A biome is a community of plants and animals that have common characteristics for the environment they exist in. They can be found over a range of continents. Biomes are distinct biological communities that have formed in response to a shared physical climate.
Tropical rainforest
Tropical grassland or savanna
Temperate grassland
Coniferous forest (Taiga)
Tropical rainforest
- 23.5° north - 23.5° south of the equator.
- Hot and wet all year.
- Rich in plants and animals.
- Poor soils.
Tropical grassland or savanna
- Within the tropics. Mainly between 5° and 15° north and south of the equator.
- Hot with a wet and dry season.
- Mainly grass and a few specially adapted trees.
Temperate grassland
- 40-60° north and south of the equator.
- Warm summer and very cold winter.
- Quite low rainfall.
- Mainly grassland vegetation.
Coniferous forest (Taiga)
- 60° north of the equator and on mountains.
- Long, cold winters.
- Short, mild summer.
- Limited rainfall.
- Coniferous trees.
Vegetation Type |
Adaptation |
Tropical rainforest |
Lianas - these are woody vines that have roots in the ground but climb up the trees to reach the sunlight. Their leaves and flowers grow in the canopy.Tree trunks - these are tall and thin to allow trees to reach the sunlight. The bark on these trees is smooth to allow water to flow down to the roots easily. Drip tips - plants have leaves with pointy tips. This allows water to run off the leaves quickly without damaging or breaking them. Buttress roots - large roots have ridges which create a large surface area that help to support large trees. Epiphytes - these are plants which live on the branches of trees high up in the canopy. They get their nutrients from the air and water, not from the soil. |
Tropical grassland |
In trees, most savanna adaptations are to drought--long tap roots to reach the deep water table, thick bark for resistance to annual fires (thus palms are prominent in many areas), deciduousness to avoid moisture loss during the dry season, and use of the trunk as a water-storage organ (as in baobab). In grasses, most adaptations are against grazing to deter herbivores, growth from base of the plant rather than its tip to avoid damage to growing tissue. |
Temperate grassland |
Plants have many adaptations to survive the Grasslands Biome. The plants have deep, spreading root systems that allow them strength and moisture during times of drought. Most of the plants have long narrow leaves that don’t need as much water. The grasses grow from the bottom and grow close to the ground. They have strong roots which means they won’t be destroyed when animals walk on them or eat them. Grasslands are susceptible to fires but the plants hearty root system enables them to survive fires and soon after a fire, they will begin sprouting. The softer stems allow the plants to bend rather than break in the Grassland winds. Many of the plants are pollinated by the windy conditions of the Grassland. Some of the grasses and bushes have attractive blossoms which attract insects to pollinate them. |
Northern (temperate) coniferous forest (taiga) |
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