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SCIENCE NOTES - ECOSYSTEMS
LESSON 5
What is a Biome?
- The land on earth is split into six major ecosystems called biomes.
- Make sure that you review the information about each of the six
biomes on pages B64-65.
What are grasslands?
- Area where grass is the main plant life.
- Rain is irregular and usually not plentiful.
- Prairies (fertile soil) and savannahs (less-fertile soil) are types of
grasslands.
What is the Taiga like?
- Cool and forested biome that was once covered with ice.
- The taiga is a major source for lumber.
- Over 11% of the Earth’s land.
What is the Tundra?
- Frozen ground even in the summer (long and icy cold winters).
- Very little precipitation falls here.
- Even in the summer the sun rays only strike the tundra at a low
glancing angle.
- Not many plants are found here because of the cold and poor soil.
What is the Desert Biome Like?
- A sandy or rocky biome with little precipitation and little plant life or
animal life.
- The desert is like the tundra, except for the fact that it is hot in the
desert.
What is a Deciduous Forest?
- Many trees are found in this biome. They often lose their leaves each
year after they change colors.
- The dead leaves help make the soil in this biome fertile.
- Many plants and animals are found here.
What are Tropical Rain Forests?
- These are found along and near the Earth’s equator.
- It is hot and humid in this biome with a lot of rainfall.
- A wide variety of plant and animal life can be found in the rain forest.
What are water ecosystems like?
- Plankton are organisms that float on water
- Nekton are organisms that swim through water
- Benthos are bottom dwelling organisms
How can humans change water ecosystems?
- Hunting for whales