BIOME FACT SHEET - cusd80.com

BIOME FACT SHEET Tundra

Lies south of the ice caps of the arctic and extend across North America, Europe and Siberia. Characterized by a low average temperature and a short growing season (60 days), ground completely frozen during the winters. During the growing season only the top layer thaws, lower layers remain permanently frozen and are referred to as permafrost. Average precipitation is about 10 to 12 cm per year. Vegetation is limited to lichens, mosses, grasses, sedges and shrubs. Animals include reindeer, musk oxen, caribou, wolves, arctic hares, arctic foxes, lemmings, and snowy owls.

Interesting Tundra Biome Facts:

The word tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia which means treeless land.

Animal populations fluctuate throughout the seasons in the tundra biome. Some animals opt to hibernate during the winter and others migrate to warmer temperatures.

Because of the extreme temperatures, most organisms get their nutrients from the decaying of dead organic material.

Although some parts of inhabited areas such as in Alaska and Canada are considered a part of the tundra biome, the majority of the tundra have not been visited by most people because of the harsh conditions.

The tundra biome is considered a carbon dioxide sink because it stores more carbon dioxide than it gives off.

There are very few trees that grow in the tundra biome. Under the snow and ice, there is a thick layer of soil that remains frozen which does not allow deep rooted plants such as trees to grow.

The tundra biome has about 400 varieties of flowers but only 48 different animals.

The tundra biome covers about 20% of the Earth.

Although Antarctica is not located in the Arctic Circle, it is considered to be a part of the tundra biome because of its very harsh temperatures.

The tundra biome is the driest place on Earth. Rainfall averages ten inches a year.

During the summer, it is daylight 24 hours a day.

There are a lot of oil mines and oil rigs in the tundra biome. The building of such developments often disturbs the sensitive nature of the environment.

The largest animal that lives in the tundra biome is the polar bear. They thrive on fatty meats to give them enough energy to live through the harsh winters.

There are two types of tundra - arctic tundra and alpine tundra. The arctic tundra

is located within the Arctic Circle while the alpine tundra is the area high in the mountains above trees.

The plants that grow in the tundra biome often grow in clusters to help protect themselves from the severe winter winds.

The Most Remarkable and Captivating Tundras in the World

1.) Scandinavian Tundra This is the Scandinavian Montane Birch forests and grasslands ecoregion, a Palearctic eco-region of the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome, located in the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Scandinavian Tundra is one of the terrestrial eco-regions determined and defined by the World Wildlife Fund. 2.) Alpine Tundra This captivating landscape is an example of Alpine tundra. It is located in the Swiss Alps. This type of tundra that does not contain trees because it is at high altitude. 3.) Aleutian Islands The Aleutian Islands are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands, forming part of the Aleutian Arc in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Nearly all the archipelago is part of Alaska and usually considered as being in the "Alaskan Bush". 4.) Arctic Coastal Tundra Another beautiful example of tundra is the Arctic Coastal Tundra. This eco-region is located in the far north of North America. The region is an important breeding ground for a great deal of wildlife. 5.) Greenland Tundra Greenland Tundra is located in Sydkapp in Scoresby Sund, East Greenland. The skull on the foreground belongs to Musk Ox. The vegetation on the area is mostly Salix glauca. 6.) Alaska Tundra The Alaska Tundra is a bizarre example of tundra. It is treeless tundra in Alaska, USA.

Environmental Concerns

The melting of the permafrost as a result of global warming could radically change the landscape and what species are able to live there.

Ozone depletion at the North and South Poles means stronger ultraviolet rays that will harm the tundra.

Air pollution can cause smog clouds that contaminate lichen, a significant food source for many animals.

Exploration of oil, gas, and minerals and construction of pipelines and roads can cause physical disturbances and habitat fragmentation.

Oil spills can kill wildlife and significantly damage tundra ecosystems. Buildings and roads put heat and pressure on the permafrost, causing it to melt. Invasive species push aside native vegetation and reduce diversity of plant cover.

Taiga Extends across North America, Europe and Asia as a belt of evergreen forests below the tundra. Has a cold winter during which the ground is covered by deep snow. Longer growing season (120 days) than the tundra. Summer days are warmer and ground thaws completely. Average precipitation is between 50 and 100 cm per year. Vegetation is pines, firs, spruce and some deciduous trees such as willow and birch. Animals include moose, wolves, bears, lynx, deer, elk, wolverine, martens, snowshoe hare, porcupine, rodents, birds and insects.

