Land Biomes

Scientists divide the Earth based on the distinctive pla

nt and animal species that live in a region. This regio
n also has a specific climate.
 There are many types of land biomes, but the ones
most commonly talked about are:
Desert Grassland Taiga

Forest Tundra
 The Desert

• The desert biome receives, on average, less

than 10 inches of rain per year.
• Animals have special adaptations to live here:
– Nocturnal
– Less fur
– Scales
• Plants have special adaptations to live here:
– Waxy skin
– Needles
– Shallow roots
Return to

– Thick stems land biomes

 The Grasslands
There are two types of grasslands, temperate and
tropical.

• A temperate grassland can

be found in North America
and is also known as a prairie.

• A tropical grassland can be

found in Africa and is also
known as a savanna.
Return to
land biomes
 The Grassland Duo

• The prairies have a mild climate that has about 10 to

25 inches of rain on average per year. Animals that
can be found here are prairie dogs and buffalo.

• The savannas are more hot and are typically warm all
year round. Animals here consist of zebra and lions.

Return to
land biomes
 The Tundra

• The tundra can be found further north of the

grasslands. This biome has low-growing plants as
there is a layer underneath the soil that is
permanently frozen. This is also known as
permafrost.

• Plants that live here are moss and low growing

shrubs.

Return to
land biomes
 The Taiga

• This biome is south of the tundra and

has evergreen forests. Animals from
the north migrate to here in the winter.

Return to
land biomes
 The Forests

• There are two main types of forests, the

tropical rain forests and the deciduous
forests.
• The deciduous forests, so named because
the leaves fall in autumn, have a temperate
climate.
• The tropical rain forest has more than 200 cm
of rainfall, on average, each year.

Return to
land biomes
 The Tropical Rainforest’s Flora and Fauna

• The tropical rainforest has the most animal and

plant species than in any other biome.
– Plants have adapted to live in an environment that
allows for a lot of light, little light and catching the
rain.
• Plant adaptations include long, broad leaves, growing tall,
and being able to grow with little light.
– Animals have adaptations that allow them to live in
an environment that has a many unusual plants and
animals.
• Such animal adaptations include: bright colors, poisonous
bodies, and long arms and tails.
Return to
land biomes
 The Deciduous Forest’s Flora and Fauna

• Since the temperature changes with the

seasons, plants and animals have
adapted to live in an ever changing
environment.
– Some animals hibernate during the winter
due to lack of food.
– Trees lose their leaves and plants die due
to the cold temperature.
Return to
land biomes
 Think About It
• If mankind were to use up all of the trees in the forest for
fuel, paper and other products, a terrible chain of events
would occur. The animals that once made the trees their
homes would either die out because they used the trees as
homes and food or they would move into another
environment and cause competition for food and shelter.
This in turn causes more problems, can you think of what
else can happen?
• Can you think of something that mankind can deplete from
a particular environment and what kinds of events would
follow?