Biomes Study

Description: Tundra is found in the coldest region of the world. This biome is the most vulnerable to global warming because its plants and animals do not have much tolerance for environmental changes. Location: western China, northern India, northern Russia, Alaska, northern Canada, southern Greenland and western South America. Climate: Tundra climate is cold, dry and windy with minimal rain. This biome is covered in snow for most of the year excluding the summer months. The average precipitation per season is 4.5 inches (11.43 cm). The short summer season lasts 6 to 10 weeks and during this time the weather never reaches any warmer than 7.2 or 10 degrees. In the winter months, temperatures do not reach above -6.7 degrees and average to around -28.9 and -34.4 degrees. Fauna & Flora: polar bear, white wolves, arctic fox, mosquitos, grey falcons, arctic hare, snowy owl, must ox, bearberry, diamond leaf, willow, arctic moss, labrador tea and caribou moss.

Description: Deserts are places of temperature extremes, with sparse vegetation and mostly nocturnal animals. Not all deserts are hot, some are cold deserts like Antarctica and the Gobi Desert in central Asia. 300 million people live in desert regions around the world. Location: central Australia, southern coast of South America, southern and western USA, northern Africa, Saudi Arabia, south-west Asia. Climate: Deserts are places of low rainfall, generally being hot during the day and cold at night. Rain will often evaporate before hitting the ground or falling in short, heavy bursts. Fauna & Flora: armadillo, rattlesnake, camel, eagle, fly, gecko, meerkat, hawk, tumbleweed, cacti, Mexican poppies, weathered trees and wildflowers.

Description: Most tropical rainforests are found near or close to the equator, in areas of "tropical rainforest climate" in which there is no dry season. Over 50 per cent of all known plant and animal species are found in this biome. Location: northern South America, southern North America, central Africa, northern Australia, southern Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Climate: In tropical rainforests, all months have an average of 60mm of precipitation. "True" tropical rainforests have an annual rainfall of 800cm or greater, with an annual temperature more than 24 degrees. Fauna & Flora: monkeys, lizards, birds, snakes, ants, beetles, rodents, frogs, orchids, bromeliads, epiphytes, lianas and fruit trees.

Description: Grasslads are dominated by grass, either having small, widely spaced trees or none at all. Over 1 billion people live in grasslands around the world. Grasslands can be found naturally on all continents excluding Antarctica. Location: southern Africa, coastal areas of Australia, northern and eastern South America, central North America, India, central Asia and southern Europe. Climate: Grasslands can occur in colder and hotter climatic conditions. Average yearly temperatures can range between -5 degrees and 20 degrees, though it depends on the area. Annual precipitation ranges from 600mm to 1,500mm. Flora & Fauna: lions, prairie dog, zebras, antelopes, badger, bumble bee, bobcat, coyote, purple coneflower, stinging nettle, big blue stream grass, buffalo grass and milkweed.

Description: the boreal forest biome (also known as the taiga forest biome) can be found in a nearly continuous belt across Eurasia and North America. Most of the area boreal forests cover were formerly glaciated, with large sections having permanent permafrost. Location: northern North America, northern Europe and southern Russia. Climate: the boreal forest biome has a very cold climate, averaging annual temperatures from -5 to 5 degrees though it varies between locations. This biome has long severe winters and short summers. Flora & Fauna: bobcat, elk, porcupine, amur tigers (Siberian tigers), snowshoe hare, wolf, muskrat, black bear, pine cones, fir, lichen, needleleaf and coniferous trees.

Tundra: the melting of the permafrost is a threat to this biome. It's a result of global warming and could radically change the landscape and what species are able to live there. Oil spills are another threat that can kill the wildlife and significantly damage the biome's ecosystems. The tundra biome has been used, throughout history, as a subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering of plants. Desert: global warming is a threat as it increases drought, which dries up waterholes and makes it harder for organisms to live there. Grazing animals can also be a threat as they can destroy many desert plants and animals. This biome contains substantial mineral resources which people extract and use. Tropical Rainforest: logging is a threat as it damages the environment and destroys animal's homes. Power plants and other industries are a threat too as they cut and burn trees to generate electricity. This biome feeds our global food supply. (Use)

Grassland: development of urban areas is a threat to this biome as it is increasingly cutting into grassland habitats. Continued global warming is another threat as it could turn current marginal grasslands into deserts as rainfall patterns change. Grassland soil is used for farming as the soil is rich and perfect for this. Boreal Forest: climate change is a threat as it partial thaws the permafrost which damages the environment. Clearcutting (logging) is another threat as it destroys organism's habitats as well as making it harder for new trees to grow. This biome contains useful plants that can be used for medicine.