Biomes Day 2

ECOSYSTEMS

Biomes

Why don’t
cacti live in Pennsylvania?

Biomes

Biomes Basics

are large regions that
have similar plant and
animal life, geology, and climate.

are not always
easy to
categorize.

• With your group you all are to complete the biome mapping mini lab.

• You will be diagramming the regions that each biome falls in.

• YES you must use color! NO it is not optional!

​

​Biome Task (35 minutes)

Tundra

Biomes Basics

found below Arctic Circle

typically cold with little
precipitation

short growing season

permafrost

Plant Life

mosses, lichens, sedges,
dwarf shrubs

Animal Life

reindeer, snowy owl, arctic
hare, polar bear,

Shrubland

Biomes Basics

border deserts and
grasslands in west-coastal
areas

hot and dry in the summer,
cool and moist in the winter

frequent fires caused by
lightning

Plant Life

shrubs, grasses, and herbs

small, needle-like leaves
(reduces water loss
through transpiration)

Animal Life

rabbits, foxes, hawks,
quail, coyotes, deer

Rainforest

Biomes Basics

tropical and temperate
rainforests

tropical (near equator): hot
and humid year-round

more than 2,000 mm of rain
each year

great biodiversity

Plant Life

forest floor: rotting leaves

understory: saplings, ferns,
vines

canopy: large trees and
plants

Animal Life

jaguars, monkeys, birds,
snakes, rodents, frogs,
lizards

insects and arachnids
(spiders)

Grassland

Biomes Basics

found on all continents
except Antarctica

temperature varies based
on latitude

more rain than desert, less
rain than forests

Plant Life

grasses (height
depend on amount of
precipitation recieved)

Animal Life

grazing animals
(zebra, antelope,
bison)

predators (lions,
cheetahs, coyote,
mountain lions)

Coniferous Forest

Biomes Basics

long, cold and snowy
winters

well-defined seasons

dry winters, short and wet
summers

Plant Life

evergreen trees and
shrubs that produce
cones and needles

Animal Life

bears, wolves, owls

elk, squirrels

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Biomes Basics

four seasons

hot summers, cold winters

Plant Life

trees with wide, flat leaves

shrubs, grasses, flowers

Animal Life

bears, coyote, foxes

deer, raccoons, mice

Desert

Biomes Basics

very little rainfall

hot daytime, cold nighttime
temperatures

Plant Life

cactus, tumbleweed,
succulents

Animal Life

coyote, wolves

snakes, lizards

mice, rats, rabbits

owls, woodpeckers,
roadrunner

Ecosystem

What is an ECOSYSTEM?

a community of
living organisms
and the nonliving
components they
interact with, like
air, water, and soil

Multiple Choice

This biome has hot summers, cold winters, diverse grasses, trees, and shrubs, and is common in central US.

• savanna

• temperate grassland

• temperate forest

• tundra

Multiple Choice

Which biome consists of very low precipitation and can be hot or cold? 

• savanna

• tropical rainforest

• tundra

• desert

Multiple Choice

Which biome consists of warm weather year-round, a dry season and a rainy season, and diverse trees, shrubs, and grasses?

• tropical rainforest

• temperate grassland

• savanna

• desert

Multiple Choice

Which biome consists of long bitter winters, cool summers, and diverse coniferous trees?

• Taiga

• Tundra

• Temperate forest

• Grassland

Multiple Choice

Which biome consists of grasses, shrubs, cold temperatures, and the permafrost?

• Taiga

• Tundra

• Temperate forest

• Temperate grasslands

Multiple Choice

Which biome consists of diverse deciduous trees, warm summers, cool winters, and can be found in the eastern US?

• Taiga

• Temperate forest

• Tropical rainforest

• Temperate grassland

Multiple Choice

Which biome is warm year-round, receives LOTS of rain, and is rich in. biodiversity?

• Temperate forest

• Temperate grassland

• Boreal Forest

• Tropical rainforest

Factors In An Ecosystem

BIOTIC

ABIOTIC

any living part that

affects another

organism or shapes

an ecosystem

a non-living condition
or thing that affects

an ecosystem and
the organisms in it

Biotic

or Abiotic?

grass

cyanobacteria

algae

maple tree

earthworm

snail

spider

wren

lion

crab

fern

wind

soil

oxygen

sunlight

water

humidity

temperature