Understanding Biomes

Understanding Biomes — page 3 — Terrestrial biomes occur on land These include forests grasslands savannahs deserts and tundras Aquatic biomes are the freshwater and saltwater biomes Freshwater biomes include lakes ponds rivers streams and wetlands The largest biome on Earth however is composed of saltwater It is the oceans Together the oceans cover about 70 percent of Earth's surface The evaporation of seawater from aquatic saltwater biomes provides rainwater for the plants and animals living in land biomes The Everglades in Florida is called the River of Grass Both crocodiles and alligators inhabit its waters 6

Understanding Biomes — page 4 — Grasses and lichens grow on the arctic tundra Arctic Ocean Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean Indian Ocean Southern Ocean Desert air contains very little moisture so temperatures vary greatly from day to night Tropical rainforests remain warm all year long Because rainforests are so humid heat is retained in the air There is very little temperature change from day to night 7

Understanding Biomes — page 5 — Latitude What causes the different biomes One factor is latitude Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator We measure it in degrees In the tropical regions near the equator there are no summer and winter seasons Temperatures stay high throughout the year In tropical rainforests the continuous growing season allows for great biodiversity or variety of species Latitude tells us how far something is north or south of the equator The north and south poles at 90 degrees latitude receive the least direct rays from the Sun 60°N 30°N 0° equator 30°S 60°S temperate zone tropical zone The equator is where we find tropical biomes on Earth

Understanding Biomes — page 6 — As we move away from the equator the climate becomes more moderate In the latitudes 30 to 60 degrees north and south of the equator we find temperate forests and grasslands Most of the world's food grows in these regions Far from the equator near the north and south poles the Sun's rays are indirect and not as strong In the arctic tundra plants and animals are adapted to the short growing season and cold temperatures north pole south pole 9

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