Biomes

Morgan Kaniszewski
Tropical Rainforests
● Very humid (because of all of the rainfall)
● About 200 cm of rainfall per year
● Climate is found near the equator
● Many trees
● A lot of the rainfall that rains in the rainforest never actually reach the ground
● Average temperature of Brazil's rainforest is 80 degrees Fahrenheit
● The plants have adapted to the very little sunlight they are given and the high amount
of rainfall.
● The leaves of trees have adapted to cope with high amounts of rainfall (drip tip on the
end of leaves)
● Mosses and ferns grow rapidly because of the climate
● Small animals like monkeys, birds, and snakes are common. These animals have
adapted to using the tall trees as hiding places from predators and also as a source of
food.
● Humans have impacted this biome by deforestation
Temperate Deciduous Forests

● Deciduous biomes are located primarily in the eastern half of the United States,
Canada, Europe, parts of Russia, China, and Japan
● The average amount of rainfall is 30-60 inches per year
● Average temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit (Tawas Michigan)
● Precipitation is spread throughout the year, but is usually frozen during the winter
months, so it is unavailable to animals
● Animals must adapt to cold winters and hot summers
● Leaves generally fall off in the fall, leaving animals with less cover to hide themselves
from predators.
● Black Bears hibernate during the winter seasons to avoid the cold.
● Humans have impacted this biome by cutting down the trees and using them for
houses, ships, other purposes
Taigas

● Some animals that live in this biome hibernate to avoid the cold of the winter months,
other fly south temporarily if they can to warmer areas.
● Temperature is in the summers can get as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit with a low of
20 degrees.
● In the winter, temperatures can get as low as -50 degrees fahrenheit and a high of 30
degrees fahrenheit.
● Animals, like moose have adapted the the harsh temperatures by having a thick layer
of fur for insulation during the coldest parts of the year.
● Trees like birches and aspens have flexible limbs that can bend beneath the snow
without breaking.
● Largest biome in the world
● The average yearly precipitation in Russia is 500mm
● Humans have impacted this biome by using herbicides and pesticides that hurt the
wildlife, and also deforestation caused by chopping down trees,
Savannas

● Not enough rainfall to support trees

● Winters can get as low as 70 degrees Fahrenheit and can have very little to no rainfall
● Summers are very humid with an average of 15-25 inches of rain.
● The capybara and marsh deer have adapted themselves to a semi aquatic life because
of the high rainfall during the summers.
● Many plants in this biome, like Gum Trees have storage organs like bulbs and corms for
making it through the dry winter season
● The Black Mamba stays under rocks and shrubs in order to avoid the sunlight
● Humans impact this biome by being in the grasslands of the savanna which increases
the chance of fires
Chaparrals

● Very hot and dry (Can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit) so that droughts and fires are
very common
● Very mild winters that average 50 degrees fahrenheit
● The average rainfall is 10 to 17 inches a year
● Most plants like Poison Oak, Yucca Wiple, and other shrubs/trees/cacti, have adapted
to the climate by having small, hard leaves which hold moisture
● The animals like coyotes, jack rabbits, and mule deer, are mainly grassland and desert
types that have adapted to the hot dry weather
● Humans have impacted this biome by human population increasing. Especially in
California, humans have destroyed many trees, brush, and grasses which are home to
many bird and animal species in order to create buildings and other structures
Deserts

● All months have an average temperature of over 64 degrees Fahrenheit

● About one inch of rain falls per year
● Succulent plants, like Barrel Cactus has roots that are spread out to collect water and
when it does rain, it stores water in its body for later use
● The Armadillo Lizard has nostrils that are formed into little tubes which help them
smell for food and predators. Many other animals are nocturnal to avoid the sunlight
and heat.
● Humans have impacted this biome by drilling into the ground for fossil fuels and also
polluting the air
Tundras

● The main seasons are winter and summer

● The average annual temperature is -18 degrees Fahrenheit and in the summer
temperatures can get up to 54 degrees Fahrenheit
● Only about 6-10 inches of precipitation (mostly snow) fall each year
● In this biome, Mosquitoes can keep themselves from freezing by replacing the water in
their bodies with a chemical called glycerol
● Plants like flowering plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, and grasses have adapted to the
tundra by developing the ability to grow under a layer of snow, to carry out
photosynthesis in extremely cold temperatures, and for flowering plants to produce
flowers quickly once summer starts
● Humans have impacted this biome by creating oil pipelines that have disrupted the
migration paths of many animals, also human settlement in the region has polluted the
air
Sources

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_climate_page.htm

http://ths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/deciduous3/deciduous3.html

https://sciencing.com/taiga-plant-adaptation-7895031.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/desert_climate_page.htm