Interesting Taiga Biome Facts:

Fires are very common in the taiga biome. These fires are necessary to help rid the area of old and sick trees.

There is not much variety in plants. Majority of the plants are conifer trees which is why the taiga is referred to as the coniferous forest.

The conifer trees in the taiga biome are referred to as evergreen. This means they remain green all year round and never drop their leaves.

Because evergreen trees do not drop leaves, there is nothing to keep the soil in the taiga full of nutrients. This is the reason why there is not much variety in the vegetation.

Softwood timber is used to make paper. Majority of softwood timber comes from the taiga biome.

Although two major cities, Toronto and Moscow, are located in the taiga biome, most of this biome is uninhabited by people.

The taiga biome is very cold during the winter. Temperatures can reach as low as -60° F.

For six months out of the year, the temperature in the taiga biome is below freezing.

Plants can only grow during the summer when temperatures are favorable. This growing season only lasts about three months.

Many animals of the taiga biome have to migrate to warmer areas or hibernate during the long, cold winters.

Animals of the taiga have many specialized adaptions including lots of thick fur or feathers and the ability to change colors during different seasons.

Scientists believe that the taiga biome was completely covered by glaciers many years ago.

The taiga forests are endangered due to logging and mining by humans. When trees are cut down in the taiga, it takes a very long time to restore itself because

of the very short growing season.

Although there are not many animals in the taiga biome, it inhabits millions of insects. Birds migrate there to feed off these insects every year.

The temperature change in the taiga is extreme. It is either summer (hot) or winter (cold). The spring and fall are too short to notice.

1.) White Spruce Taiga

The Picea Glauca Taiga is located in Denali Highway, Alaska in the United States. Alaska Range is visible in the background.

2.) Russian Taiga

The Russian Taiga is located in the river valley near Verkhoyansk, Russia. The tree species in this forested area are among the sturdiest in the world because at 67°N these trees must deal with the coldest winter temperatures in the northern hemisphere.

Taigas are safe place for scientific explorations and studies such as the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, a Russian spaceport which is situated in the taiga.

3.) Yukon Taiga

Yukon Taiga is located in Yukon, Canada. Several of the longest rivers in the world go through the taiga such as Lena, Mackenzie, Ob and Yenisei.

4.) Scandinavian and Russian Taiga

The Scandinavian and Russian Taiga is an ecoregion is situated in Northern Europe between tundra in the north and temperate mixed forests in the south and occupies about 2,156,900 km² in Finland, Norway and Sweden and the northern part of European Russia. It is the largest eco-region in Europe.

5.) East Siberian Taiga

The East Siberian Taiga eco-region is a very large bio-geographic region located in eastern Russia. The above photo depicts the Taiga of Far East near Imeni Poliny Osipenko village, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia.

6.) Sweden Taiga

Sweden is one of the world's most beautiful country. The Sweden Taiga is characterized by widespread bogs and peatland. The taiga is also home to a unique flora and contains

huge deposits of carbon. The above picture was taken in a peat bog in Dalartna, Sweden.

7.) Central Canadian Shield Forests

The Central Canadian Shield Forests are a taiga eco-region of Canada that consists of rolling hills, lakes, bogs and rocky outcrops. The area has a cool climate with summer temperatures averaging around 13°C dropping to a very cold -17°C in winter.

Environmental concerns Taiga ecosystems are threatened by direct human activity and climate change. Animals of the taiga, such as foxes or bears, have always been hunted. Their warm fur and tough skin, turned into leather, have helped people survive in harsh climates for thousands of years. The most serious threat to taigas does not come from hunting activity, however. Civilization is dependent on sturdy buildings for homes, industry, and schools. The trees of the taiga are cut down for lumber projects, as well as paper, cardboard, and other supplies. The export of wood and paper products is one of the most economically important industries in Canada, for instance.

