What are biomes?Biomes are regions of the world with similar climate, animals, and plants.

Earth’s Major Land Biomes

TundraTropical Rainforest

GrasslandsTaigaDesert

Deciduous Forest

Tundra

Weather:

Location:

Plants:

Animals:

TundraThe tundra biome covers about 1/5 of the earth.

The tundra biome is located in the arctic circle, whichis a circle that surrounds the north pole.

The tundra is the coldest biome. In the winter it can reachtemperatures of -50°F.

Many lichens, mosses, and small shrubs flourish in the arctic tundra.

Animals in the tundra have adaptations to help them survive in extreme cold temperatures. Some of the animals are polar bear, arctic fox, caribou,

and seals.

Rainforest

Weather:

Location:

Plants:

Animals:

Tropical RainforestTropical rainforest are located close to the equator.

One type of plant often found in a rainforest is an epiphyte. Plants often grow on trees to take advantage of the sunlight under the canopy.

Tropical rainforest are home to half the plant and animal species on Earth. Most animals have adaptations to help them live in trees, like monkeys.

Rainforest are wet and warm all year. Temperatures don’t change much between night and day. The average temperature in tropical rainforest ranges from 70 to 85°F.

Grasslands

Weather:

Location:

Plants:

Animals:

GrasslandsGrasslands are located all over from North America to Africa. North America calls their grasslands prairies.

The most important plant in the grasslands is grass! There are very few trees and shrubs.

The weather in the grasslands varies greatly. It is cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

Some animals that inhabit grasslands in North America are bison, antelope, birds, gophers, prairie dogs, coyotes, and insects. Animals that live in grasslands are usually herbivores.

Taiga

Weather:

Location:

Plants:

Animals:

TaigaTaiga is the largest land biome on earth located inNorth America, Europe, and Asia.The biome is

mostly located on the southern border of the arctic tundra.

Compared to other biomes, the taiga has less diversity in plant life. The most

common type of tree found in the taiga is the conifer, or cone-bearing tree.

Long, cold winters, and short, mild, wet summers are typical of this region.

Animals have thick coats of fur to survive the cold. Common animals are

deer, moose, and elk.

Desert

Weather:

Location:

Plants:

Animals:

DesertAbout one fifth of earth is covered in desert.

Antarctica is earth’s largest desert! The Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert.

Plants that live in deserts are great at storing water like the cacti! Desert plants have roots that are shallow and wide so

they can absorb rainfall quickly.

Deserts are both hot and cold. There is very little rainfall in deserts. Sometimes the rain evaporates

before it even hits the ground!

Deserts have snakes, insects, and lizards.Most of the animals are cold-

blooded. Most of the animals are small like the kit fox.

Deciduous Forest

Weather:

Location:

Plants:

Animals:

Deciduous ForestMost deciduous forests are located in the

eastern United States, Canada, Europe, China, Japan, and parts of Russia.

The deciduous forest has trees that lose their leaves before winter, and then grow

them back in spring.

Deciduous forest have four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring. The average temperature is 50°F. The deciduous forest gets the second most

amount of rain next to the rainforest.

Animals in the deciduous forest must be able to adapt to the changing

seasons. Some hibernate through the winter. A common animal is the black

bear.