Major Biomes

of the

World

A biome is a unique community of plants and animals brought together in a specific climate.

The Tropical Rainforest

Climate zone: Af
Unique features: Hot and wet all year Tall trees with little undergrowth (shade) Poor, highly leached soils Plants: A large variety of plant species (up to 500 different species of trees) Vines Epiphytes

Animals: (Esp. canopy dwelling) Birds Insects (ants, termites, butterflies, etc. Amphibians (frogs) Reptiles (snakes) Monkeys (tree) Sloth Large herbivores

Missing?

The Tropical Savanna

LA Co Museum of Nat H

LA Co Museum of Nat Hist

Climate zone: Aw
Unique features: Summer rain, winter dry Open landscape

Plants: Tall grass, a few scattered trees A lot of ground plants and tubers

Animals: Large herbivores dominant (antelope, zebra, rhino, giraffe, buffalo, etc.) Carnivores (lions, hyenas, leopards, etc.) Scavengers and vultures Omnivores (pigs) Ground dwelling monkeys Wild dogs Snakes and lizards Birds Insects

The Midlatitude Grassland

Climate zone: BS (steppe)

Unique features: Limited precipitation (around 10-14) Open landscape

Plants: Short grass, a few scattered shrubs Riparian vegetation along permanent streams

Animals: Large herbivores, but not as abundant as on the African savanna (bison, pronghorn antelope) Prairie dogs, rabbits Coyote Vultures, hawks, and other birds

Because of more limited plant materials the fauna is more limited.

The Desert

Climate zone: BW
Unique features: Limited precipitation (below 10) Open landscape, much bare ground

Plants: Special trees, shrubs and other plants adapted very limited water

Animals: (most nocturnal) Large animals rare Rodents, skunks, badgers Coyotes Birds Snakes and lizards Fewer insects

Midlatitude Forest

Climate zone: Cfa, Dfa,b

Unique features: A rich plant and animal biome but not as rich in species as the tropical rainforest Continually moist, but cooler, not promoting as much growth and diversity Plants: Deciduous trees dominate (100 species) (oak, maple, hickory, sycamore, etc.)

Animals: Deer, bear, fox, raccoon, beaver, squirrels, other small fur bearing mammals Ducks, woodpeckers, and many other birds Snakes, turtles Amphibians (frogs, toads) Many insects

Boreal Forest
(Taiga)

Climate zone: Dfc Unique features: Cold, short growing season Plants: (limited variety) Needle leaf (pine, fir, juniper, spruce) Broadleaf (alder, birch, and aspen) Animals: Moose, black bear, wolf, wolverine Rabbit , small fur bearing mammals Migratory birds

Tundra

Climate zone: ET Unique features: Three months above freezing (Permafrost) Plants: Mosses, lichens, small shrubby bushes, flowering herbaceous plants, grasses, and sedges

Animals: Caribou, reindeer, polar bear, musk oxen, wolves, arctic fox, rabbits, lemmings Sea mammals (seals, walrus) Migratory birds (summer only) Abundant black flies and mosquitoes (summer only)

END