Clearcutting is the most popular type of logging in taigas. Clearcutting involves cutting down all the trees in a designated area. This destroys habitats for many organisms that live in and around the trees, and makes it difficult for new trees to grow. Clearcutting also increases the risk of erosion and flooding in the taiga. Without a root system to anchor it, a taiga’s soil can be blown away by wind or worn away by rain or snow. This exposes the bedrock and permafrost beneath the taiga, which does not support many forms of life. Climate change puts taigas in danger in different ways. Warming climate contributes to a partial thawing of the permafrost. Since this water has no place to drain, more area of the taiga is taken over by muskegs. Few trees take root. Warming temperature also changes animal habitats. It pushes native species out and attracts non-native species. Animals such as the Siberian tiger are not adapted to warm weather. Its coat is too heavy, and it stores too much body fat to thrive in a temperate habitat. Non-native insects such as the bark beetle can infest trees such as spruce. Millions of these insects bore into the bark of trees, laying eggs. The infested trees die. Bark beetle infestations can kill entire forests and thousands of hectares of taiga.

Temperate Deciduous Forest Extends across North America and Europe and lies below the taiga. Summers are usually hot and humid and the winters are cold. Precipitation is between 75 and 150 cm per year. Vegetation includes oak, maple, hickory, beech, chestnut, birch (all trees), shrubs, herbaceous plants, ferns and mosses. Animals include wolves, gray foxes, bobcats, deer, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, birds and insects.

Interesting Temperate Deciduous Forest Biome Facts:

The temperate deciduous forest biome is subdivided onto five zones. The zone levels are dependent upon the height of the trees.

The temperate deciduous forest gets its name because the temperatures are temperate meaning they are not extreme.

Temperate deciduous forests receive 30 - 60 inches of rain each year and are ranked second only to the rainforest as the rainiest biome.

Although the average temperature is 50° F, the winter typically sees temperatures below freezing.

The trees of the temperate deciduous forest are deciduous of course. Their leaves change color with the season and eventually fall to the ground during winter.

The four seasons are easily recognizable and each lasts about 3 months.

Because there are deciduous trees here, the soil is very fertile and rich with nutrients.

Many of the trees in the temperate deciduous forest contain sap which they use to keep their roots from freezing during the winter.

Some insects of the temperate deciduous biome cannot survive winter so they lay eggs before they die. These eggs can survive winter and hatch once spring arrives.

Black bears, wolves, and coyotes are very common animals that live in the temperate deciduous forest biome.

Most animals in this biome are camouflaged with the ground so they blend in and can escape predators.

Animals of this biome have to be extremely adaptive to deal with the ever changing seasons.

The trees provide shelter, food, and also water for animals of this biome.

The growing season of the temperate deciduous forest lasts about six month.

The leaves of deciduous trees change color in the fall because the plant or tree stops producing chlorophyll which is what gives them their green color.

Some famous deciduous forest locations are:

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park (USA) Northeast China Plain (China) The Manchurian mixed forest (Asia) The European Temperate Deciduous Broadleaf Forest (Europe)

Environmental Problems in Temperate Deciduous Forests People often marvel at the radiant beauty of deciduous trees that glow with vibrant fall colors. Deciduous forests in temperate climates consist of maples, elms oaks, and other trees that lose their leaves when seasons change. Temperate climates have cold winters, hot summers and average temperatures of 10 Celsius (50 Fahrenheit). These forests can feel the impact of natural forces and human activity that influence the environment in negative ways. The Cost of Acquiring Lumber If you cut down trees for a living, you may create conditions that have mild to devastating effects on life in an ecosystem. As NASA reports, "In addition to the species lost when an area is totally deforested, the plants and animals in the fragments of forest that remain also become increasingly vulnerable, sometimes even committed, to extinction." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Western Ecology Division in Corvallis Oregon reports that slowing deforestation can also help sequester or conserve large amounts of carbon that can lead to environmental warming. Fire and Pathogen Threats Parasites and pathogens can have large scale effects on life forms of all types including deciduous forests. For example, the EPA reports that a chestnut blight once "completely

restructured North American temperate deciduous forests." Pathogens may also cause the loss of some or all members in a native species. Wildlife recreation and other human activities near forests may lead to fire which could cause pathogen levels in forests to increase. Climate Change Changes Things Thirty three percent of the country's land consists of forests. Climate change affects the growth of those forests and can impact their productivity. Warming from higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels can make growing seasons longer and cause some areas to experience more droughts. Warmer weather may also change the rate at which insect infestations, and cause destructive storms occur. While some forests may recover from these types of problems others may not. Wild fires resulting from warmer weather are also a threat, especially during drought. Deciduous Forest Facts In addition to deforestation and overgrazing, agricultural practices have deciduous forests exist around the world. They were also some of the first forests that people converted to agricultural use. Broad leaves on trees in temperate deciduous forests help provide shade for shrubs and other plants on the ground. While a wide variety of animals and birds found homes in these forests, their populations dwindle as humans continue to remove the trees and use the land for other purposes.

