Getting to know the biomes

The 5 main biomes

Biomes are communities of plants and animals that extend over large areas. Some are dense
forests; some are deserts; some are grasslands, like much of Australia; and so, the variations
continue. In simpler terms, a biome is a large area characterized by its vegetation, soil, climate, and
wildlife.

Forests

Forests are the most diverse biomes on the Earth.

They range from hot and wet tropical rainforests to
temperate forests and have an abundance of both
plant and animal life. Over 50 per cent of all known
plant and animal species are found in tropical
rainforests making them one of the most biodiverse
places on Earth. Forests are the source of over 7000
modern medicines, and many fruits and nuts
originated in this biome. Forests also play an
important part in how the planet functions. They
regulate global climate by absorbing the sun’s energy,
plants store and recycle water back into the
atmosphere, and importantly they store carbon and
convert it into the oxygen we breathe.

Deserts

Deserts are places that experience low rainfall

and can either be hot or cold, such as the hot
deserts in Australia or cold deserts of Central
Asia (the Gobi Desert). They are mainly located
where the tropic and temperate zones meet.
Generally, they are places of temperature
extremes for example, hot deserts are hot by
day and cold by night. Most animals that inhabit
deserts are nocturnal and desert vegetation is sparse. Desert rain often evaporates before it hits the
ground, or else it falls in short, heavy bursts. Around 300 million people around the world live in desert
regions.

Grasslands

Grasslands are biomes dominated by grass and

may have small, widely spaced trees or no trees.
The two categories of grasslands are tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands, and these are based
on climate. They are mainly inhabited by grazing animals, reptiles and ground-nesting birds, though many
other animals can be found in areas with more tree cover. Grasslands have long been prized for livestock
grazing but overgrazing of grasslands is unsustainable and places them at risk of becoming deserts. Over
one billion people inhabit the grassland areas of the world.

Tundra

Tundras are biomes characterised by cold climates and the absence of trees, but they have grasses, dwarf
shrubs, mosses, and lichens. They are located in the higher latitudes around the polar zones, such as the
Arctic Tundra, and at high altitudes, such as the Alti near Siberia. Tundra falls into three distinct categories
—Arctic, Antarctic and alpine—but they
share the common characteristic of low
temperatures. The tundra biome is the
most vulnerable to changes in climate
because plants and animals have little
tolerance for environmental changes that
reduce snow cover.

Aquatic biomes

Water covers about three-quarters of the Earth and can be classified as fresh water or marine. Freshwater
biomes contain very little salt and are found on land; these include lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Marine
biomes are the saltwater regions of the Earth and include oceans, coral reefs, and estuaries. Marine
environments are teeming with plant and
animal life and are a major food source.
Elements taken from the roots of
mangroves have been used in the
development of cancer remedies.
Compounds from other marine life have
also been used in cosmetics and
toothpaste.

Activity

Using information in the text and figures 2-6, create a table that lists the five major biomes and identifies its
key characteristics. The first has been started for you.

Major biome Characteristics

1. Forest  hot and wet tropical rainforests to temperate forests

 range of plant and animal life
 …. (continue on)
2.

3.

4.

5.