Terrestrial Biomes Flashcards
Tropical Rain Forest location
near the equator (Brazil, Costa Rica, etc.)
Tropical Rain Forest climate
High precipitation and humidity; high temperatures year round
Tropical Rain Forest plant adaptions for survival
epiphytes, orchids, palms, and trees form canopies as they compete for survival
Tropical Rain Forest animal adaptations for survival
Rainforests are populated
with insects, worms, reptiles, etc. and disperse themselves to whats most suitable.
Temperate Deciduous
Forest location
Between 40-60°N (US, Russia)
Temperate Deciduous
Forest climate
four Seasons; enough rain 30-60” yearly to support trees
Temperate Deciduous
Forest plant adaptations for survival
drop leaves in fall and go dormant to survive winter; enriches soil with leaf litter
Temperate Deciduous
Forest animal adaptations for survival
migrate, hibernate or have thick fur/downy feathers and fat to survive winter
Taiga Forest location
Northern portions of US
and Canada; Russia and
Eurasia (Northern US)
Taiga Forest climate
Cold; snowfall
most of the year
Taiga Forest plant adaptions for survival
coniferous trees; needles conserve water and conical shape and flexible branches help shed
snow accumulation without tree damage
Taiga Forest animal adaptations for survival
Many herbivores; often eat bark, lichen and grasses; migrate, hibernate or have thick fat/fur or warmth
Tropical Grasslands (Savannah) location
Between rainforests and
deserts around 0-30 (Guinea, Ethiopia)
Tropical Grasslands (Savannah) climate
Dry seasons in winter; wet
season in summer; hot
year round
Tropical Grasslands (Savannah) plant adaptions for survival
grasses; survive droughts and fire
Tropical Grasslands (Savannah) animal adaptations for survival
largest collection of herbivores; classic
examples of resource partitioning with plant diet
and watering hole communities
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie) location
40 to 60 N near
deserts (Midwestern US)
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie) climate
four seasons; precipitation
low to moderate
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie) plant adaptions for survival
thick grasses- length is dependent on
rainfall (shorter with lower rainfall; higher where it
borders forests); withstand fire and heat; dies back
in winter and enriches soil
Temperate Grassland
(Prairie) animal adaptations for survival
lack of trees= ground nesting and many
burrowing animals; herbivores common
Tundra location
60-90 N; near
arctic (Canada, Alaska)
Tundra climate
Dry and cold;
indirect sun
Tundra plant adaptions for survival
low growing plants with short growing (and
flowering) seasons stay low to avoid high winds
Tundra animal adaptations for survival
herbivores; animals migrate here during
summer for safer nesting sites
Desert location
Form at 30 and
on leeward side
of mountains (Iraq)
Desert climate
Dry and hot;
direct sun
Desert plant adaptions for survival
succulents store water; build long root
systems to absorb water during rain surges
Desert animal adaptations for survival
often nocturnal to avoid heat of day; burrowing; conserve water; many ectotherms