Grasslands Found in the interiors of North America, Asia, South America and Africa and are also called prairies. Average precipitation is between 25 and 75 cm per year. Dominant vegetation includes grasses and wildflowers, due to the low rainfall trees do not exist within this biome. Soil is often deep and rich and this biome has become some of the most productive farmland on earth. Animals include coyotes, badgers, rattlesnakes, prairie dogs, jackrabbits and ground squirrels. In Africa the grasslands are populated by zebras, giraffes, gazelles and other large grazing animals. African grasslands are often referred to as Savannahs.

Interesting Grassland Biome Facts:

Grasslands are also known as prairies, pampas, steppes, and savannas.

Grassland biomes are normally situated between a forest and a desert. In fact, grasslands surround every desert in Asia.

Twenty-five percent of the Earth is covered by the grassland biome.

There is a grassland biome on each continent with the exception of Antarctica.

Tropical and temperate are the two kinds of grasslands. Tropical grasslands experience warm weather all year long while temperate grasslands are warm part of the year and very cold during the other part.

Grasslands are perfect for cropping and pasturing because its soil runs deep and is extremely fertile.

Periodic fires, whether they are human induced or occur spontaneously, are very important to the grassland to ensure that invasive plants do not take over.

Tropical grassland biomes are located in the Southern Hemisphere while temperate grassland biomes are located in the Northern Hemisphere.

The grasses in the tropical grassland biome tend to be taller than that of the temperate because of the constant warm weather and additional rainfall it receives.

Since grassland biomes have rich soil, much of them are used for farming. There is only 2% of the original grassland left in North America.

There are two seasons in the temperate grassland: the growing season and the dormant season. Plants do not grow during the dormant season because the climate is too cold during that time.

Animals that you can expect to find in a grassland biome are zebras, lions, wolves, prairie dogs, and foxes. The animal diversity is dependent upon the location of the biome.

Large animals called bison previously ruled the grassland biome and roamed by the millions. During the 1800s, settlers begin to slaughter them for various

reasons.

Since so much of the grassland biome has been utilized for farmland, the United States has made efforts to restore the grassland by planting grasses in areas previously used for farming.

The grasslands in the United States are known as prairies and are considered to be temperate grasslands.

Major regional expressions:

North America: the prairies of the Central Lowlands and High Plains of the US and Canada. The Palouse Prairie of eastern Washington state, the California grasslands, and the desert grasslands of the Southwest are also temperate grasslands.

Eurasia: the steppes from Ukraine eastward through Russia and Mongolia.

South America: the pampas of Argentina, Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil

Africa: the veld in the Republic of South Africa

Grassland Threats Much of Earth's grassland has been lost to agricultural development. Grassland soil is rich, and almost anything can be grown there. But poor agricultural practices can ruin soil and turn grassland into lifeless, barren spaces. If crops are not rotated properly, nutrients in the soil are stripped out, and nothing can be grown for several years. Grazing livestock destroy grassland as well. Only 5 percent of the original prairie in the United States remains. This can have a wider-reaching impact on the

ecosystem as a whole: Compared to grassland, cropland provides few or no resources for breeding birds. Threats

Continued global warming could turn current marginal grasslands into deserts as rainfall patterns change.

Land once incompatible with row-crop agriculture, but which provided a living to ranching families and habitat for prairie wildlife, is being converted to row crops.

Development of urban areas is increasingly cutting into grassland habitat. Drought-hardy, cold-resistant, and herbicide-tolerant varieties of soybeans,

wheat, and corn allow crops to expand into native grassland. Where only one crop is grown, pests and disease can spread easily, creating the

need for potentially toxic pesticides.

