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BIOMES RESEARCH COMPUTER ACTIVITY
Name __________________________________________________
Period _______
Part I: CHARACTERISTICS OF TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
1.
The six major terrestrial biomes are
A. _________________________________ D. _________________________________
B. _________________________________ E. _________________________________
C. _________________________________ F. _________________________________
2.
Use colored pencils or crayons to color each of the six major terrestrial biomes on the map below. Indicate the color used
for each biome by circling its name in question 3 above with the appropriate color.
3. Which continents have all six biomes? _____________________________________________
canopy
coniferous
taiga
desert
tundra
deciduous
Fill in the blanks with the correct term from the list above.(may be used more than once)
4. The two coldest biomes are _____________________ &________________________
5. The type of tree that retains its needles all year:________________________________________
6. The type of trees that loses its leaves in autumn: _______________________________________
7. The top layer of rain forest trees: _______________________________________
8. The two driest biomes are _____________________ &________________________
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BIOMES RESEARCH COMPUTER ACTIVITY
PART 2: The six broad biomes can be divided into more specific zones. For each of the biomes listed
below, find the required information and fill out the table below:
Name of
biome
Tropical
rain forest
Abiotic factors
(Temperature range,
Annual precipitation,
available nutrients)
Biotic Factors
Unique Features
Dominant Plants
Dominant Animals
Most organisms live in the
canopy, through which little light
penetrates.
Soil is low in nutrients.
Very high biodiversity.
Epiphytes
Distinct dry and rainy seasons.
Tropical
Grassland
(Savanna)
Temperate
grassland
(Prairie,
steppe,
veldt)
Temperate
deciduous
forest
Temperate
coniferous
forest
(temperate
rain forest)
Taiga
(Boreal
forest)
Tundra
Most precipitation occurs as
snow during the winter.
Many animals live underground
to survive the cold and windy
conditions.
Some plants have adapted to fire
by producing fire-resistant seeds
that require a fire’s heat to start
germination.
Deciduous trees drop their leaves
and go dormant to survive cold
winters, and humus enriches the
soil.
Summer and winter seasons are
very different from each other.
Precipitation is evenly spaced
throughout the year.
Coniferous trees keep their
needles all year.
One long wet season and a
relatively dry summer.
Many animals migrate or
hibernate during the winter.
Long, cold winters and very short,
warm, humid summers.
Mammals have heavy fur coats.
The ground below the surface,
called permafrost, remains frozen
all year.
Very low biodiversity.
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BIOMES RESEARCH COMPUTER ACTIVITY
There are 4 types of deserts: hot,
semi-arid, coastal, and cold.
Plants store water or have deep
underground root systems and
often have heat- and droughtresistant seeds.
Animals are often nocturnal.
Most of the precipitation is as rain
in winter.
Found in small areas around the
globe.
Many plants produce flammable
oils.
Desert
Chaparral
(a minor
biome)
Who Am I?
Choose among these terms to answer the riddles below:
Desert
Tundra
Temperate coniferous forest
Temperate grassland
Chaparral
Tropical grassland
Tropical rain forest
Taiga
Temperate deciduous forest
______________________
9.
______________________
10.
______________________
11.
12.
______________________
13.
______________________
14.
______________________
15.
______________________
16.
17.
I am a biome located in far northern latitudes; it is cold and windy, and I am covered by a
layer of permafrost.
I am also called the boreal forest. I have long and cold winters and nutrient-poor soils; I
am home to ferns, mosses, mushrooms, and trees with needles.
I am a biome with a very dry, arid climate and soils that are poor in organic matter. Birds
such as roadrunners and reptiles such as snakes are often associated with me.
I am home to more species than all other land biomes combined! Some of my plants
never touch the ground.
My soil is dry and thin and is compacted by huge herds of grazing animals, such as zebras
and antelopes.
Some of the world’s most fertile soils are found beneath my plants, and predators such as
wolves and coyotes prowl for the many herbivores that live here.
Fire is a constant threat in summer because many of my plants produce flammable oils.
Coyotes and mountain lions prey on herbivores such as rabbits, squirrels, and mice.
Decaying leaves and other organic matter make my soil fertile, and many songbirds make
their homes in my trees.
I am sometimes called a “temperate rain forest” because of my abundant plant life. I am
home to giant redwood trees and black bears.
18. What is the difference between tropical and temperate grasslands? ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
19. How does precipitation differ between a temperate deciduous and a temperate rain forest? _____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
20. Why do few plants grow in the tundra? _____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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