a large
portion of Europe.

6. Are there more or less species in temperate deciduous biomes than in tropical rainforest?
Temperate deciduous biomes have less species than in tropical forest.

7. What happens to Taiga animals in winter?

Taiga animals either hibernate in winter or migrate to the south.

8. Where is permafrost found?

Permafrost is found in Tundra biome where the climate is very cold in winter.
9. What large animals feed on tundra in the summer?
Swarms of migrating birds, especially waterfowl, migrate into the tundra during the summer to
raise their young.

10. How does altitude affect biomes?

Because temperature declines with altitude, and temperature is important as it is the major
determinant of biomes.

11. Why have plant and animal ranges shifted north in recent decades?
It may be a result of global warming.

12. What location is an example of a Temperate rain forest?

The Olympic Peninsula in North America is a good example.

13. What is the average precipitation in Grasslands?

The average precipitation in Grassland is 20 inches (~51 cm).

14. What are ungulates?

Ungulates are herbivorous animals, like cattle and sheep.

15. What are most North American grasslands used for now?
North American grasslands are now mostly used for growing com, wheat and other grains, and
the hillier areas support domesticating of ungulates.

16. What is one reason for high grassland productivity?

The rainfall in this biome never leaches soil minerals below the reach of the roots of crop plants.

17. How much precipitation falls yearly in desert biomes?

Annual rainfall in the desert is less than 10 inches (25 cm).

18. What time of year does it rain in chaparral biomes?

Almost all the rain falls in winter in chaparral biomes.

19. How are chaparral shrubs adapted to low amounts of precipitation?

They have waxy, waterproof coatings on their leaves.