Deserts Occur in regions that are too dry to support grasses with sandy and poor soil. Rainfall is usually less than 25 cm per year. In North America a desert extends from Mexico to the eastern part of Washington. Huge areas of desert are also found in South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. Temperatures vary from very hot during the day and may drop as much as 30 degrees Celsius at nighttime. Vegetation has special adaptations for conserving water and is often referred to as succulents. These plants include cacti, yucca, mesquite, sagebrush and creosote bush. Animals include fennec, snakes, lizards, spiders and insects.

Interesting Desert Biome Facts:

Although the daytime temperatures of the desert biome are very hot, they can get very cold at night.

The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the desert biome. It covers over 300 million square miles.

The vegetation does not grow very tall so the desert biome can only accommodate small animals, rodents, and reptiles. These animals can escape the harsh Sun by hiding under small scrubs or hiding in burrows.

Many desert animals tend to be nocturnal, sleeping during the day and coming out at night when the temperatures are more tolerable.

Because there is hardly any standing water in the desert biome, animals either store water in their bodies or get their water needs met by the foods they eat.

Dust storms occur when the wind picks up dust from the surface. These storms can be up to 1 mile high and travel over a hundred miles.

The plants that are able to grow in the desert biome store water in their stem. They normally grow spaced out so that their roots can extend and find water.

Some deserts are so hot that when it rains, the water evaporates in the air before ever hitting the ground.

There are some deserts in Antarctica that are known as cold deserts. They are considered deserts because of the small amount of vegetation that grows there.

The driest desert on Earth receives on average 1 centimeter of rainfall every 5 to 20 years.

Because body fat retains heat, most desert animals have an adaptation that allows them to store all their body fat in one area of their body. The camel stores all its body fat in its hump.

Cacti have many adaptions to survive in the desert. Their spines protect them from being eaten by animals and their waxy outer covering keeps moisture from escaping.

Cold deserts (like in Antarctica) have very little plants and grasses. The ones they

do have only grow during the summer.

The desert biome is actually a big tourist attraction. People enjoy rock climbing, dirt biking, and hiking in the desert.

The desert biome can be found on every continent except Europe.

Examples of Deserts

• North America: North American Desert

• South America: Atacama, Patagonian

• Africa: Sahara, Arabian, Namib, Kalahari

• Asia: Turkestan, Takla Makan, Gobi, Iranian, Indian

• Australia: Australian

Environmental Problems

The climate is very hot and dry, which makes it very hard for people, plants, and animals to live here. Because water is scarce, any form of life is challenged, which makes these organisms have to adapt to their home. This also applies to the small population of people living in the desert as well. Humans have a huge effect on these biomes. Other than pollution being spread around the world, industries are constantly digging for oil and fossil fuels because of its high demand. Even though this may help other parts of the world, it is destroying the deserts and disrupting the desert biomes. These actions can lead to extinction and it can endanger species. People who live in deserts (specifically the Sahara) have adapted to a

nomadic lifestyle, but when they travel with their animals, they are constantly pushing the boundaries of the desert further and further, making it larger. This can affect the climate of the whole world, making it hotter and drier overall. Some reasons for extinction of animals in this biome are listed below:

"Global warming is increasing the incidence of drought, which dries up water holes.

Higher temperatures may produce an increasing number of wildfires that alter desert landscapes by eliminating slow-growing trees and shrubs and replacing them with fast-growing grasses.

Irrigation used for agriculture, may in the long term, lead to salt levels in the soil that become too high to support plants.

Grazing animals can destroy many desert plants and animals. Potassium cyanide used in gold mining may poison wildlife. Off-road vehicles, when used irresponsibly, can cause irreparable damage to

desert habitats. Oil and gas production may disrupt sensitive habitat. Nuclear waste may be dumped in deserts, which have also been used as nuclear

testing grounds."1

Tropical Rain Forest Found in areas around the equator with a fairly uniform climate throughout the year. Average precipitation is between 200 and 400 cm per year and occurs nearly every day. Temperatures remain constant at about 25 degrees Celsius throughout the year. They have an enormous variety of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) and are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Trees may form canopies above the ground as much as 50 meters high. Many trees will have roots with braces, or buttresses, that extend from the trunks to the ground to support these very tall plants. Over 100 different varieties of plants exist in this biome and may include lianas and epiphytes. Animals include monkeys, bats, squirrels, parrots, snakes, lizards, rodents, tapir, antelope, deer, spiders, insects, ants, termites, bees, butterflies and moths

Interesting Tropical Rainforest Biome Facts:

Rainforests are extremely important because the water they produce is evaporated and then used as rain in other areas.

