Biome Characteristics
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Biome characteristics
biome Definition: A major ecological community that includes ecosystems with similar climates and organisms Context: Biomes are based on climate, so similar ones are found in different parts of the world.
Tropical forests are found near the equator in Central and South America, parts of Africa and Asia. They are hot and humid and contain a huge variety of plants and animals - around half of all the world's species. The trees are mostly hardwood. The climate is called equatorial. tropical forest Definition: A biome characterized by a hot, wet climate found near the equator Context: Some tropical forests are rain forests, where it rains much of the time; others have a wet and a dry season. Savannah or tropical grasslands are hot and dry, dominated by grass, scruband occasional trees. They have two distinct seasons - a dry season when much of the vegetation dies back, and a rainy season when it grows rapidly. They are found in central Africa (Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania), northern Australia and central South America (Venezuela and Brazil). savanna Definition: A biome in tropical latitudes characterized by a long, dry season and grasses and shrubs Context: Africa has the world's largest savannas, where herds of wildebeest, elephants, and zebras live. Desert is the driest and hottest of areas. The world's largest desert is the Sahara in North Africa. Areas of scrub land that border the desert are calleddesert scrub. desert Definition: The driest biome on Earth; arid land with usually sparse vegetation and less than 10 inches of sporadic rainfall annually Context: Although little rain falls in a desert, a wide array of plants and animals thrive there. Mediterranean climates are not too hot or cold. They are found around the Mediterranean Sea, near Cape Town in South Africa and Melbourne in Australia.
Temperate grasslands are dominated by grass and trees and large bushes are scarce. They have a temperate continental climate - the weather is mild with moderate rainfall. Grasslands include the Puszta in Hungary, the Veldt in South Africa, the Pampas in Argentina and the Prairies in the USA. grasslands Definition: A biome in a temperate climate, including the American Midwest, the pampas in Central South America, and the steppes in central Eurasia Context: Antelope, bison, and wolves are among the animals that live in grasslands. Temperate deciduous forests contain trees that lose their leaves and are found across Europe and USA. The weather is mild and wet. The climate is called temperate maritime. deciduous forest Definition: A biome in eastern North America, Asia, Australia, and Western Europe characterized by moist, temperate climates Context: A deciduous forest includes trees such as elm, maple, and oak that have leaves that change color in autumn and fall off every winter. Coniferous forests, containing evergreen trees, are found in Scandinavia, Russia and Canada. They have a cool climate with moderate rainfall called cool temperate. Mountain areas can be very cold at night and during winter. The growing season is short and at higher levels trees will not grow. taiga Definition: A biome just south of the tundra characterized by cold winters, a short growing season, and forests of coniferous trees Context: The area that separates the tundra from the taiga is known as the tree line. Tundra surrounds the North and South poles. They have an extremely cold climate, with limited numbers of plants and animals able to survive there. tundra Definition: A biome in the northernmost parts of world characterized by long winters and short summers Context: The tundra has permafrost, a hardened layer underneath the topsoil that remains frozen throughout the year.
biome Definition: A major ecological community that includes ecosystems with similar climates and organisms Context: Biomes are based on climate, so similar ones are found in different parts of the world.
Tropical forests are found near the equator in Central and South America, parts of Africa and Asia. They are hot and humid and contain a huge variety of plants and animals - around half of all the world's species. The trees are mostly hardwood. The climate is called equatorial. tropical forest Definition: A biome characterized by a hot, wet climate found near the equator Context: Some tropical forests are rain forests, where it rains much of the time; others have a wet and a dry season. Savannah or tropical grasslands are hot and dry, dominated by grass, scruband occasional trees. They have two distinct seasons - a dry season when much of the vegetation dies back, and a rainy season when it grows rapidly. They are found in central Africa (Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania), northern Australia and central South America (Venezuela and Brazil). savanna Definition: A biome in tropical latitudes characterized by a long, dry season and grasses and shrubs Context: Africa has the world's largest savannas, where herds of wildebeest, elephants, and zebras live. Desert is the driest and hottest of areas. The world's largest desert is the Sahara in North Africa. Areas of scrub land that border the desert are calleddesert scrub. desert Definition: The driest biome on Earth; arid land with usually sparse vegetation and less than 10 inches of sporadic rainfall annually Context: Although little rain falls in a desert, a wide array of plants and animals thrive there. Mediterranean climates are not too hot or cold. They are found around the Mediterranean Sea, near Cape Town in South Africa and Melbourne in Australia.
Temperate grasslands are dominated by grass and trees and large bushes are scarce. They have a temperate continental climate - the weather is mild with moderate rainfall. Grasslands include the Puszta in Hungary, the Veldt in South Africa, the Pampas in Argentina and the Prairies in the USA. grasslands Definition: A biome in a temperate climate, including the American Midwest, the pampas in Central South America, and the steppes in central Eurasia Context: Antelope, bison, and wolves are among the animals that live in grasslands. Temperate deciduous forests contain trees that lose their leaves and are found across Europe and USA. The weather is mild and wet. The climate is called temperate maritime. deciduous forest Definition: A biome in eastern North America, Asia, Australia, and Western Europe characterized by moist, temperate climates Context: A deciduous forest includes trees such as elm, maple, and oak that have leaves that change color in autumn and fall off every winter. Coniferous forests, containing evergreen trees, are found in Scandinavia, Russia and Canada. They have a cool climate with moderate rainfall called cool temperate. Mountain areas can be very cold at night and during winter. The growing season is short and at higher levels trees will not grow. taiga Definition: A biome just south of the tundra characterized by cold winters, a short growing season, and forests of coniferous trees Context: The area that separates the tundra from the taiga is known as the tree line. Tundra surrounds the North and South poles. They have an extremely cold climate, with limited numbers of plants and animals able to survive there. tundra Definition: A biome in the northernmost parts of world characterized by long winters and short summers Context: The tundra has permafrost, a hardened layer underneath the topsoil that remains frozen throughout the year.
