Environmental Science / Unit 3: Biomes and Biodiversity
3.1 Terrestrial Biomes
Notes
A biome is a large region with a characteristic climate, plants, and animals. Temperature and precipitation mostly decide the biome.
| Biome | Climate | Typical features |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical rainforest | Hot, very wet | Highest biodiversity, thin nutrient-poor soil |
| Desert | Very dry | Cacti, drought-adapted animals |
| Temperate deciduous forest | Moderate, four seasons | Trees lose leaves in fall |
| Grassland | Moderate rain, few trees | Fertile soil, grazers |
| Taiga (boreal forest) | Long cold winters | Conifers |
| Tundra | Very cold, low rain | Permafrost, no deep roots |
- Soil in tropical rainforests is thin because nutrients are held in living plants and recycle quickly.
- Example: a place with cold winters, short summers, and cone-bearing trees is taiga.
Practice
Which biome has permafrost and treeless land because of very cold temperatures?
Tundra has permanently frozen soil that prevents deep roots.
Which biome has the highest biodiversity on land?
Warm temperatures and heavy rainfall support huge numbers of species.
Which two factors mainly determine which terrestrial biome forms in an area?
Climate decides the vegetation that can grow.
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