The average temperature of the tropical rainforest remains between 70 and 85° F.

The tropical rainforest is very rainy as its name implies. The rainfall can reach up to 400 inches in one year.

Orchids are a type of epiphyte plant that grows in the tropical rainforest. It grows on the surface of other plants, usually trees.

The tropical rainforest has hundreds of different types of trees living there.

There are over 2,500 different vine species in the tropical rainforest. Some have a thickness that equals the circumference of a human being.

Tropical rainforests are one of the oldest biomes on Earth and therefore have a great variety of animals living there.

About half of all known species of plants and animals live in the tropical rainforest.

There are some tropical rainforests that have been around since dinosaurs roamed the Earth.

Most of the animals living in the tropical rainforest live in the trees. There they can find all of their necessities and rarely have to come down to the floor of the forest.

Insects make up the majority of living creatures in the tropical rainforest.

Rainforests provide people with many cooking spices such as vanilla, allspice, and black pepper.

Some people choose to live in the tropical rainforest and become farmers for the food and spices people eat.

Because of the amount of trees in the tropical rainforest biome, it is responsible

for the majority of the oxygen production in the air that we breathe.

The droppings of birds in the tropical rainforest grow into new plants.

Locations:

Temperate rainforests are found along some coasts in temperate zones. The largest temperate rainforests are found on the Pacific coast of North America. They stretch from Oregon to Alaska for 1,200 miles. Smaller temperate rainforests can be found on the southeast coast of Chile in South America. There are a few other coastal strips with temperate rainforests, including small areas in the United Kingdom, Norway, Japan, New Zealand, and southern Australia.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Learn about what threatens the wet, layered forest and what you can do to help.

Clear-cut swaths of the Amazon rain forest in Quiandeua, Brazil, are often planted with manioc, or cassava, a shrub grown for its starchy root. Farmers slash-and-burn large parcels of forest every year to create grazing and crop lands, but the forest's nutrient-poor soil often renders the land ill-suited for agriculture, and within a year or two, the farmers move on.

More than half of Earth’s rain forests have already been lost due to the human demand for wood and arable land. Rain forests that once grew over 14 percent of the land on Earth now cover only about 6 percent. And if current deforestation rates continue, these critical habitats could disappear from the planet completely within the next hundred years.

The reasons for plundering rain forests are mainly economic. Wealthy nations drive demand for tropical timber, and cash-strapped governments often grant logging concessions at a fraction of the land’s true value. “Homesteader” policies also encourage citizens to clear-cut forests for farms. Sustainable logging and harvesting rather than clear-cutting are among the strategies key to halting rain forest loss.

Threats

Logging interests cut down rain forest trees for timber used in flooring, furniture, and other items.

Power plants and other industries cut and burn trees to generate electricity. The paper industry turns huge tracts of rain forest trees into pulp. The cattle industry uses slash-and-burn techniques to clear ranch land. Agricultural interests, particularly the soy industry, clear forests for cropland. Subsistence farmers slash-and-burn rain forest for firewood and to make room

for crops and grazing lands. Mining operations clear forest to build roads and dig mines.

Governments and industry clear-cut forests to make way for service and transit roads.

Hydroelectric projects flood acres of rain forest.

Chaparral

The chaparral biome is found in a little bit of most of the continents - the west coast of the United States, the west coast of South America, the Cape Town area of South Africa, the western tip of Australia and the coastal areas of the Mediterranean. The chaparral biome has many different types of terrain. Some examples are flat plains, rocky hills and mountain slopes. It is sometimes used in movies for the "Wild West". It is characterized as being very hot and dry. As for the temperature, the winter is very mild and is usually about 10 °C. Then there is the summer. It is so hot and dry at 40 °C that fires and droughts are very common. The plants and animals are adapted to these conditions. Most of the plants have small, hard leaves which hold moisture. Some of these plants are poison oak, scrub oak, yucca wiple and other shrubs, trees and cacti. The animals are all mainly grassland and desert types adapted to hot, dry weather. A few examples: coyotes, jack rabbits, mule deer, alligator lizards, horned toads, praying mantis, honey bee and ladybugs.

