Major Biomes of the World

Earth's Biomes

Let's check your knowledge. :)

Multiple Choice

Which of Earth's spheres is not correctly defined below?

• Hydrosphere- all of Earth's water; also includes the cryosphere.

• Atmosphere - our layers of "air" above us that protect us.

• Biosphere - all the living and nonliving things interacting.

• Lithosphere - the top most layer of Earth's crust and land forms.

Open Ended

What is a BIOME? Put it in your own words without any help. :)

A biome is...

• a distinct community of specific plants and animals that have common characteristics suited to their regional environment establish by climate trends.

Multiple Choice

We know that many factors contribute to climate, but the most important factors when defining biomes and studying them are...

• Precipitation and Humidity

• Plant Species and Sunlight

• Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Levels

• Precipitation and Temperature

• Animal Species and Proximity to Ice Sheets

Open Ended

How many land biomes can you name in one minute? List them in the space below.

There are 6 major terrestrial or land biomes

• desert

• grassland

• tropical rainforest

• deciduous or temperate forest

• taiga or boreal forest

• tundra

Multiple Choice

Which land biome is represented by the orange colored sections of this map?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• tropical rainforest

• taiga

• desert

Multiple Choice

The desert biome has ______________ and animal diversity because the extreme heat is hard for life to survive.

• very little plant life

• lots of diverse plant life

• moderate precipitation, tons of plants,

• no plants

Multiple Choice

Which description best describes a desert biome ?

• Near the equator, warm temperatures, and abundant rainfall.

• Dry environments that generally receive less than 10 in. of rainfall each year.

• A cold, dry, mostly treeless biome that encircles the Arctic Ocean

Adaptations are...

• unique characteristics that allow plants and animals to survive in their environment.

​

Examples of adaptations include (but aren't limited to): ​

• mimicry

• camouflage

• ​thorns/spikes

• antlers

• poison/venom

Multiple Choice

Which adaptation do plants in the desert NOT have? 

• spines
• bark
• thorns
• waxy stems

Organ Pipe Cactus in the Sonoran Desert

Multiple Choice

Which land biome is represented by the yellow colored sections of this map?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• tropical rainforest

• taiga

• desert

Multiple Select

There are TWO main classifications of grassland biomes, check any that are considered to be grasslands under these two main categories.

• Eurasian steppes

• North American prairies,

• Argentine pampas

• African savanna

• northern Australian savanna

Multiple Choice

The dominant or main plants in the grasslands are ___________.

• rainfall

• dormant

• grasses

• trees

Multiple Choice

The only continent where grasslands ARE NOT found is...

• Europe

• Antarctica

• Australia

• Asia

• South America

Multiple Select

Grasslands typically have two seasons. Which ones are they?

• harvest

• dormant

• spring

• growing

• winter

Buffalo Gap National Grassland, South Dakota

Multiple Choice

Which land biome is represented by the green colored sections of this map?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• tropical rainforest

• taiga

• desert

Multiple Choice

The average yearly precipitation in a tropical rain forest is...

• 76 cm to 150 cm

• 100 cm

• 0-25 cm

• 200 + cm

Multiple Choice

How can temperatures in the tropical rainforest be described?

• Very variable throughout the year

• Do not vary very much throughout the year

• Usually around 10°C

• They are based on four distinct seasons

Multiple Choice

What portion of the world's plant species are found in tropical rainforest?

• 1/3

• 1/2

• 2/3

• 1/10

• 1/8

Multiple Choice

How many layers are there in a rainforest?

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 6

forest floor

Costa Rica!

Multiple Choice

Which land biome is represented by the pink colored sections of this map?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• tropical rainforest

• taiga

• desert

Multiple Choice

The classification of tree that loses and regrows leaves each year.

• coniferous

• deciduous

• monocotyledon

• succulent

Hocking Hills State Park, Logan, Ohio

Multiple Choice

Which land biome is represented by the blue colored sections of this map?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• tropical rainforest

• taiga

• desert

Multiple Choice

The taiga biome is made of trees that are...

• adapted to lose their leaves in the fall when it gets colder.

• classified as evergreens because they don't shed their leaves/needles.

• a unique species of palm tree with durable leaves for cold temperatures.

• cactus like which store water during the dry months

Multiple Choice

The taiga's many bogs and lakes originated from

• landslides of mud

• volcanoes

• the last ice age

• many flash floods

Multiple Choice

One of the largest taiga regions is located in...

• South Africa

• Maine

• Siberia

• British Columbia

• Antarctica

Multiple Choice

Which of the following species are NOT common in the taiga biome?

• moose

• wolverine

• snakes/reptiles

• brown bears

• walleye & salmon (fish)

Yellowstone National Park,

Multiple Choice

Which land biome is represented by the violet colored sections of this map?

• grassland

• deciduous forest

• tundra

• taiga

• desert

Multiple Choice

Most of the tundra's plant species are __________.

• perennials (they come back every year)

• succulents

• large with extensive root systems

• annuals (they die at the end of the growing season)

• non existent...trick question.

Multiple Choice

One characteristic feature of the tundra is that only the surface thaws in the summer and refreezes in the winter, leaving a permanently frozen subsoil. This layer is known as...

• hoarfrost

• the midnight zone

• permafrost

• loam

• ultisol

Barrow, Alaska

Poll

Of the biomes listed below, which one do you find the most interesting?

• Deciduous and/or Taiga

  I like tress!

• Rain Forest

• Tundra...the cold sounds neat!

• Desert

• Grasslands - Prairie or Savanna

Poll

Our focus has been on the land biomes of our planet. Which of the AQUATIC (water) BIOMES, sounds the most interesting to you?

• MARINE/OCEAN

• FRESHWATER (rivers, streams, and many lakes)

• BRACKISH (estuaries, lagoons, marshes, & deltas)

Poll

Last opinion question...these two ARE NOT official biomes due to the small amount of space they affect, BUT they do have unique organisms that have adapted to their climate. Which one looks more interesting to you?