Interesting Chaparral Biome Facts:

Parts of the chaparral biome exist in California, Oregon, South Africa, and Australia.

This biome is characterized by having both forests and grassland.

The summer season is very dry and can lasts up to five months.

The dry summer makes the chaparral biome sensitive to fires.

Occasional fires in the chaparral biome are helpful because they help balance out the living organisms and nonliving organisms.

The plants in the chaparral biome contain flammable material yet their barks resist fire.

Some plants have adapted to the summer fires in such a way that their seeds lie dormant until they are touched by fire.

The average rainfall is 10 to 17 inches a year.

During the winter, the temperature can get as low as 30° F and the summers can get up to 100° F.

The average temperature in the chaparral biome is 64° F.

Majority of the animals are nocturnal, sleeping during the day then coming out at night.

Animals living in the chaparral biome have to be able to survive on very little water. During the summer months there is usually a drought.

Many of the plants found in the chaparral biome are also found in the desert biome. This is because a chaparral biome normally borders a desert biome.

Some common animals of the chaparral biome are coyotes, mule deer, praying mantis, and ladybugs.

Shrubs are plentiful in the chaparral biome because they are able to survive on very little water. Chaparral comes from a Spanish word meaning shrub oak.

Location

Small increments of the Chaparral biome can be found spread across all of the different continents and consists of various types of terrain including mountains and plains. This includes

US West Coast South America’s West Coast South Africa’s Cape Town Australia’s Western tip Coast of the Mediterranean.

Environmental Issues in the Chaparral All around the Earth, Chaparral biomes are being destroyed from pollution and human activity. Though it is hot, the Chaparral is a popular location for homes, because of the unique landscape and stunning view. When land is cleared for construction, the plants and animals that call the area home are destroyed. When suburbs build up around the Chaparral, it contributes to the air pollution surrounding that region. This is especially a problem for California, home to areas such as San Diego that are extremely over populated and are polluting the air too quickly. Car emissions, light pollution, and waste contribute to the degrading of the Chaparral.

Fires are apart of the Chaparral's natural way of keeping the environment under control. However because of the dryness of the region and human's carelessness, there are many man made fires every year. Some fire can help the Chaparral, but man made fires disrupt plant growth. As more and more people move into the Chaparral, the higher the chance of fires.

Savanna

The savanna biome is an area that has a very dry season and then a very wet season. They are situated between a grassland and a forest. They can also overlap with other biomes. There are savanna's located in Africa, South America, India, and Australia. PLANTS: grasses such as Rhodes grass, red oats grass, star grass, lemon grass, and some shrubs dominate the savanna. Most savanna grass is coarse and grows in patches with interspersed areas of bare ground. You won’t see many trees in the savanna because of little rainfall. Occasionally, you’ll find individual trees or small groves of trees. These mostly live near streams and ponds. The Acacia tree is an interesting plant in the savanna. It has an umbrella shape, with branches and leaves high off the ground that giraffes like to eat. Baobab trees also live in the savanna. They deal with dry conditions by storing water between the bark and meat of the tree. ANIMALS: There are many different types of animals that live in the savanna. The species found in savannas vary by the geographic location of the biome. Animals native to African savannas include African elephants, zebras, horses, and giraffes. Many animals in the savanna are herbivores, which means they eat plants, and there is plenty of grass in the savanna. During the rainy months animals thrive in the savanna, but the rainy season is only half the year. During the dry season, surface water from the rain is quickly absorbed into the ground by thirsty soils. The competition for water during the dry season is so intense that most birds and many of the large mammals migrate elsewhere in search of water. Depending on the severity of the drought, the migration may be to a place nearby, or far away. The dry season is often associated with fires. Many insects with short life spans die in these fires, but the birds and larger animals are usually able to fly or run to safety. Although small burrowing animals probably can’t outrun the flames, they often survive the fire by digging deep into the ground and remaining there until the flames are gone. Some birds, such as the Fork-tailed Drongos, don’t flee the fires; they actually fly to the fires. For these birds fire means dinner. They eat the fleeing or flame-roasted insects.

Interesting Savanna Biome Facts:

The savanna biome is mostly made up of grass but there are a few trees.

Because of the availability of grass in the savanna, there are many grazing animals who take advantage of this abundant food supply.

The savanna biome is rich with herbivores such as elephants, zebras, gazelles, and buffalo.

The largest part of the savanna biome is located in Africa.

Almost half of Africa is considered a savanna.

Because of the extended periods of wet and dry climate in the savanna biome,

the availability of food changes throughout the year.

Some animals go so long without water during the dry season that they barely make it alive to the wet season.

The savanna biome receives about 59 inches of rain. Majority of this occurs during the wet season.

Although there are various types of soil in the savanna biome, it is not suitable for farming.

In the savanna biome, all the animals and plants are extremely dependent upon each other for a food supply. If one species of animal were removed, the entire ecosystem would be altered.

Climate is very important in the savanna biome. If the rainfall decreases and/or the temperature increases, the animals and plants will not be able to continue to survive.

The savanna in Africa is a big tourist attraction but the introduction of vehicles and humans into that environment is very stressful to the plants and animals there.

The savanna remains warm all year long. During the wet season, the temperature is more pleasant with an average of 63° F.

There are many herbivores in the savanna biome which also bring many carnivores. Herbivores have developed traits which help them escape predators such as being fast, being large, or being tall.

The savanna biome does have a long dry season so plants there have adapted to this climate. Some store water in their roots and others extend their long roots deep into the ground to recover water from the water table.

Locations of Savanna around the world

Tropical savannas are found in Africa, Australia, South America, India and South-East Asia – (see map). They cover a little less than a third of the world's land surface. In Australia, tropical savannas encompass around one quarter of Australia, stretching from the Indian Ocean in the west to the Pacific in the east. They border desert country to the south, rainforest on the east coast and are fringed by floodplains and peppered with monsoon forest patches in the north.

In Africa, tropical savannas form a broad semi-circle from the western Ivory Coast across to a southern border with northern Namibia. Approximately 45% of South America is savanna and exists as two large patches north and south of the equator. Approximately 10% of India and South-east Asia is considered savanna.

Environmental concerns

There are many threats which assail the grassland biome of Savanna, most of which are caused first and foremost by humans and their actions towards this place (most of which are explained in Effects and impact of human progress), although there are still several threats which are caused without any (or with little) human involvement.

One threat to these Savanna biomes is the animals which graze upon it. Other biomes such as Taiga or Rainforest have a high tree quantity which means that less grass is able to grow for animals to graze on. However, since Savannas have few trees and much wide open space than other biomes an herbaceous layer grows much easier.

This can lead to problems because whilst the native animals to graze upon this grass are ok, as it is natural for them to be there, however the many animals brought into the Savannas by humans because of the great grazing conditions should not naturally be there. These animals added with the animals which are already on this grassland provides a great rise in the animal population. This raise in animals lessens the amount of food available and could cause the native animals to be forced to leave or die, upsetting the natural order of things. The lessened amount of grass can also cause a rise in tree growth. The grasses and the trees must compete for water.

If these grasses diminish in number then the trees will no longer need to compete for the water and the number of them will greatly increase. This will be a problem for the animal life because they have evolved to live in an environment with few trees but lots of grass. If the environment suddenly has lots of trees but few grass the animals will have to either change the way which they act (adapt) or they would have to find a better environment to call home. The grasses all being eaten not only reduces

competition for the trees but it also for the weeds. The final major affect of grazing on the Savanna is that the hooves of the grazing animals can compact or break up the dirt, as it is no longer protected by the grasses.

Another such threat to these magnificent biomes is exotic species of plant. There are many forms of exotic plants species which have been introduced to Savannas all over the world. Many of these are very serious environmental weeds such as the Prickly Acacia, the Rubbervine, the Lantana, the Prickly Pear and the Mesquite. There are also many herbaceous plants which have been introduced to the savanna environment such as Rhodes grass, Giant rat’s tail grass, Buffel grass, stylos and other such legumes. These exotic plant species can harm and alter the environment. Some ways in which these plants do this is to alter the present fire frequency and ferocity by burning better or worse than present plant growth, increase the grazing pressure and compete with the native plants for sunlight and water.

One very likely and imminent threat to the Savanna biome is climate change. Climate change is a threat which all biomes must face, although some will be affected more so than others. Some people have claimed that because of greenhouse induced climate change the Savanna biomes could become liable to a woody plant encroachment. This would be a drastic alteration to the Savanna environment because at this point in time Savannas are usually areas with few woody plants.